NW HIDTA report outlines gang
activity in Washington state

More than 300 active street gangs in Washington state with around 15,000 members are using social media to post their activities and to recruit new members, a new report by staff at NW HIDTA states. Gangs are using Facebook, YouTube and other networking sites to communicate with each other worldwide, to enlist new members and to intimidate or threaten their rivals, according to NW HIDTA's Washington State Gang Intelligence Bulletin 2010.

King County has the most gangs, at 120, in the state, with Pierce County posting the second highest at 50, or 16 percent of the state's total. Yakima County has 40 known gangs and there are 21 gangs in Thurston County. Prison gangs make up 18 percent of the state's prison population and account for 43 percent of violent incidents within the prison system. Gang activity is also prevalent on many of the state's Indian reservations, despite zero tolerance policies by some tribes.


Office of National Drug Control Policy
kicks off initiative on drugged driving

A first-time survey for the presence of drugged drivers by the National Highway Safety  Administration in 2007 found that 11 percent of weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for the presence of illicit drugs.

In preparation of summer driving, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in association with other federal agencies, has embarked on a new initiative to educate parents and children of the importance of sober driving. More information, including a video by ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske, is available on MFiles.

NW HIDTA MISSION STATEMENT

The Northwest HIDTA mission is to measurably reduce large-scale importation and local drug trafficking by intercepting shipments, to disrupt local manufacturing and trafficking operations, and to reduce demand by supporting treatment and effective demand reduction programs. The Northwest HIDTA focuses on high value drug trafficking targets and financial.

The goals of the Northwest HIDTA are to:

• Disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling or
  disrupting drug trafficking and/or money laundering organizations.
  

• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the HIDTA initiatives.

THE NORTHWEST HIDTA:

In January 1997, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated a seven county area in Washington State as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). In 2002, the Northwest HIDTA expanded to 14 counties, which encompasses Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, Franklin, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Whatcom, and Yakima. These counties are the region's main drug trafficking gate-way, facilitating five different importation routes. These routes 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 Northwest HIDTA’s two greatest drug threats are methamphetamine and marijuana. Although clandestine methamphetamine lab activity has significantly decreased, methamphetamine use remains prevalent. The decrease in local production is off-set by increased production in Mexico by Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations. Marijuana is the most readily available and widely abused drug in Washington State.

PREVENTION INITIATIVES:
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.

INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT UNIT:

The strategic responsibilities of the ISC also include providing an annual regional drug threat assessment and other special studies, as needed.

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