Rockingham County Marked as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

The National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced the designation of Rockingham County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) on Monday.

The designation will enable Rockingham County to receive Federal resources to further the coordination and development of drug control efforts among Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials. It also will allow local agencies to benefit from ongoing HIDTA coordinated initiatives working to reduce drug use and its consequences across the United States.

Initially created by Congress in 1988, there are now 28 HIDTAs located in 47 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Law enforcement organizations working within HIDTAs assess drug-trafficking problems and design specific initiatives to decrease the production, transportation, distribution, and, chronic use of drugs and money laundering.

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, Rockingham County Chiefs of Police, and the New England HIDTA recognized the growing drug problem that plagues New Hampshire and the 37 communities that are in Rockingham County, according to a press release. In a collaborative effort the Rockingham County Chiefs of Police and the Sheriff’s Office has worked with the New Hampshire State Police, DEA, U.S. Marshall’s Office, and Homeland Security, and applied to the White House Office of National Control Drug Policy and was granted a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area or (HIDTA) Designation.

“By designating these new cities and counties, we are enhancing the ability of Federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate drug enforcement operations and improve public health and safety,” said Michael Botticelli, Acting Director of the ONDCP, for a recent press release. “This is a critical component of the Obama Administration’s drug control strategy to bolster drug prevention efforts, expand access to treatment, and improve public health and safety through evidence-based approaches.”

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