| General Information: |
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Year of Designation: |
1999 - Deschutes, Jackson, and Marion Counties |
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Year of Designation: |
2002 - Clackamas, Douglas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties |
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Geographic Area of Responsibility: |
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Oregon: |
Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties.
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Contact: |
(503) 378-5123 |
Mission Statement:
�To reduce drug availability by creating intelligence-driven drug task forces aimed at eliminating or reducing domestic drug trafficking and its harmful consequences by enhancing, and helping to coordinate, drug trafficking control efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.�
Oregon HIDTA federal, state, and local cooperative initiatives include, but are not limited to, intelligence sharing, investigation, investigative support, interdiction, and prosecution.
Threat Abstract:
The Oregon HIDTA designated counties contain approximately 63% of the Oregon Population or 2,233,640 people as of July 1 st , 2003. During 2004, the Oregon HIDTA Intelligence and Investigative Support Center (ISC)
identified 78 drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) with foreign and domestic connections that are actively operating in the Oregon HIDTA counties. Mexican and Caucasian DTOs control the majority of the transportation and distribution of illicit drugs into and out of the HIDTA counties. The drug distribution activities of the Mexican DTOs identified are significantly supported by illegal aliens. Mexican DTOs specialize in trafficking multiple drug types simultaneously. They are known as Poly-Drug Trafficking Organizations. They are the primary traffickers of the cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine abused in Oregon. Other DTOs and criminal groups, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs), street gangs, and Asian, Canadian, Honduran, Middle Eastern, and Russian DTOs, also transport and distribute drugs in Oregon, but to a lesser extent. MDMA, GHB, LSD, PCP, ketamine, psilocybin and pseudo-ephedrine are also smuggled into the HIDTA region. In 2003, federal law enforcement agencies seized 100,000 MDMA tablets.
An additional major threat to the entire state and especially the HIDTA region is the correlation between major drug offenders and related weapons seizures and crimes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives report that in 2003, 9,561 Oregon residents qualify as potential �armed career criminals.� Those identified as potential armed career criminals are responsible for over 41,000 criminal court charges in Oregon. Of the 9,561 potential armed career criminals, 48% (or 4,620) have a felony drug conviction as one of the three predicate offenses. Felony drug fugitives also pose a significant threat to the citizens of Oregon, and specifically the personal safety of Oregon Law Enforcement Officers. Information obtained from the U.S. Marshal's Service Portland Office (a HIDTA fugitive task force) reports that a recent survey of federal warrants in the District of Oregon identified 8 Consolidated Priority Target (CPOT) warrants, 83 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) warrants, and another 59 active federal felony drug warrants. A query of Oregon Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) shows 6,981 current felony drug warrants outstanding in Oregon, of which 77% (or 5,346) originate in Oregon HIDTA Counties.
Methamphetamine continues to be a serious and growing threat throughout Oregon and is currently the most personally and environmentally damaging and dangerous drug problem in Oregon. The �Crystal� or �ICE� form of methamphetamine is now the predominate form of meth in Oregon and is smoked. This is extremely addictive and will lead to many new meth related crime and health problems in Oregon. During 2003, Oregon law enforcement reported 437 methamphetamine lab seizures.
Marijuana is the most abused illegal drug in Oregon and together with alcohol is a primary gateway drug to other more dangerous drugs. The majority of those in drug treatment in Oregon have an addiction to marijuana. High potency marijuana is grown locally and trafficking of highly potent Canadian marijuana or �BC Bud� continues to have a significant impact in Oregon as well as the HIDTA counties and neighboring states. Marijuana is grown on Oregon public lands in our
U.S. Forests by local traffickers as well and Mexican drug trafficking groups.
Black tar heroin continues to be a serious problem in the urban centers of Oregon and the abuse of the related prescription drug, OxyContin, is still increasing.
Cocaine, including the Crack version is still a significant problem in the Portland Metropolitan area and other urban Oregon communities. It is of note that the availability and use of cocaine seems to be rising as the cost of �Crystal� methamphetamine has exceeded the cost of cocaine.
Methamphetamine, on a state-wide basis, and HIDTA wide basis, is still the stimulant drug of choice over cocaine.
Strategy Abstract:
The primary strategies to achieve the Mission of the Oregon HIDTA Program and the goals of the National Drug Control Strategy are:
A. Create intelligence-driven drug task forces aimed at eliminating or reducing domestic drug trafficking of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana,
B. Focus task force efforts at �High Value� drug trafficking organizations,
C. Provide an Intelligence and Investigative Support Center (ISC) that serves as a �one stop research shop� and �coordination umbrella� that provides accurate, detailed and timely tactical and strategic drug intelligence to HIDTA initiatives, HIDTA participating agencies, and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate both locally and nationally,
D. Provide an Intelligence and Investigative Support Center (ISC) that serves as a primary investigative resource for technical support and equipment, to include state-of-the-art Title III and Pen Register equipment, GPS tracking equipment, crime analysis equipment, surveillance equipment, undercover equipment, video enhancement services, and computer forensic services.
E. Provide an electronic officer safety warning system through the ISC Watch Center that serves to deconflict and coordinate tactical operations and investigations occurring in close proximity to each other on a twenty-four hour basis, seven days per week.
F. Conduct field operations and investigations, which dismantle drug trafficking organizations through systematic and thorough investigations, that lead to successful criminal prosecutions and forfeiture of their illicit assets,
G. Leverage federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts by coordinating efforts to reduce the production, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and use of illegal drugs, as well as the related money laundering of drug proceeds,
H. Provide quality training to law enforcement personnel to enhance their skills at investigating, prosecuting, and preventing drug trafficking and drug abuse at all levels and promote officer safety.
Investigative Support Center:
The Oregon HIDTA Intelligence and Investigative Support Center (ISC) is the primary information sharing and research component of the Oregon HIDTA. The ISC maintains an all crimes criminal intelligence database for the State of Oregon that can be accessed by law enforcement personnel through a Watch Center by phone or electronically over the Oregon State Intelligence Network (OSIN) via the secure web RISS.net electronic highway. The OSIN database interfaces with the Western States Information Network (WSIN) database serving the five western states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The ISC also provides an access point for law enforcement investigators to other vital federal, state and local law enforcement personnel and databases to assist all regional law enforcement agencies in counter drug investigations, eradication, and interdiction. The ISC provides event and case coordination (deconfliction) services for officer safety and enhanced information sharing. The ISC provides participating agencies and HIDTA task forces operational analytical support for ongoing "initiative driven" case activity through access to multiple criminal and commercial databases. The ISC provides narcotics intelligence analyses, prepares threat assessments, strategic reports, and organizational studies; performs post- seizure and search warrant analyses; supports arrest operations; prepares and conducts briefings for visitors to the HIDTA; and assists in trial preparations. Additionally, the ISC conducts self- initiated intelligence analysis projects to generate leads for HIDTA investigative agencies. Additionally, the ISC maintains specialized equipment for law enforcement agency use on a case by case basis.
Participating Agencies:
Federal: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (BICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS), United States Forest Service (USFS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Postal Service (USPS) and the U.S. Attorneys Offices in Oregon (USA).
State/Local: Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Police, Oregon National Guard, Deschutes County Sheriff's Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Crook County Sheriff's Department, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Madras Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Warm Springs Tribal Police, Deschutes County District Attorney's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Medford Police Department, Ashland Police Department, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Salem Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Department, and the Marion County District Attorney's Office, Gresham Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, Lake Oswego Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, St. Helens Police Department, Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department, Beaverton Police Department, Tigard Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department.
Other: Oregon Partnership, and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program Director's Association of Oregon.
Significant Achievements:
