NCJ Number
139449
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 59 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1992) Pages: 68,70,72,77-78
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies have been working together successfully for more than 5 years to identify cooperative methods for countering drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Abstract
The National Drug Control Strategy focuses on supply reduction programs through the designation of five, high-density drug trafficking areas (HIDTA's). Four of the five HIDTA's are the metropolitan areas of Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. The fifth HIDTA is regional, comprised of 28 counties in the four border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Operation Alliance, established in 1986, is a coordinating center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas that includes Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. The mission of Operation Alliance is to support and coordinate multiagency efforts to disrupt the flow of drugs and contraband across the U.S.-Mexico border and to administer the Southwest border HIDTA program. Operation Alliance works closely with the military; the program is colocated with Joint Task Force Six (JTF- 6), the Department of Defense command established at Fort Bliss. JTF-6 has specific, defined relationships with law enforcement agencies regarding intelligence support and works closely with the El Paso Intelligence Center. The number of missions performed by JTF-6 is one indicator of the positive relationship between the military and law enforcement. In 1990, JTF-6 performed 34 missions in support of 20 different law enforcement agencies. In 1991, this figure grew to 279 requests from more than 100 agencies. In 1992, JTF-6 has received more than 300 requests and the total number of missions is expected to exceed 500. In general, efforts of the Southwest Border Joint Command Group are designed to cause drug traffickers to react to law enforcement initiatives.