The North Florida HIDTA Task Force (NFHTF) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and primarily encompasses the North Florida HIDTA counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. The NFHTF shall:
Pursue, disrupt, and dimantle major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) by identifying, arresting, and prosecuting regional, national, and international networks, individuals, and/or DTOs responsible for the smuggling, transportation, and distribution of drugs and drug proceeds into and throughout the area Conduct multi-agency investigations in which the primary focus will be to achieve a significant reduction in the overall distribution of drugs through the implementation of a cooperative strategy with other NFHIDTA initiatives and participating agencies Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the organized trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substance
The Combined Alachua Drug Enforcement Team (CADET) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies encompassing Gainesville, located within Alachua County, Florida, and led by the Gainesville Police Department. The CADET shall:
Identify, collect intelligence/evidence on, and prosecute drug trafficking organizations/individuals responsible for the importation and/or distribution of drugs in Alachua County Participate in domestic highway enforcement along the I-75 corridor Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds and seize all illicit drugs associated with the organized trafficking, distribution, and/or manufacture of illicit drugs and controlled Substances
The Capital Area Drug Response & Evaluation (CADRE) initiative is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and encompasses Leon County. The CADRE initiative shall:
Pursue, disrupt, and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) by identifying, arresting, and prosecuting individuals or networks responsible for the importation and distribution of illicit drugs in Leon County Impact a significant illicit drug and contraband trafficking route affecting the NFHIDTA AOR and other areas of the US Conduct multi-agency investigations in which the primary focus will be to achieve a significant reduction in both violent crime and the overall distribution of drugs through the implementation of a cooperative strategy with other NFHIDTA initiatives Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds and seize all illicit drugs associated with the organized trafficking, distribution, and/or manufacture of illicit drugs and controlled substances
The Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, led by the US Marshals Service, encompassing most of the North Florida HIDTA’s 13-county area and Hamilton County. The FAST shall:
Pursue the most significant drug traffickers and violent fugitives with a drug nexus Apprehend drug/violent fugitives and focus on the arrest of felony fugitives at the state, national, and international level Fugitives with prior drug convictions who violate the conditions of their release program and are wanted again will be targeted Emphasis will be placed on generating referrals and spin-off investigations Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds and seize all illicit drugs associated with the organized trafficking, distribution, and/or manufacture of illicit drugs and controlled substances
The Gateway Initiative is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The Gateway Initiative shall:
Implement a strategy to identify, collect intelligence/evidence on, and prosecute DTOs/individuals responsible for the importation and/or distribution of drugs in Columbia County Participate in domestic highway enforcement, to include the Georgia/Florida border and the I-10 and I-75 corridors Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds and seize all illicit drugs associated with the organized trafficking, distribution, and/or manufacture of illicit drugs and controlled substance
The North Florida HIDTA Investigative Support Center (ISC) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and contract analysts, led by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO), and encompasses all North Florida HIDTA counties. The ISC shall:
Remain collocated with other NFHIDTA initiatives Be comprised of collocated federal, state, and local representatives from law enforcement agencies, all of whom provide access to their respective databases, the Florida National Guard, and contract positions through the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (fiduciary) Support law enforcement agencies in their effort to identify, disrupt, and/or dismantle DTOs, MLOs, criminal groups, individuals, and criminal gangs and gun violators working in and through the NFHIDTA actively collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on the targets of investigations and on the scope and dynamics of criminal activity. Support law enforcement investigations through the use of tactical, operational, and strategic analyses Participate in various intelligence and information sharing with groups such as the Florida Intelligence Unit and other local Intel sharing groups, EPIC, HSIN Intel, and other HIDTAs Produce intelligence products such as the Annual Drug Threat Assessment and other single scope intelligence briefs and assessments Provide event and subject deconfliction services through the Case Explorer program and conduct routine trainings on the program to participants and others in the region requesting access Liaise with the collocated Northeast Florida Fusion Center Collocate with the Information Technology Department to support all initiatives.
The Pharmaceutical Diversion and Designer Drug Squad (PDDDS) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), and encompasses Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties in Florida. The PDDDS shall:
Conduct long-term, complex investigations targeting drug traffickers responsible for obtaining, transporting, and distributing diverted pharmaceuticals and designer drugs, to include: medical and pharmacy personnel and professionals as well as facilities focusing on violations of Florida Statutes, 381.986 investigations of organized criminal violations of physician orders for the medical use of THC cannabis, organized criminal conduct involving dispensing organizations, etc. activities and investigations that focus on identifying emerging designer drug trends and/or new compounds Provide assistance in target selection, case development, case strategy, and may assist in the preparation of necessary legal documents to promote the seizure of proceeds of the unlawful activity of major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the organized trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
The Narcotics Overdose Death Investigations Task Force (NODITF) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), and encompasses Duval County, Florida. The NODITF shall:
Identify, arrest, and prosecute drug traffickers and drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) responsible for providing illicit drugs that are the proximate cause of death of individuals in Duval County, Jacksonville, FL Conduct investigations with the focus of charging the drug dealer with the Florida State Statute of “1st degree Murder” or the applicable Federal Code of causing death or great bodily harm by way of distribution of a dangerous drug and then leveraging these investigations to build conspiracy cases against DTOs that are involved Pursue the maximum penalties by comparing the prosecutorial exposure of these felons and organizations with both the State Attorney’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
The Tri-County Initiative is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and encompasses Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. The Tri-County Initiative shall:
Identify, disrupt, and/or dismantle local, multi-state, and international DTOs primarily operating in Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties Conduct investigations targeting those DTOs/individuals responsible for transporting and distributing drugs and drug proceeds into and throughout the area Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the organized trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
The Violent Crime Gangs Task Force (VCGTF) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), and encompasses Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties. The VCGTF shall:
Aim to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking committed by criminal gangs and criminal gang members Identify criminal gang members/associates and criminal gangs, as defined by the Florida State Statute – §46, ch.874.03 Dismantle criminal gangs while seeking penalty enhancements for arrested gang members Aim to reduce the illegal flow and possession of firearms by convicted felons of violent crimes and/or drug crimes Compare the prosecutorial exposure of these felons with both the State Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office to pursue the maximum sentence A majority of these felons are directly involved in the use, possession, and/or trafficking of illegal drugs. Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the organized trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
Violent Crime Narcotics Task Force (VCNTF) is jointly led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and conducts long-term, complex investigations targeting, disrupting and/or dismantling local, multi-state, and international DTOs/individuals responsible for drug crimes and drug related violence in Jacksonville.
The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) is a cooperative partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which is led by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and encompasses Marion County, Florida. The UDEST Initiative shall:
Pursue, disrupt, and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) by identifying, arresting, and prosecuting individuals or networks responsible for the importation and distribution of illicit drugs in Marion County Conduct multi-jurisdictional investigations in which the primary focus will be to achieve a significant reduction in both violent crime and the overall distribution of drugs through the implementation of a cooperative strategy with other NFHIDTA initiatives Seize all illegally obtained assets and proceeds associated with the organized trafficking and/or distribution of illicit drugs and controlled substances.
Maritime and Land Investigation and Interdiction Initiative (MLIII) is jointly led by the US Coast Guard and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The mission of the MLIII is to disrupt the transshipment of currency and narcotics throughout the North Florida area via its waterways and land by targeting DTOs/individuals using public transportation facilities and routes, public and private vehicles/vessels (land and sea), ports and waterways, and parcel/package delivery services to conduct their illegal activities.
The North Florida HIDTA Management & Coordination (M&C) initiative is a cooperative partnership of local law enforcement agency members and contractors. The M&C initiative, currently headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, was first designated in 2001 and oversees all North Florida HIDTA initiatives operating within its 13-county area of responsibility (AOR).
Members of the M&C initiative work in conjunction with the Executive Board and the Oversight, Finance, and Training committees monitoring the progress of the North Florida HIDTA initiatives throughout the year to ensure performance targets are being met. The M&C initiative oversees all aspects of the HIDTA’s activities, including (but not limited to):
The M&C initiative also supports other activities as directed by the Executive Board, consistent with all applicable HIDTA policies and guidelines.
