Many Americans falsely think migrants are bringing most of the - NPR So, we are trying to understand how people or traffickers are producing methamphetamines. In the 2023 World Drug Report, UNODC cites record illicit drug supply and increasingly agile trafficking networks worldwide. I have been able to connect our agencys intelligence officers with U.S. partners in relation to other modes, such as small marine vessels. Postal Service, Homeland Security and DEA targeting various types of drugs.". And while the benefits of a possible significant reduction in illicit opium cultivation in Afghanistan this year would be global, it would be at the expense of many farmers with no alternative means to generate income. "CBP pledges to work to disrupt and ultimately eliminate these ongoing threats against our communities.". "We need to continue what were doing and step up our game," he said, adding that getting more help from CBPs foreign counterparts and other U.S. agencies is important. With the coordination with [the Texas Military Department] and DPS, we can identify some of the vehicle or groups that are crossing and easily intercept them., WATCH: DPS Arrests Out-Of-State Driver, Passenger For Human Smuggling. The FY 2022 opioid seizures included 20,981 pounds of fentanyl, a 44% increase from FY 2021. picked up Christopher Cruz at a stash house in this border city near the Gulf of Mexico. In the countrys historic capital city, Tashkent, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia has brought together a group of dedicated professionals to form its Information Centre for Researching and Analyzing Transnational Threats Related to Drugs and Crime., The head of the Centre Salome Flores says her teams mission is clear: to produce knowledge that is objective, impartial, and well-integrated for the right people at the right time.. The Fourth Division is an elite Syrian army unit tasked with protecting the government from internal and external threats. Back then, narco tunnels were short and unsophisticated. Fentanyl seizures are not evidence of an 'open border' Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has the latest as Senate Republicans call for an amendment on Title 42. "Plan for the worst-case scenario.". Drug smuggling, and the endless battle to stop it Gustavo Solis | The Desert Sun | USA TODAY NETWORK Mike Unzueta remembers. Some of the places taking most advantage of this advanced targeting information are the CBP offices at express carrier hubs, such as the one in Memphis, Tennessee, where shipping giant FedEx processes hundreds of thousands of international packages each day, many of them from overseas locations where opioids are initially produced. Working in this field is a dangerous business, particularly for Afghan nationals. Over time, the cartels learned from previous mistakes and began to build longer and more sophisticated tunnels complete with lights, ventilation systems, and railroad carts to facilitate the movement of drugs and other illicit commodities like people, bulk cash, and weapons. All eight illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection | U Besides the shipments and packages identified by the targeting center, all international mail coming into the U.S. is X-rayed. Sharing it will allow our officers to recognize it should they encounter it.". Read about our approach to external linking. UNODC World Drug Report 2023 warns of converging crises as illicit drug I am proud to see this bill pass the House, and I will continue championing this effort until it is signed into law. Combating emerging and existing Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO), An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Identifying, disrupting and dismantling international drug trafficking organizations, High intensity drug trafficking area task forces, Sign up to receive Narcotics email updates, Immigration Authority Delegation Program 287(g). Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Nationwide Coalition of Sheriffs A knowledge-based approach to tackling Afghanistan's drug abuse crisis 6:20 6-Minute Listen Playlist Download Embed Transcript NPR's Michel Martin. Rent is falling across the U.S. for the first time since 2020 . But shipments through international mail and package delivery services are closer to 100 percent pure fentanyl, meaning smaller, but more deadly quantities come through the mail and package deliveries. In this poverty-stricken country, opium cultivation remains very attractive and lucrative, as farmers can earn about 30 cents for 7 kg of tomatoes while the current price of 1 kg of opium is about $360. Cartels are increasingly smuggling deadly fentanyl across the border. Of course, smuggling drugs across the border comes with the risk of packages being seized by our border law enforcement agencies. . In the 1980s, small planes started making runs to off-the-grid makeshift landing strips until the DEA caught up using advanced radar and interdiction flights to foil those efforts. DeSantis announces 'No Excuses' plan to secure U.S. border Photo illustration of 2 milligrams of fentanyl, a lethal dose in most people. Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry. These "narcodrones" are easily purchased and can carry up to several pounds. DPS troopers noticed a blacked-out ATV leaving the river and travelling toward them. "We have to keep illicit opioids out of the hands of family, friends and loved ones. ", "Customs and Border Protection has a large role in battling the opioid emergency, because were at the front lines, at the border," said Amy Schapiro, whos involved in the agencys response and is acting branch chief in the Integrated Planning Division of the Operations Support Office for CBP in Washington, D.C. "Illicit fentanyl is produced outside the continental United States, so every time its being used, its somehow crossing our borders to get into this country. "Our goal is to stop the illicit drugs.". A DPS Tactical Flight Officer working as part of Operation Lone Star discovered 300 lbs. The numbers are shocking. Synthetics and methamphetamines seizures are skyrocketing across the region, quadrupling in Tajikistan and increasing a whopping 11-fold in Kyrgyzstan. ", "Tackling this complex threat involves a united, comprehensive strategy and an aggressive approach by multiple entities across all levels of government," Commissioner McAleenan said. American Smugglers. Republican August Pfluger represents Texas' 11th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. However, the most instrumental tool the team uses in its work is the methodology built by UNODC over the past three decades to remotely identify crops. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is now the leading cause of death of Americans aged 18 to 45 years old. Success is in active deterrents, being able to observe, report, and improve the response time., Having soldiers here helps to increase the amount of surveillance we can conduct on some of these areas so we can identify other smuggling locations, said Jose Sanchez, DPS regional director in El Paso. Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border. The conditions in the 1,000-bed facility are dire. As CBP develops enhanced capabilities that will enable detection of tunnels along the border, drug cartels have become emboldened, creating more elaborate and harder to detect tunnel systems. During the extreme summer months, illegal immigrants have also died attempting the trek from Mexico through the region. The rise of fentanyl means CBP canines need to be ready to safely sniff out the deadly opioid. Of Marijuana In Big Bend National Park. "They would pick a meeting place and we would buy from Hezbollah. . UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres will be in Doha, Qatar, on Monday to host a two-day meeting on Afghanistan, bringing together special envoys from various countries. What's demonstrably effective at stopping the flow of drugs across the border? Where is fentanyl being seized? To minimize this risk, in 1989, the Sinaloa Cartel built the first ever "narco" tunnel. "Through our research and collaboration with CBPs Laboratory and Scientific Services Directorate, as well as other CBP and Department of Homeland Security components, we put together a very rigorous and safety conscious training program.". Tarantino said while the dangers are increasingly clear, part of what they are teaching officers and agents includes debunking some myths. Those in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas appreciate the information CBP shares through the DHE network to stop opioid smugglers in their tracks. Yes, and smuggling of undocumented migrants was exactly why Altar became such a profitable plaza. He said aggregated data is shared, so rather than individual fields, we do it by district or by province.. The Domestic Highway Enforcement, or DHE, program links local, state and federal law enforcement officials, in addition to North American international partners, such as Canada Border Services Agency, to catch drugs, currency, counterfeit money, and other contraband, and to break up human trafficking rings. Texas has also bused almost 8,300 migrants to our nation's capital since April, over 3,700 migrants to New York City since August 5, and more than 1,200 migrants to Chicago since August 31. Most important, avoid turning the opioid into an air-born danger and breathing it in, as inhalation increases the risk, - Wear the proper protective equipment: gloves, respirator masks and eye protection. "So a kilo of fentanyl has one million doses in it. . "The scale of the revenues dwarfs the Syrian state budget," Joel Rayburn, a former US special envoy to Syria, told the BBC. If The Boss really is Gen Bilal, the conversation suggests that one of Syria's most senior army officers is linked to the illegal Captagon trade, worth billions of dollars. The efforts are also paying off as more smugglers are being caught. Inside a smuggling operation moving migrants across the US-Mexico border But thats just one possibility, adds the Head of the Information Centre, Ms. Flores. Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here. "If the Captagon revenues were stopped or seriously disrupted, I don't think the Assad regime could survive that.". Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "Weve been full speed for a couple of years now," he said. The Biden Administration is the critical link in an illegal transnational human smuggling syndicate," Gov. Captagon is a highly addictive amphetamine-like drug that has plagued the Middle East in recent years. After months of security preparation the BBC was able to get rare access to the Syrian Armed Forces in government-controlled Aleppo. Officials report the cartels now are recruiting American teenagers to move drugs across the border. DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez told Fox News the Big Bend region is frequented by drug smugglers because of the harsh, remote terrain. As part of the UNODC team in Afghanistan, they had conducted field visits and surveys until the agency decided to end these operations after the Taliban came to power. "One year ago today, an unthinkable crime perpetrated by human smugglers at our southern border caused the death of 53 human beings," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco . Cartels Are Using 'Narco-Drones' to Smuggle Drugs Across US Border "The staff did exceptional work here to implement the additional safety precautions with this substance. Without this type of investment, illicit economies will continue to thrive. The border-crossing nature of the illegal opioid smuggling market makes it essential that CBP also partners with other law enforcement entities charged with helping stop this scourge. DPS Stops Drug Smuggling Attempt, Seizes Nearly 300 Lbs. Mexico is the primary source of fentanyl and synthetic opioids entering the United States. Hezbollah's fighters have played a key role in helping the Syrian government turn the tide in the civil war and are reported to have a presence throughout Syria. Saddiqi (a pseudonym) is one of the staff members who deemed it necessary to protect his identity. In 2021 alone, 505 Americans were found with drugs hidden in them. The experts at the UN agency were able to develop hundreds of signatures using this method which required surveyors to visit specific GPS locations to verify the initial analysis. After crossing the border, two illegal immigrants attempted to evade federal law enforcement agents. Soldiers described one recent duty monitoring a storm drain where several illegal immigrants had been hiding. Afghanistan is the worlds largest supplier of opium, accounting for some 80 per cent of the global market. Drug and Migrant Smuggling Across the US-Mexico Border: An - Lawfare "But with some of the synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, the risk has changed.". Investigators say they collected enough precursor chemicals of the deadly drug to kill 25 million people. If you stop one illicit activity, it may be replaced by another because people have to make sure there is food on the table, she says. HSIs multi-pronged approach entails working with foreign partners to prevent opioids and other dangerous drugs from reaching our shores; combatting the illicit importation and distribution of opioids and opioid precursors through international mail facilities and express consignment centers; exploiting cutting-edge technology to deter TCOs operating in the cyber realm; attacking the illicit use of financial systems and virtual currencies; and leveraging critical partnerships with state, local and federal law enforcement. Now the drug is being found in Europe, Africa and Asia. . Syria: New Captagon drug trade link to top officials found - BBC News Since the Taliban came to power in 2021, international funding has dried up, leaving underpaid, poorly trained staff to deal with patients. Centre for knowledge. HSI continues to prioritize investigations into individuals and organizations that illicitly introduce fentanyl, heroin and other dangerous opioids into the United States and gravely impact the health of our citizens and the safety of our communities. But with the de facto authorities clamping down, there are indications that the market is changing. (Rep. Lance Gooden's office). Its trying to get that same mindset if handling contraband," said Hanke. Photo by Kris Grogan, CBP officers search a package at the International Mail Facility in Miami. FEDS DISCOVER 'MOST SOPHISTICATED' CROSS-BORDER TUNNEL WITH EXTENSIVE VENTILATION, RAIL SYSTEM. U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP. Whether four-legged or two, Tarantino said keeping all CBP assets safe from opioids is the goal. How Do Illegal Drugs Cross The U.S.-Mexico Border? : NPR Those busts are not at. Organised immigration crime. Between October of 2020 and March of 2021, that number jumped to 7 times as many Americans arrested. In addition, properly worn protective equipment gives significant protection against opioid exposure in most situations. How Mexico's Cartels Are Using Drones for Attacks and Drug Smuggling A 2018 report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that more than 800,000 migrants from around the world were smuggled into Mexico and from there, smuggled or attempted to be smuggled . "Weve gotten officers out of the mindset of pulling out their knives and cutting into the package. And of course, if we can understand that, then we will be able to inform the authorities so they can act. Overall, CBP seized nearly 1,500 pounds of fentanyl during fiscal year 2017, partly due to the efforts of CBPs National Targeting Center. Homes line a hill on the edge of Kabul city. DPS troopers apprehended six illegal immigrants during a traffic stop in Kinney County. He said those in the field are trained to a standard used by medical responders for years: Treat every person and every object in the same way, using the proper protections and procedures. Gen Bilal is Maher al-Assad's number two in the Fourth Division, and is understood to run its powerful Security Bureau. When you look at how the drugs are coming in through the ports or the mail and express consignments, that is CBPs responsibility to stop it at those points.". The smuggler was arrested and charged with human smuggling. Stavinoha said its not practical to check every package coming through because express carrier companies deliver time-sensitive packages, such as lifesaving medical supplies. A total of 34 illegal immigrants from Mexico were apprehended and referred to Border Patrol. So it opens the doors for the exchange of information that helps us all do our jobs.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And it only takes about 2 milligrams (.000070 ounces) for a fatal dose. More teams are being trained and sent to where they can do the most good, safely. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. Border Patrol apprehended two of the male suspects after they attempted to run. In that light, Ms. Mittal emphasized the importance of the Centre not only to the United Nations, the region and the international community, but also for the de facto authorities themselves. SAN DIEGO A former Marine who for years helped smuggle drugs from Mexico into the United States and even tried to get a song written to glorify his . Drug trafficking - National Crime Agency (Rep. Lance Gooden's office) (), Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno visits the border in Rio Grande Valley. HSI special agents across the United States and around the world remain on the front lines of the global fight to identify, disrupt and dismantle cartels and other transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) engaged in illegal narcotics smuggling activities. Southwest Border Smuggling and Violence Most illicit drugs available in the United States and thousands of illegal immigrants are smuggled into the United States across the nearly 2,000-mile Southwest Border, including through the Tohono O'odham Reservation (see text box ). Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry. "Were supporting prosecution in 31 current U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and 109 Homeland Security Investigations cases," he said. Gross was also quick to point out CBP didnt wait to get moving in the fight against opioids. (John Moore/Getty Images). But in the case of drugs, they want to escape the notice and punishment from authorities. Austin Texas 78711 LockA locked padlock Since so many of the opioids originate overseas, part of the work requires embassies and foreign attachs to develop high-level agreements and working groups to stop the flow of the drugs. Now, the centers became the very first nationwide to certify canine teams to detect the odor of fentanyl. Domestically, HSI continues to expand its Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) footprint across the U.S. and uses the model to ensure a comprehensive interagency response to the continuous border security, public safety and national security threat posed by drug trafficking organizations. Speaking to us from exile, a Syrian journalist from the Suweida area explained: "Hezbollah is involved but is very careful not to have its members playing key roles in transporting and smuggling the merchandise.". Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. An official website of the United States government. HSI utilizes its expansive statutory authorities, undercover capabilities, border search authority, robust domestic and international footprint, criminal analysis capabilities and strong interagency partnerships at home and abroad to launch complex criminal investigations designed to expose and take down sophisticated networks that produce, transport, broker, finance, sell and distribute illegal drugs. Domestically, HSI continues to expand its Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) footprint across the U.S. and uses the model to ensure a comprehensive interagency response to the continuous border security, public safety and national security threat posed by drug trafficking organizations. So his people rely on good intel from the National Targeting Center. "A dose of fentanyl is only 1 milligram (.000035 ounces)," said Gross. People do this with many different items, for two main reasons. "We create advanced, predictable targets and let agents and officers at these ports know to be on the lookout for particular types of shipments," said Robert Gross, chief watch commander at the centers cargo headquarters in Sterling, Virginia. We want to keep them safe while they do it," Tarantino said. "As we develop new targets, it leads to more targets and new investigations.". Former opium poppy farmer cultivating tomatoes in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. There are many dangers lurking in the shadows just off the bustling streets of the Afghan capital Kabul, but none is more threatening than the drug abuse crisis that is ravaging the city, and the entire country. Gross listed some of the latest opioid seizures the center helped with during 2016 and 2017: - 10 heroin seizures totaling nearly 18 pounds, - Six seizures of opium weighing almost 33 pounds, - 26 seizures of fentanyl weighing nearly 33 pounds. Ms. Flores said her team aims to monitor and analyse all the transnational threats in the region, including human trafficking which is a growing risk with the migratory flow of people from Afghanistan, as well as the smuggling of firearms, illicit mining, wildlife trafficking, and falsified medicines as a growing trend in the region. HIDTA assists federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies working these U.S. drug-trafficking regions. In the absence of true sustainable development in Afghanistan, illicit activities will likely persist as a plague in the country and in turn infect the world, making the work of the Information Centre instrumental in addressing these challenges. ", "I think were making a difference," Spataro said. Syria's government has not responded to the BBC's request for comment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM REP. AUGUST PFLUGER. HSI-led BESTs teams - which are comprised of . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden's open border policies. He said dealers consider the American drug user as a "lab rat." 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