Washington, D.C. – Today, at the request of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Senator Pat Toomey, and Senator Bob Casey, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated Bucks County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Fitzpatrick received a call at 2:00pm this afternoon from James Carroll, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, regarding this decision.
The HIDTA designation grants Bucks County access to additional federal resources for the purposes of enhancing coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement officials in drug prevention and control efforts.
On June 28, 2019, Fitzpatrick, Toomey, and Casey sent a letter to ONDCP Director James Carroll encouraging the designation of Bucks County as a HIDTA.
“This important designation will help equip law enforcement with the resources needed to effectively combat the opioid crisis our community faces,” said Fitzpatrick. “Located near Philadelphia and various ports of entry, Bucks County has for too long been in the crosshairs of drug traffickers who show callous disregard for the wellbeing of our neighbors. I applaud the decision of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the work of Director Jim Carroll, and the leadership of Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey which will help save lives here in Bucks County.”
“Every corner of our commonwealth is struggling with drug abuse, whether it be fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamines, or cocaine,” said Toomey. “Bucks County – with its proximity to numerous major ports and highways – has proven to be a significant center of illegal drug trafficking and distribution. To help stem the tide, law enforcement officials in Bucks County need greater access to law enforcement resources. The ONDCP made the right decision with this designation and I thanked Director Carroll for working with me and my colleagues on this matter when I spoke with him today.”
“The opioid crisis continues to impact too many families across Pennsylvania,” said Casey. “That’s why I’m pleased that ONDCP has taken a step forward in designating Bucks County as part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. I was proud to advocate in favor of this designation and I am hopeful that the region will now be better suited to address the opioid crisis. I will continue to push for improved tools and resources as we address the epidemic together.”
You may view the letter Fitzpatrick, Toomey, and Casey wrote HERE.
More on High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs)
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.
This designation enables areas to receive federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officers, and allows local agencies to benefit from ongoing HIDTA initiatives that are working to reduce drug trafficking across the United States.
More on Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
ONDCP was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. The ONDCP Director is the principal advisor to the President on drug control issues. ONDCP coordinates the drug-control activities and related funding of 16 Federal Departments and Agencies.