The U.S. Treasury is set to establish a new task force aimed at combating the illegal trafficking of fentanyl across North America. This proactive measure targets an ongoing issue affecting communities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
To be jointly spearheaded by the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), the Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force will focus on leveraging resources and intelligence to tackle illicit fentanyl trafficking within U.S. borders. According to a press release by the U.S. Department of Treasury, curbing the flow of fentanyl has emerged as a key objective for the Treasury Department. The statement noted that all available tools would be deployed to thwart drug trafficking operations in the country, including collaboration with Mexico and Canada via the North American Drug Dialogue.
By harnessing its expertise in detecting and battling financial crimes, the Strike Force aims to further President Biden's counternarcotic objectives. Sanctions imposed by the Strike Force are expected to cripple the global illicit supply chain and deter potential sellers from expanding their operations. "Partnerships are key to the work we do at IRS Criminal Investigation, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with our Treasury counterparts to combat fentanyl; one of the deadliest narcotics plaguing our country," co-chair CI Chief Jim Lee stated in this press release. He continued, "To date, our team has played a key role in sanctioning and bringing criminal charges against individuals and entities involved in fentanyl trafficking, and we look forward to using our financial expertise to further disrupt the flow of fentanyl into the United States."
The formation of this Task Force will heighten efforts towards disrupting fentanyl trade as it strategically aligns investigations while consolidating information across all components. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is set to combine analytic prowess with CI, utilizing insights gleaned from Office of Intelligence Analysis (OIA). The resultant combination intends to equip the Strike Force with superior intelligence on cryptocurrency drug trafficking, according to another U.S. Department of Treasury press release.
