Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act would amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to require the federal government to develop and maintain a formal Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy. The strategy would set the government’s plan for preventing illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean into the United States, specify the roles of each National Drug Control Program agency, identify necessary resources, and be designed to support legitimate trade and travel. It would also include a dedicated focus on Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, outlining a approach to reduce drug-related violent crime there and detailing any additional federal assistance or authorities needed, including evaluations of infrastructure, capacity-building, and interoperability needs. In addition to creating the strategy, the bill makes definitional updates to help clarify scope (including what constitutes “State” and “United States”) and adds language prioritizing the identification and disruption of financial networks tied to drug trafficking and money laundering as part of the federal counternarcotics effort.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new emphasis on targeting the financial networks and money laundering that support drug trafficking, including mapping, tracking, dismantling, and disrupting these networks.
- 2Requires a dedicated Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy, outlining:
- 3- the federal government’s overall approach to preventing illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean (including ports of entry, between ports, and air/m maritime approaches);
- 4- the specific roles and responsibilities of each National Drug Control Program agency in implementing the strategy;
- 5- the resources needed to carry out the strategy; and
- 6- a commitment to promote, not hinder, legitimate trade and travel.
- 7Expands key definitions to clarify scope:
- 8- “State” now includes the states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories/possessions.
- 9- “United States” in geographical terms includes all states, DC, territories/possessions, and waters within U.S. jurisdiction.
- 10For Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the strategy must include:
- 11- a plan to prevent drug trafficking to or through PR/USVI and a goal to substantially reduce drug-related violent crime on these islands;
- 12- recommendations for additional federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities or assistance, including an assessment of federal technical/financial support, infrastructure capacity building, and interoperability needs.
- 13Mandates interagency coordination under the National Drug Control Program framework and emphasizes alignment with preserving legitimate trade and travel.