[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49684-49685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25162]


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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Office of National Drug Control Policy


Designation of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas

AGENCY: Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the 
President.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice lists two (2) new High Intensity Drug Trafficking 
Areas designated by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy. HIDTAs are domestic regions identified as having the most 
critical drug trafficking problems that adversely affect the United 
States. These new HIDTAs are designated pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 1504(c), 
as amended, to promote more effective coordination of drug control 
efforts. The additional resources provided by Congress enable task 
forces of local, State and Federal officials to assess regional drug 
threats, design strategies to combat the threats, develop initiatives 
to implement the strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of these 
coordinated efforts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding this 
notice should be directed to Mr. Richard Y. Yamamoto, Director, HIDTA, 
Office

[[Page 49685]]

of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, 
Washington, D.C. 20503; 202-395-6755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1990, the Director of ONDCP designated 
the first five HIDTAs. These original HIDTAs, areas through which most 
illegal drugs enter the United States, are the Southwest Border, 
Houston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and South Florida. In 1994, 
the Director designated the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA to address the 
extensive drug distribution networks serving hardcore drug users. Also 
in 1994, the Director designated Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands as a 
HIDTA based on the significant amount of drugs entering the United 
States through this region. In 1995, the Director designated three more 
HIDTAs in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia/Camden to target drug 
abuse and drug trafficking in those areas.
    Five additional HIDTAs were designated on December 20, 1996. These 
are: the Gulf Coast HIDTA (includes parts of Alabama, Louisiana, and 
Mississippi); the Lake County, Indiana HIDTA, the Midwest HIDTA 
(includes parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, 
with focus on methamphetamine); the Northwest HIDTA (includes seven 
counties of Washington State); and the Rocky Mountain HIDTA (includes 
parts of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming).
    The program supports more than 160 collocated officer/agent task 
forces; strengthens mutually supporting local, State, and Federal drug 
trafficking and money laundering task forces; bolsters information 
analysis and sharing networks; and, improves integration of law 
enforcement, drug treatment and drug abuse prevention programs. The 
states and counties included in the two new HIDTAs are:
    (1) Southeastern Michigan--The following Michigan counties: Wayne, 
Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw.
    (2) San Francisco Bay Area--The following California counties: 
Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, 
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. this 10th day of September, 1997.
Barry R. McCaffrey,
Director.
[FR Doc. 97-25162 Filed 9-22-97; 8:45 am]
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