An Overview of
Federal Drug Control Programs
on the Southwest Border
Overview
There are five principal U.S. Government Departments concerned with drug control-related issues in the Southwest border region:
This section outlines the drug control programs of these Departments and their component agencies as well as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program (administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy).
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Drug interdiction initiatives. The United States Customs Service is the lead agency for drug interdiction. Specific Custom's initiatives along the Southwest border include:
- Operation HARDLINE, an investigative and interdiction initiative to increase illegal drug seizures and deter drug smuggling through Southwest border ports of entry.
- Land Border Carrier Initiative Program, under which Customs receives pledges from trucking companies on the Southwest border to better police their trucks and warehouse in order to prevent the exploitation of legitimate carriers by drug trafficking organizations.
Money laundering initiatives. Treasury's Office of Enforcement is working closely with its counterpart in Mexico to promote anti-money laundering and regulatory reforms in the Mexican financial system. In addition to the regulatory context, the Office of Enforcement has encouraged the Government of Mexico (GOM) to enact legislative reforms and to institute operational improvements, including the need for the GOM to secure more prosecutions of accused Mexican money launderers. Experts from Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have assessed the GOM's regulatory and technical requirements. The U.S. Customs Service and the Internal Revenue Service investigate international criminal enterprises involved in money laundering schemes. Progress toward these initiatives is monitored by a special group convened under the High Level Contact Group.
Firearms trafficking. A special working group has been formed under the High Level Contact Group to address firearms trafficking issues. The U.S. Customs Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are providing support and training assistance to Mexican law enforcement in order to improve firearms tracing capabilities.
Other Southwest border activities. The Treasury Department's law enforcement agencies are active in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, and the Attorney General's Southwest Border Executive Committee. Treasury also works with State and local agencies in asset forfeiture actions as well as outbound and domestic money laundering and stolen property operations.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Southwest Border Initiative (SWBI). United States Attorneys, DoJ Criminal Division, FBI, DEA, INS and the U.S. Customs Service focus resources on the major Mexican trafficking organizations. State and local authorities participate in specific investigations and prosecutions. SWBI also involves investigation of public corruption, violent crimes (gang violence, murders, assaults, armed robberies), kidnappings, illegal alien smuggling, property crimes, civil rights violations, financial crimes, fraud (social services, motor vehicle), weapons smuggling and public corruption.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF coordinates investigative and prosecutorial planning of nine Federal agencies, the U.S. Attorneys and affected State and local law enforcement. Congress has approved an OCDETF reorganization proposal that creates a new region for the Southwest border and brings the entire border area within one OCDETF jurisdiction.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
United States Coast Guard: The saving of lives and the protection of property is the common thread that runs through all U.S. Coast Guard missions; drug interdiction is no different. Coast Guard law enforcement operations are a vital component of the supply reduction aspects of the National Drug Control Strategy. The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead U.S. agency for maritime interdiction and co-lead with the U.S. Customs Service for air interdiction. The Coast Guard is the only armed service with law enforcement authority, and thus is uniquely suited to balance the detection and monitoring support capabilities of the Department of Defense with the interdiction and apprehension efforts of other Federal law enforcement agencies.
Working in close cooperation with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Coast Guard is conducting maritime interdiction operations in the coastal waters along both ends of our border with Mexico:
- Operation Gulf Shield, centered in Brownsville, Texas is designed to shield the coastal borders of the Gulf of Mexico from maritime drug smuggling. The area of primary concern is the coast of Texas, from the border with Mexico northward 100 miles, and seaward as much as 15 miles.
- Operation Border Shield, centered in San Diego, California is designed to shield the coastal borders of Southern California from maritime drug smuggling. The two areas of primary concern are the northern Baja Peninsula (offshore component), where Coast Guard air and surface patrol assets operate, and the U.S.-MX border area (inshore component) in which coordinated, real time end-game interdiction is conducted with multiagency forces.
In addition, the Coast Guard has established communications protocols between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy to facilitate the rapid and accurate exchange of maritime interdiction tactical information during Operation Gulf Shield. This communications regime allows on scene commanders to respond in a timely fashion to the consequences of operational events occurring across the maritime border. Efforts are underway to establish a similar communication regime to support Operation Border Shield.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
The State Department, as lead foreign affairs agency, is responsible for the overall execution and coordination of U.S. policy toward Mexico, including law enforcement and counternarcotics cooperation. While the Department operates exclusively in the foreign arena, it seeks to complement and reinforce U.S. law enforcement efforts along the U.S. southwest border through its diplomatic and program activities in Mexico.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Southwest border counterdrug support. DoD provides a wide range of counterdrug support to U.S. Federal, State and local drug law enforcement agencies on the Southwest border, using forces provided by all branches of the active military, reserves and the National Guard. 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.
- Support to State and local law enforcement. DoD develops technology for law enforcement agencies. DoD also provides excess property to law enforcement agencies on the border, including aircraft, vehicles, boats and weapons.
- Construction of border roads and fences.
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.
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY (ONDCP)
ONDCP administers the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Three HIDTAs impact the Southwest border:
- The Southwest Border HIDTA encompasses the entire 2,000 mile border one to two counties deep. It is divided into five regional partnerships of Federal, State and local enforcement agencies. Each partnership has an Executive Committee which oversees joint drug and money laundering task forces, regional intelligence centers and joint interdiction operations.
- The Los Angeles HIDTA oversees five major drug task forces in four counties in southern California. Efforts of this HIDTA include drug task forces that dismantle and disrupt regional, national and international trafficking and money laundering organizations.
- The Houston HIDTA efforts include major drug squads to dismantle and disrupt drug traffickers and task forces that focus on money laundering and violent gangs.
COORDINATION
There are nine principal Federal coordinating mechanisms that are concerned with illegal drug activity in the Southwest border region:
High Level Contact Group (HLCG). Convened by the President in March 1996 and chaired by the Director, ONDCP, the purpose of the HLCG is to coordinate anti-drug efforts between the United States and the Government of Mexico.
The Interdiction Committee (TIC). Founded in 1987, TIC is a multi-agency collegial body of Federal agency leaders chartered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to discuss and resolve issues related to the coordination, oversight and integration of international, border and domestic interdiction efforts in support of the National Drug Control Strategy. The membership includes:
- Commissioner of Customs
- Commandant of the Coast Guard
- Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
- Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- Director of Operations for the Joint Staff
- Department of Defense Coordinator for Drug Enforcement Policy and Support
The Deputy Director for Supply Reduction, ONDCP, serves as an active participant at the meetings.
Attorney General's Executive Committee (AGEC). Convened in November 1996, the AGEC is chaired by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California and composed of representatives from ONDCP, DEA, FBI, INS, DoJ Criminal Division, Treasury and the U.S. Customs Service. It is responsible for coordinating the attack on border crime: illegal drugs, violence, corruption and illegal aliens.
Operation Alliance (Alliance). Established in 1986, Alliance coordinates Federal, State and local law enforcement efforts along the Southwest border. It also coordinates and prioritizes law enforcement requests for military counterdrug assistance through Joint Task Force Six (JTF-6). Alliance leadership rotates among the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration on a two-year basis. TIC has oversight responsibility for Operation Alliance.
Southwest Border Council (SBC). Convened in 1994, the SBC is composed of Department of Justice (DoJ) officials. The purpose of the Council is to support the DoJ Southwest Border Initiative.
Bilateral Working Group (BWG). Initiated by the Secretary of Defense in 1995, the BWG established military-to-military counterdrug cooperation developed jointly by senior military representatives of the United States and the Government of Mexico.
Senior Law Enforcement Plenary (Plenary). Formed in February 1995, the Plenary is co-chaired by Deputy Attorneys General for the United States and Mexico and meets quarterly in Washington and Mexico City. Its working groups meet more frequently.
Border Liaison Mechanism (BLM). Through the BLM, U.S. and Mexican Consuls or Consuls General, civic leaders and law enforcement agencies share information and discuss problems on issues including civil rights of U.S. and Mexican citizens, ways of enhancing law enforcement, cooperation in transborder crime, child custody issues and response to emergencies.
RESOURCES
In FY 1997, the total enacted funding for Federal drug control activities in the Southwest border region was approximately $1.7 billion, supporting over 7,700 agents/inspectors. The Administration's FY 1998 request is for approximately $1.8 billion and over 8,300 agents/inspectors. A number of enhancements for Southwest border drug control activities are included in the FY 1998 budget request; key among these are:
- DEA's request for 192 positions (96 special agents, 50 intelligence analysts and 46 support personnel) to increase investigative and law enforcement efforts.
- INS' request for 500 additional Border Patrol agents and 50 support personnel to stem the flow of illegal drugs and illegal aliens across the Southwest border.
- FBI's request for 69 additional FBI agents to expand field investigations and address public corruption matters on the Southwest border.
- USCS' request for 119 additional cargo inspectors at ports of entry along the Southwest border and south Florida. Also USCS Land Border Passenger Processing Initiative will enhance interdiction efforts along the Southwest border.
