DHS Announces new strategy to strengthen fight against fentanyl and synthetic drugs
On October 26, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its sub-agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), revealed an updated strategy aimed at combating the opioid crisis in America, particularly the proliferation of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. The announcement comes as part of the Biden Administration's Unity Agenda Strategy to tackle the overdose epidemic, according to the press release.
"We are cracking down on the ruthless cartels and criminal organizations that are responsible," said Troy A. Miller, CBP's Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner.
According to the release, the updated strategy was unveiled by Troy A. Miller during a news conference in San Diego. The new approach builds on CBP's previous initiatives and introduces Operation Apollo, a Southern California-based joint operation focused on intelligence collection and interagency cooperation.
Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, emphasized the agency's dedication to fighting the opioid crisis. "We have stopped more fentanyl in the last two years than in the previous five years combined," he said. Mayorkas also called on Congress to allocate additional resources to CBP as outlined in the Administration's supplemental budget request.
The new strategy focuses on four key goals: to promote collaboration and information-sharing to combat illicit synthetic drug networks; to produce actionable intelligence for targeting these networks; to conduct coordinated intelligence and data-driven operations to target production, trafficking, and distribution; and to promote safe handling, protocols, and educational materials to protect the CBP workforce, families, and communities.
Operation Apollo will lead efforts to disrupt drug and chemical supply chains, share intelligence, and leverage valuable partnerships across federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
The updated strategy aims to adapt to the evolving threat landscape. While fentanyl production was primarily based in China in 2018, it has since expanded to other countries, including Mexico, making interdiction efforts more challenging. The strategy aims to target suspicious locations and recipients that demonstrate patterns of illicit activity.
In just four months of operation, CBP's Operation Artemis led to over 900 seizures, including significant amounts of fentanyl precursor chemicals and finished synthetic drugs.
