[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 60444-60445] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-28988] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY Designation of Three (3) Additional Counties in New Mexico as Part of the New Mexico Partnership/Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area AGENCY: Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice lists the counties of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, and San Juan in New Mexico designated by the Director of National Drug Control Policy, as additions to the New Mexico Partnership/Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The New Mexico Partnership currently consists of 10 counties and municipalities New Mexico. HIDTAs are domestic regions identified as having the most critical drug trafficking problems that adversely affect the United States. These new counties are designated pursuant to 21 USC 1706 (b), as amended, to promote more effective coordination of drug control efforts. This action will support local, New Mexico, and federal law enforcement officers in assessing regional drug threats, designing strategies to combat [[Page 60445]] the threats, developing initiatives to implement the strategies, and evaluation of the effectiveness of these coordinated efforts. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments and questions regarding this notice should be directed to Mr. Kurt F. Schmid, Acting National HIDTA Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC 20503; 202-395-6692. 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 and the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA based upon the significant amount of drugs entering the United States through this region. In 1995, HIDTAs were designated in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia/ Camden to target drug abuse and drug trafficking in those areas. In 1997, the Gulf Coast HIDTA (includes parts of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi), the Lake County HIDTA, the Midwest HIDTA (includes parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, with the focus on methamphetamine), the Northwest HIDTA (includes seven counties of Washington State), the Rocky Mountain HIDTA (includes parts of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming), and the San Francisco HIDTA were designated. In 1998, new HIDTAs were designated in Appalachia (includes parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia), Central Florida, Milwaukee, North Texas, and Southeast Michigan. In 1999, new HIDTA's were designated in Central Valley Californina, Hawaii, New England, Ohio and Oregon. The HIDTA Program supports over 250 co-located joint task forces in twenty regions of the country, including the entire Southwest Border. The HIDTA Program strengthens local, state, and federal drug trafficking and money laundering task forces, bolsters drug enforcement information networks and, improves integration of law enforcement, drug treatment, and drug abuse prevention programs, where appropriate. Signed October 18, 1999. Barry R. McCaffrey, Director. [FR Doc. 99-28988 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3180-02-P