News in the HIDTA Community

The Drug War At Home: Hunting Drug Smugglers On U.S. Highways

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) in Nevada and U.S.-Mexico border states. Illustration courtesy Office of National Drug Control Policy. Lt. Lazaro Chavez oversees a team that intercepts drugs smuggled from Mexico and the money heading back to the cartels. But Chavez isn’t anywhere near the border. He works 300 miles away, for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, . “This is the battleground for us,” Chavez said. “Right here, Interstate 15.”

INFORMATION ISSUED BY U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ON AUG. 10: INDICTMENTS TARGET ARM OF PASADENA STREET GANG ALLEGEDLY SELLING CRACK COCAINE IN ANTELOPE VALLEY

A task force of federal and local law enforcement officers this morning arrested 34 members and associates of a Pasadena-based street gang, 11 of whom are charged in federal indictments with trafficking crack cocaine in the Antelope Valley.

FUNNY MONEY? SEMINAR MIGHT HELP YOU TELL

Albany County DA David Soares has partnered with local businesses to battle an onslaught of counterfeit money flowing into the Capital Region, a problem that has risen significantly over the last six months.
Counterfeiters use the easy access to highways to go to local malls, big box stores and even smaller stores where they exchange phony dollars for merchandise and gift cards and then skip town, Soares said.

U.S. Charges 26 Alleged Street Gang Members, Associates and Drug Suppliers in West Side Heroin Distribution Conspiracies

During a seemingly routine traffic stop two weeks ago, police and federal agents covertly seized a drive shaft that was in the back of a black Jeep Cherokee driven by Erik Guevara and carrying his passenger, Rickey Ruiz. The authorities took the drive shaft to a Chicago police station where a drug dog positively alerted for the presence of narcotics. Police and agents opened the drive shaft and found approximately 7.7 kilograms -- almost 17 pounds -- of suspected heroin contained in plastic tubes.

SEN. SCHUMER: CONGRESS RESTORES FUNDING TO CRITICAL FEDERAL-LOCAL ANTI-DRUG PARTNERSHIP

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said that Congress has restored funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Program (HIDTA) after the administration had proposed a huge cut earlier in the year. HIDTA is a critical program aimed at curbing drug trafficking, crime, sales, and abuse in every region in New York State. The proposed cut of 12% came in spite of an increasing amount of drugs being smuggled over the Canadian border. Today the Appropriations Subcommittee for Financial Services and General Government released their budget bill, which restored full funding to the program.

Federal programs to fight drugs moving forward in Congress: Will combat cross-border trafficking

Two federal programs aimed at stopping drugs from coming across the U.S./Canadian border are moving forward in Congress.
Funding for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Program (HIDTA) has been restored, and the Northern Border Counternarcotics Act was unanimously approved by the House.

LAWMAKERS URGED TO FIGHT PILL MILLS Local, federal officers seeking help in stemming growing numbers of fatal overdoses DRUGS: Doctor shopping legal in Texas

The prescription drug plague that has turned Houston into a center for "doctor-shopping" rings, rogue cash-only clinics and accidental overdose deaths is now threatening the entire state, according to an intelligence report to be released today by local and federal drug enforcement officials.

SEN. SCHUMER: ADMINISTRATION BUDGET SLASHES FUNDING FOR CRITICAL STATEN ISLAND DRUG ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM

Joined by law enforcement officials, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the Administration's Fiscal Year 2011 budget slashes funding for a critical program aimed at curbing drug trafficking, sales, and abuse on Staten Island. Schumer said that Staten Island is part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program that provides the borough with millions of dollars in funding to help attack the drug problem on Staten Island.

METH LABS IN DECLINE; New law pushed some producers of drug to move from California to Mexico.

A dramatic decline in illegal meth labs that once made the Central Valley infamous underscores how a federal law has cut illicit production of the drug, a new report shows. But it's unclear whether the law has had any effect on meth addiction.

5 8 Alleged Members of Mexican Drug Organizations Indicted in SDTX

United States Attorney Jose Angel Moreno along with Zoran Yankovich, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Houston Division announced today the indictment of 58 alleged members of Mexican drug organizations responsible for smuggling drugs into the United States and transporting and delivering the contraband to various points within Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina, transporting bulk cash proceeds south to Mexico and laundering the proceeds through the acquisition of Texas real estate.

Attorney: Pot shops getting illegal marijuana

Multiple medical marijuana dispensaries are illegally acquiring black-market marijuana from out of state to meet exploding demand, a deputy Missoula County attorney who specializes in drug offenses said.

Cops harvest pot plants from Keys homes

Two marijuana grow houses were found in the Keys this week as part of a larger statewide operation called Operation Rake, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office says. Overall, authorities say, 67 houses were searched, 63 people were arrested, 3,308 plants were seized, 64.87 pounds of pot were found, 13 guns were seized and $19,562 was taken for likely forfeiture.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TARGETS PRESCRIPTION DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN 'OPERATION PAIN KILLER'

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the arrest of 172 individuals and the seizure of more than 20,000 prescription pills in "Operation Pain Killer," an aggressive five-month investigation targeting Central Florida prescription drug traffickers. The multi-agency operation began Jan. 1 and culminated with a final arrest round up and drug seizures on June 2.

Summit focuses on border violence

The summit wasn't called in response to the recent killing of Arizona cattle rancher Rob Krentz, but it was clearly on the minds of law enforcement Tuesday, said New Mexico Attorney General Gary King.
King was in Las Cruces to speak on the impact of organized crime on the southwest border at a summit co-sponsored by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force and the Mexican consulate.

AFTON GENERAL STORE OWNER SENTENCED TO OVER 19 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Jesus Rodriguez, 42, of Butte City, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 19 years and seven months in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking charges. On March 24, 2009, after a six-day trial, a federal jury found Rodriguez guilty of two counts of possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Alleged Mexican Drug Cartel Leader Extradited from Mexico to United States to Face Federal Drug-Trafficking Charges

An allegedly high-ranking leader of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, whose father allegedly heads a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and is among Mexico's most powerful drug kingpins, was extradited today from Mexico to face federal narcotics trafficking conspiracy charges in the United States. Jesus Vicente Zambada-Niebla is believed to be one of the most significant Mexican drug defendants extradited from Mexico to the United States since Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the accused leader of the notorious Gulf Cartel, was extradited in 2007.

METH LAB FOUND IN HILMAR

A bizarre shrine dedicated to a macabre deity of death greeted investigators who reported finding a small methamphetamine operation inside a residence Wednesday. Merced County sheriff's deputies discovered the meth operation at a home in the 19000 block of First Street. (Read more)

NEW YORK-BASED COCAINE SUPPLIER TO STAMFORD DEALER PLEADS GUILTY

The U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration's Boston Field Office issued the following press release:
Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS MARTE SANTOS, also known as "Julio Cesar Santos," "Cesar" and "Shorty," 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base ("crack cocaine") and a quantity of powder cocaine.

Response to FY07 HIDTA-Related Budget Recommendations

Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director John Walters has proposed transferringthe High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program from ONDCP’s Office of State and Local Affairs (OSLA) to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He has also recommended reducing funding from the FY06 level of $227 million to $208 million. These talking points address some ofthe reasons why the program should remain at ONDCP, and why these proposals have beenmet with strong opposition throughout the Nation.

February 22, 2006

BACKGROUNDER: Fiscal Year 2006 Drug Control Budget Funding Cuts

On March 10th, 2005, the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources held a hearing entitled “Fiscal Year 2006 Drug Control Budget and the Byrne Grants, HIDTA, and other law enforcement programs: Are we jeopardizing federal, state and local cooperation?” (http://reform.house.gov/CJDPHR/)

May 23, 2005

SENATORS UNITE TO SAVE DRUG-FIGHTING PROGRAM

U.S. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) were joined today by 54 other senators in fighting to stave off Bush Administration cuts to a program that helps law enforcement officials fight back against illicit drugs -- especially methamphetamines -- in communities across the country.

April 20, 2005

Hoyer and Representatives Reject President’s Inadequate Request for HIDTA Funding

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice, and Commerce urging the Committees to restore full funding to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.

April 13, 2005

NNOAC Insight -- HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA FUNDING

The National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition strongly supports the funding and continued congressional support for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA), within the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In 1988, Congress initiated an effort to aid federal, state and local law enforcement by establishing the HIDTA program as a means of providing coordination of enforcement efforts in critical regions of the country. This coordinated effort was critical due to competing strategies within the federal, state, and local law enforcement community.

President

Thomas J. Gorman

Vice President/Treasurer

Thomas H. Carr

Secretary

William I. Martin

Dir. of Congressional Affairs

Elizabeth Kempshell

Executive Board

Travis Kuykendall

William Ruzzamenti

Kent Bitsko

Ronald Brooks

News in the HIDTA Community