---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The illegal drug trade is the financial…"
description: "\"The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Laden.\" — Dennis Hastert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg"
---

#  The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels…

![“The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Laden.” quote by Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg)

> “The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Laden.”

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The illicit drug market provides major funding for terrorist groups worldwide, supporting their operations and influence.

**In simple terms:** Drug money fuels terrorism globally.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and disrupt drug‑terror financing links.

Themes

security terrorism finance crime policy

Mood

concerned urgent

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- Law enforcement
- policy making
- financial monitoring
- border control
- counter‑terrorism operations

Key Concepts

Illicit economies terrorist funding global security

Questions to Reflect On

- How can financial regulators better trace drug‑linked money flows?
- What alternative funding do terrorist groups use when drug income is cut?

A Different Perspective

Disrupting drug networks is complex and may shift funding to other illicit sources.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Illegal drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-drugs/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [To demand that a person pee in a cup whenever you wish him to, without a documented reason to suspect that he has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-shulgin/to-demand-that-a-person-pee-in-a-cup-whenever-you-wish-him-to-without/)

[Alexander Shulgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-shulgin/)

> [“In truth, the U.S.-sponsored international “War on Drugs” is a war on poor people, most of them subsistence farmers caught in a dangerous no-win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/in-truth-the-u-s-sponsored-international-war-on-drugs-is-a-war-on/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [Roland could not understand why anyone would want cocaine or any other illegal drug, for that matter, in a world where such a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/roland-could-not-understand-why-anyone-would-want-cocaine-or-any/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [We're already going down that path with illegal drug use and incarceration. I can't imagine it getting any worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/we-re-already-going-down-that-path-with-illegal-drug-use-and/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

> [Plenty of drug dealing does happen in the 'hood, but it happens everywhere else in America as well. In fact, some studies suggest that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/plenty-of-drug-dealing-does-happen-in-the-hood-but-it-happens/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [Ironically, many of these people, including Osama bin Laden and the mujahedeen, were, in fact, nourished by the United States in the early eighties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/ironically-many-of-these-people-including-osama-bin-laden-and-the/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [Though it's thousands of miles away Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today Over here, its a drug trade, we die from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/though-it-s-thousands-of-miles-away-sierra-leone-connect-to-what-we/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [What I criticize is the message that the United States is sending to the youth of the world - to those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/what-i-criticize-is-the-message-that-the-united-states-is-sending-to/)

[Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/)

> [Mexico is going to need the United States to cooperate in order to rid itself of the violence and corruption that results from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/mexico-is-going-to-need-the-united-states-to-cooperate-in-order-to/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The drug trade is responsible for much of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-montagne/honduras-has-one-of-the-highest-murder-rates-in-the-world-the-drug/)

[Renee Montagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-montagne/)

> [I am looking forward to a series of productive meetings in both Austria and Estonia, particularly what role organized crime plays in the Baltic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-coble/i-am-looking-forward-to-a-series-of-productive-meetings-in-both/)

[Howard Coble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-coble/)

> [When some of the gangs got involved with the drug trade, particularlythe crack cocaine trade, and the lethal violence started to flare up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meda-chesney-lind/when-some-of-the-gangs-got-involved-with-the-drug-trade/)

[Meda Chesney-Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meda-chesney-lind/)

> [I'll tell you what I'd do if it were up to me: I would establish a strictly controlled distribution network through which I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-ll-tell-you-what-i-d-do-if-it-were-up-to-me-i-would-establish-a/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [“The American craving for illegal, mind-altering, addictive chemicals provides a steady flow of American capital through the Texas border into Mexico and South America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-earl-maxwell/the-american-craving-for-illegal-mind-altering-addictive-chemicals/)

William Earl Maxwell

> [ I think what everybody believes and agrees with, and to be frank myself, is that the current approach \[to the drug trade\] is not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-what-everybody-believes-and-agrees-with-and-to-be-frank/)

[Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/)

## More by Dennis Hastert

> [The sport of wrestling is a tremendous builder of the values and characteristics which are needed to succeed in any walk of life. Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-sport-of-wrestling-is-a-tremendous-builder-of-the-values-and/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Our economy is robust and will remain strong as more Americans who want a job find one. Republican economic policies based on tax relief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/our-economy-is-robust-and-will-remain-strong-as-more-americans-who/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [It's estimated for every $1 billion we spend on road construction, nearly 48,000 jobs are created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-s-estimated-for-every-1-billion-we-spend-on-road-construction/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Cagey trial lawyers have figured out there's a pretty good likelihood their case - no matter what its merit - will literally get its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/cagey-trial-lawyers-have-figured-out-there-s-a-pretty-good-likelihood/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Our economy is creating jobs and giving businesses the conditions they need to invest and succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/our-economy-is-creating-jobs-and-giving-businesses-the-conditions/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [You know, when companies who have made a commitment and have legacy costs and all of a sudden want to walk away from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/you-know-when-companies-who-have-made-a-commitment-and-have-legacy/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [You see, we all want the same things. We want to be able to take care of our families, provide for our children, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/you-see-we-all-want-the-same-things-we-want-to-be-able-to-take-care/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [It's a tough time my friends. We need to make sacrifices to ensure our troops have the tools they need in order to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-s-a-tough-time-my-friends-we-need-to-make-sacrifices-to-ensure-our/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [It is only in Washington where many still have a lingering animosity for the political parties. My friends, we need to get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-is-only-in-washington-where-many-still-have-a-lingering-animosity/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Unfortunately, opponents of online speech have decided to punish our changing technological world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/unfortunately-opponents-of-online-speech-have-decided-to-punish-our/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Just like families must live within their budgets, the Federal Government must live within its means. We have passed appropriations bills that have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/just-like-families-must-live-within-their-budgets-the-federal/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [But, if you don't like your current Rx coverage or don't have any coverage to begin with, you'll now have the choice to add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/but-if-you-don-t-like-your-current-rx-coverage-or-don-t-have-any/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [One way we gave small businesses more money to invest was by extending tax provisions on expensing. This allows businesses to immediately write off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/one-way-we-gave-small-businesses-more-money-to-invest-was-by/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [When Medicare was created for senior citizens and America 's disabled in 1965, about half of a senior's health care spending was on doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/when-medicare-was-created-for-senior-citizens-and-america-s-disabled/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

> [Too many employers have said that they are unable to find skilled workers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/too-many-employers-have-said-that-they-are-unable-to-find-skilled/)

[Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

[Explore all 36 Dennis Hastert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/)

## More Around the world quotes

> [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

> [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/)

[Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/)

> [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/)

[George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

> [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/)

[Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/)

> [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/)

[Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/)

> [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/)

[Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/)

> [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/)

[Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/)

[Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Laden.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dennis Hastert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial-engine-that-fuels-many/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Around the world"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial-engine-that-fuels-many/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/686/dennis-hastert-17805_around-the-world_the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial_1038488.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world…” — Dennis Hastert",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dennis Hastert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The illegal drug trade is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial-engine-that-fuels-many/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial-engine-that-fuels-many/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
