IV. Agency Budget Summaries

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

1. RESOURCE SUMMARY

   

2. METHODOLOGY
   • Budget requests for drug enforcement are based on necessary funding to support staffing, training, equipment, aircraft surveillance, and other related operational costs. Funding is requested to maintain a level of presence on Service-owned lands in order to detect, eradicate, and provide a level of deterrence. Funds also help support interdiction efforts at Southwest refuges and by wildlife inspection at ports of entry.

3. PROGRAM SUMMARY
   • Emphasis is placed on locating and eliminating drug use on National Wildlife Refuges. Special emphasis is placed on drug use among hunters. Special checkpoints on refuge tour routes and during refuge hunting programs are coordinated with local law enforcement agencies.

   • Refuge officers work closely with other agencies and task forces on the Southwest Border National Wildlife Refuges. Cooperation is especially close with the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Wildlife inspectors work closely with U.S. Customs at ports-of-entry.

   • Task forces consisting of refuge officers and special agents work together with local law enforcement agencies to apprehend persons cultivating marijuana on National Wildlife Refuge lands. Methamphetamine laboratory activity has been detected on Southwest Border refuges. Investigations of this activity will be initiated.

4. BUDGET SUMMARY

   1998 Program

   Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.

   • The FY 1998 program includes $0.1 million to support Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy. The funding is for efforts to improve the Federal drug law enforcement investigative and intelligence programs and to apprehend drug traffickers and seize their drugs.

   Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.
   • The FY 1998 program includes $0.45 million to support Goal 4 of the National Drug Control Strategy. The funding is directed at counter-drug efforts on Federal lands under the management of the Service.

   Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.
   • The FY 1998 program includes $0.45 million to support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy. The funding is directed at breaking foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

   1999 Request

   • The total drug control FY 1999 budget request is $1.0 million.

   Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.

   • The total drug control request for Goal 2 activities for FY 1999 is $0.1 million, which is consistent with the funding level of prior years.
     • The Service will continue to focus its efforts on locating and eliminating drug use during public use activities on National Wildlife Refuges. Special emphasis will be placed on drug use among hunters.

   Goal 4: Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.
   • The total drug control request for Goal 4 activities for FY 1999 is $0.45 million, which is consistent with the funding level of prior years.
     • Refuge officers will work closely with other agencies and task forces on the Southwest Border National Wildlife Refuges. Wildlife inspectors will work closely with U.S. Customs at port-of-entry.

   Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.
   • The total drug control request for Goal 5 activities for FY 1999 is $0.45 million, which is consistent with the funding level of prior years. Service refuge officers and special agents will focus their efforts on marijuana eradication. Investigations of methamphetamine laboratory activity on Southwest Border National Wildlife Refuges will be initiated.

5. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
   • The continuing number of drug-related arrests is generally associated with the use of marijuana and alcohol on refuge property. Cocaine seizures may fluctuate as drug cartels continue to operate sophisticated operations, frequently probing the border region on Refuge land or sending individuals with small "test" quantities of narcotics to determine where U.S. enforcement activities are most effective.

   • The following are some specific drug-related activities:
     • The number of drug cases in FY 1997 was 285.

     • The value of seized drugs in FY 1997 is estimated at $50 million.

     • The number of cultivated marijuana plants that were seized in FY 1997 was 1,500.

     • There were 200,000 wild plants eradicated in FY 1997.

     • Also, FWS seized 12,000 pounds of marijuana in FY 1997.

Previous

Contents

Next