Mission of the HIDTA Program

The mission of the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program is to enhance and coordinate America's

drug-control efforts among local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies in order to eliminate or reduce drug

trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.  The mission includes coordination

efforts to reduce the production, manufacturing, distribution, transportation and chronic use of illegal drugs, as well

as the attendant money laundering of drug proceeds.

From the Beginning

Realizing that drug trafficking in certain areas of the United States affects other areas of the country, Congress

established the HIDTA Program to operate under the direction of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P. L.100-690, November 18, 1988) and the ONDCP Reauthorization Act of 1998.

The HIDTA Program provides Federal assistance to better coordinate and enhance counterdrug law enforcement

efforts of local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies in areas where major drug production, manufacturing,

importation, or distribution flourish.  The HIDTA Program designates geographic areas to which Federal resources are

allocated to link local, state, and Federal drug enforcement efforts and to optimize the investigative return on limited

fiscal and personnel resources.  Properly targeted, HIDTAs offer greater efficiency in countering illegal drug trade in

local areas.  HIDTA Programs are based on a logical, comprehensive methodology for prioritizing needs and working

with other initiatives.  In 1990, Federal funds were appropriated to five areas of the United States that were considered

the most critical high intensity drug trafficking area "gateways" for drugs entering the nation.  The five regions included

specific designated counties in Los Angeles, Houston, New York/New Jersey, South Florida and the Southwest Border.  

As an innovative and unique program, ONDCP established a policy and strategy for the HIDTA Program, consistent with

congressional intent.  The HIDTA concept of coordinating drug law enforcement efforts in critical areas of the United States

has remained and thrived.  To further build on the efforts to combat drug-related crime and counter drug trafficking, the

Administration and members of Congress have continued to support the program, which currently consists of 26

designated HIDTA regions.  The Program has achieved a great deal of success in breaking down old barriers between

the local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies.  Coordinating efforts and sharing information has extended beyond

a single initiative or task force, to between initiatives and task forces in a single HIDTA, a region, and among HIDTAs nationally.

Challenges for the Future

After several decades of wrestling with the drug problem, drug-related violence and crime continue to be among the most

profound problems confronting the Nation.  Although drug-related crime and drug use have declined, illicit drugs continue to

take the lives of Americans and cost billions to our society.  The Nation working together has made substantial progress in

confronting illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse; however serious challenges remain.  The HIDTA Program has begun a

review process that includes on-site visits to HIDTAs by ONDCP staff, as well as members from the Departments of Justice

and Treasury.  The on-site reviews will help strengthen management at the individual HIDTAs, and policy at the National level.

This will provide greater communication with the National office.  Additionally, the individual 0HIDTA sites are obtaining the

ability to share "best practices" around the Nation.  The HIDTA regions are achieving a closer working relationship

with the El Paso Intelligence Center for the accumulation of  methamphetamine intelligence. Additionally, the National Drug

Intelligence Center is being utilized for the streamlining and production of regional and National threat assessments.

HIDTA is closely coordinating efforts with complimentary programs such as OCDETF and HIFCAs and with National Centers

(EPIC, FinCEN, NDIC, and CNC) to eliminate duplication of effort and maximize drug control efforts regionally and nationally.

To achieve its mission, the HIDTA Program must continue to enhance performance; work to develop a system that enhances

synchronization of drug control efforts, not only in task forces but also among task forces; and continue to improve its performance

measures.  In addition, to help protect America from increasingly sophisticated threats; the abilities of joint law enforcement efforts

must grow with technology.  Although the challenges are great, the HIDTA Program is one of America's most powerful tools for

addressing the drug problem.  The strategies and initiatives that have been developed as a result of the HIDTA Program's

coordination infrastructure are a significant component in America's domestic drug fighting arsenal. The resulting

accomplishments of intelligence initiatives along with successful interdiction operations, multi-agency investigations and

prosecutions are a vivid example of the benefits of leveraging resources and maximizing intelligence-sharing and

cooperative drug enforcement operations.  Although the historical trends of the drug problem will not be reversed overnight,

the mission is clear and achievable: America has joined forces to reduce drug trafficking.