U.S. and Swiss Governments Agree to Cooperate on Counter-Terrorism Financial Enforcement

On September 4, 2002, U.S. and Swiss officials signed a formal working agreement that they say will enhance ongoing bilateral cooperation to combat the financial networks of Al Qaeda and other related terrorist organizations. The agreement will allow an exchange of law enforcement officials in each country?s anti-terrorism task force. They will be tasked to work with the Swiss Task Force in Bern, Switzerland. Operational Green Quest, a Treasury Department-led, inter-agency group assigned to attack terrorist financing. In exchange, personnel from the Swiss Task Force will work with the two U.S. entities, according to a Treasury statement. The agreement indicates trend in international enforcement cooperation for cooperating law enforcement agencies to exchange liaison officers. The advantage of such exchanges is that on a daily basis, agents from one country can jointly work on law enforcement matters.