HIDTA PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program is a grant-funded initiative of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) that provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug trafficking regions of the United States.

HIDTA funds are used to enhance and improve the collective efforts of law enforcement to interdict, investigate, and prosecute those who traffic in drugs. Law enforcement organizations within HIDTAs assess drug trafficking problems and design specific initiatives to reduce or eliminate the production, manufacture, transportation, distribution, and chronic use of illegal drugs and money laundering.

ABOUT SOUTH TEXAS HIDTA

The South Texas (STX) HIDTA Program is an alliance of over 70 federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement agencies working in close partnership to promote and facilitate counterdrug investigations, information sharing, operational coordination and officer safety. STX HIDTA provides important resources to participating agencies so that they may coordinate efforts to combat drug trafficking and related crimes. The HIDTA “umbrella” serves to establish a seamless and efficient counter-drug program by combining and focusing resources, and eliminating duplicative efforts.
 
STX HIDTA’S area of operations spans from Del Rio, Texas and continues east and south to South Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico. It also includes Bexar County and the San Antonio metropolitan area as well as Travis County and the Austin metropolitan area. The STX HIDTA contains 17 operational initiatives, 4 intelligence/ investigative support centers, and three support initiatives comprised of a Prevention and Demand Reduction, training and information technology elements.

SOUTH TEXAS HIDTA GOALS

The HIDTA Program has adopted two specific goals to achieve its mission: