MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Northwest HIDTA is to measurably reduce large scale importation and local drug trafficking by intercepting shipments, disrupting local manufacturing and trafficking operations and to reduce demand by supporting treatment and effective demand reduction programs. The goals of the NW HIDTA are to:

Reduce heroin and methamphetamine trafficking.
Reduce the importation and distribution of illicit drugs.
Increase the community awareness to the dangers of drug abuse.
Increase the HIDTA program participation by drug law enforcement agencies.

THE NORTHWEST HIDTA:

In January of 1997, a seven County area in the State of Washington was designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The Northwest HIDTA encompasses seven counties including Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Thurston, Pierce, and Yakima. This area is the region’s main drug trafficking gateway having five different importation routes. They are: (1) SeaTac Airport; (2) large scale container traffic through the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma; (3) I-5 corridor traffic coming north from the U.S. Mexican border; (4) the Yakima Valley (Highway 97) the predominant corridor to Eastern Washington and, (5) cross-border traffic to and from Canada in Whatcom County. The recent rise in methamphetamine clandestine lab activity is also seriously impacting on the regions drug trafficking problems.

PREVENTION INIATIATIVES:

Four Northwest HIDTA initiatives address the demand reduction elements of the mission and goals. The Drug Court Development initiative supports enhancements to each of the programs operated in HIDTA counties. The Community Coalition Support initiative entails a regional substance abuse prevention strategy, implemented by innovative projects in each HIDTA County. The Public Education/Awareness initiative includes the “M-Files” website, the “Say It Straight” training curriculum and print/video materials about marijuana and methamphetamine. The MIS/Evaluation initiative is comprised of outcome studies of the HIDTA-region Drug Court programs and prevention projects, and the development of a regional case management information system network.

INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT UNIT:

The ISU’s two primary elements are the Watch Center and Analytical Unit. The Analytical Unit provides both tactical and strategic intelligence services. The strategic responsibilities of this group include providing regional threat assessments on an annual basis. Analytical Unit members may work closely with investigators as a criminal case develops or with attorney’s in preparation for trial. This HIDTA service is designed to enhance the investigative process by applying proven intelligence analysis techniques. The Watch center offers two very important and highly valued services for drug investigators; deconfliction and Intelligence Research. Deconfliction plots drug arrests, sales, money pickup, raids, and surveillance and places them onto a computerized map. If another agency is working on the same subject, in very close proximity or if the agencies are targeting each other, the computer alerts the operator. Each agency involved is then told that a conflict may exist and is asked to contact the agency in conflict. The Watch Center’s analysts have the ability to supply investigators with drug intelligence information from the Federal, State, and Local agencies. The Watch Center uses the Western States Information Network (WSIN) as its primary database. All Watch Center employees are cross designated as WSIN analysts and have computer access to WSIN and the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS).

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAM:

The Investigative Support Unit has a surveillance equipment loan program. It includes night vision equipment, tracking devices, audio and video recording equipment. The HIDTA’s electronics technician provides assistance to investigators by installing telephone intercept devices such as trap and trace; pen registers and dialed number recorders. The HIDTA also provides investigators with the ability to intercept criminal activity involving digital pagers. This loaned equipment program is similar to WSIN’s in many respects. The HIDTA’s Electronic Technician trains investigators on how to use each piece of evidence gathering electronics.

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