Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

 CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT SENDS LETTER REQUESTING MEETING REGARDING FUNDING AND RECENT ACTIVITIES OF HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS (HIDTA) PROGRAM AND THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (DEA)  

 Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI), released the following statement regarding a letter she has sent to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and the Drug Enforcement Agency regarding their budget and their recent activity in the Territory:

“The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States.

"The purpose of the HIDTA program is to reduce drug trafficking and production in the United States by:

·        Facilitating cooperation among Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to share information and implement coordinated enforcement activities;

·        Enhancing law enforcement intelligence sharing among Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies;

·        Providing reliable law enforcement intelligence to law enforcement agencies to facilitate the design of effective enforcement strategies and operations; and

·        Supporting coordinated law enforcement strategies that make the most of available resources to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in designated areas of the United States and in the Nation as a whole.

“I have written those with HIDTA and the DEA to determine their needs at this time as we here in Congress are finalizing appropriations request from various agencies. It would be important to know exactly what is needed to make sure the HITDA program and the DEA have all they need to combat drug trafficking and other illegal activities in the Virgin Islands. My letter also asked for a briefing regarding recent helicopter activity in the Territory which came in close proximity to children and other vulnerable members of the community. I look forward to the response from the HITDA program and the DEA.”

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