The British government has unveiled plans to create a national crime-fighting force modelled on the FBI, to tackle organised gangs who control the trade in drugs and illegal immigrants.
More than 5,500 staff from four government bodies will merge in the biggest shake-up in policing in England and Wales for 40 years.
Home Secretary Mr David Blunkett said the Serious Organised Crime Agency will target drug traffickers, people smugglers and fraudsters who see themselves as "untouchables".
"They believe they are beyond the reach of justice and out of our sights," Mr Blunkett said. "That is not the case - no one should be untraceable and no one should be untouchable."
He said the British heroin and cocaine market was worth an annual three billion pounds. Global profits from people smuggling were estimated at $10 billion (£5.4 billion).
The new agency will merge the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the investigative arms of Customs and immigration units at the Home Office (interior ministry).
Britain has seen a big rise in gun crime in recent years, fuelled by drug-related gang violence. Ministers have also expressed concern over people-smuggling from China and eastern Europe.
The deaths of 19 mainly Chinese migrant workers who drowned as they collected cockles last Thursday, shed light on the murky world of gang labour.
Police chiefs backed the merged agency and said it would streamline law enforcement.
"The new agency will provide significant opportunities to fight crime, nationally and internationally," said Chris Fox, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Metropolitan Police chiefs said the agency must work with officers on the ground.
"It is important that the agency does not work in isolation," said Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.