Attorney General Michael Mukasey released the new plan, called the Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime, to address the growing threat from organized criminals operating in hierarchies, clans, networks and cells around the world. Officials say the strategy enables the Department of Justice along with nine federal law enforcement agencies to operate collectively to identify and pursue significant priority targets, the Justice Department reported.

Officials say the new strategy is the result of an international organized crime threat assessment conducted in October 2007 that identified the demand for a strategic, targeted and concerted U.S. response to a variety of transnational threats.

"As international organized criminals have adapted their tactics over time and embraced emerging technology, we too must adapt," Mukasey said in a statement. "With this strategy, we're building a new, 21st century program that we believe will be nimble enough to fight the threat of international organized crime for years to come."