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An Overview of
Federal Drug Control Programs
on the Southwest Border

Department of Defense

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Department of Defense administers programs that support domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies that have counterdrug responsibilities. DoD active duty military and reserve components continue to provide significant, direct support to Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEA) in the form of transportation, equipment, intelligence support, training and services. Requests for support from DLEAs within the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) receive highest priority.

Pursuant to its statutory role as the lead agency of the Federal Government for the detection and monitoring of the aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs to the United States, DoD maintains a maritime air surveillance tracking system in the transit zone (the northern coast of South America to the U.S. border) and air surveillance aerostats along the U.S. Southwest border and Gulf Coast.

The average number of DoD personnel providing support on the border varies from an average of 1,500 to peaks of approximately 2,500. Requests for military counterdrug support are coordinated and prioritized by law enforcement through Operation Alliance, which is collocated with Joint Task Force Six (JTF-6).

Key aspects of the DoD program on the Southwest border include:

  • National Guard. DoD reviews and funds plans submitted by the Governors of the Southwest border states for use of the National Guard in support of drug law enforcement agencies. The four Southwest border states receive approximately 30 percent of the total funding for National Guard State Plans. National Guard cargo inspection support on the border has increased by more than 100 percent from 150 personnel to approximately 350.

  • Technology. DoD is developing technology to support counterdrug missions. Its program includes non-intrusive inspection, tactical operations support and intelligence collection.

  • Support to State and local law enforcement. DoD has spent approximately $35 million to develop and provide a State and local law enforcement information sharing system. The Southwest Border States Anti-Drug Information System links Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and participating regional information sharing activities.

  • Excess property. DoD provides excess personal property to law enforcement agencies on the border, including aircraft, vehicles, boats and weapons. Nationwide, law enforcement has received over $1 billion in excess property from DoD. Law enforcement agencies in Texas alone have received over $54 million in property to support counterdrug operations.

  • Construction of border roads and fences. During FY 1997, DoD (through JTF-6) will continue making significant improvements to the Otay Mountain Road in addition to the 30 miles of landing mat fence, barbed wire fence and post obstacles already constructed in the San Diego area.

Cooperative efforts with Mexico

While not specifically designed for counterdrug support in the border region, DoD's program provides training, logistics, air mobility and information sharing to Mexican military counterdrug forces.

  • During FY 1996-97, DoD provided 12 UH-1H helicopters and $2.5 million in parts and training.

  • DoD has trained approximately 171 Mexican military personnel in counterdrug operations.

  • DoD currently has approximately 100 Mexican military personnel in training and 184 scheduled for training.

  • Through the Intelligence Analysis Center in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, DoD provides intelligence that supports the Northern Border Response Force and other Mexican agencies.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

California

  • Conducted training for over 1,750 law enforcement personnel since FY 1995.

  • Constructed over 15 miles of border fence within the past three years

  • Constructed over 27 miles of roads in the past three years.

  • National Guard assisted seizure of assets (motor vehicles, etc.) totaling more than $1.4 billion.

  • National Guard constructed 5.1 miles of fence on the border.

  • National Guard maintained over 150 miles of road along the border.

Arizona

  • Within the past three years, constructed over 5 ½ miles of border fence.

  • Within the past three years, built over 90 miles of roads.

  • National Guard assisted seizure of assets totaling $372.7 million.

  • National Guard intelligence analyst key in the seizure of five tons of cocaine.

New Mexico

  • Conducted training for over 450 law enforcement personnel in the past three years.

  • National Guard assisted in the seizure of assets totaling $241 million.

  • National Guard training for over 800 students in criminal intelligence analysis courses.

Texas

  • Conducted training for over 1,900 law enforcement personnel since FY 1995.

  • National Guard assisted seizure of assets totaling more than $1.2 billion.

  • National Guard personnel assisted in the single seizure of cocaine valued at over $115 million.

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