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This bill would require the federal government to create a new plan for stopping illegal drug smuggling through the Caribbean into the United States. The plan would explain how federal agencies should work together, what resources they need, and how to stop drug trafficking without making normal trade and travel harder. It would also require the plan to focus on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including ways to reduce drug-related violence there and to identify any extra help or authority law enforcement may need.
- It directs the federal drug control office to prepare a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy.
- The strategy must cover drug trafficking through ports of entry, between ports of entry, and by air and sea routes.
- It must spell out the roles of each federal drug control agency and list the money, staff, and other resources needed.
- It must include special measures for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including help for law enforcement and efforts to reduce violent crime linked to drugs.
Official Summaries
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to include a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy in its National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy must include measures for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs through the Caribbean region into the United States, including measures to combat drug trafficking and drug-related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The bill also revises ONDCP's authorization to (1) add definitions for state and for United States to specify that its authorization includes U.S. territories and possessions, and (2) revise the definition for supply reduction to ensure that the National Drug Control Strategy includes efforts to disrupt the financial networks of drug trafficking organizations.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 548 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 548
To amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act
of 1998 to require a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act
of 1998 to require a Caribbean border counternarcotics strategy, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Caribbean Border Counternarcotics
Strategy Act''.
SEC. 2. CARIBBEAN BORDER COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGY ACT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 702 of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1701) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (17) as
paragraphs (16) through (18), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
``(15) State.--The term `State' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each
territory or possession of the United States.'';
(3) by amending paragraph (18), as redesignated--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as
subparagraphs (H) and (I), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the
following:
``(G) activities to map, track, dismantle, and
disrupt the financial networks of drug trafficking
organizations, transnational criminal organizations,
and money laundering organizations involved in the
manufacture and trafficking of drugs in the United
States and in foreign countries;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(19) United states.--The term `United States', when used
in a geographical sense, means all of the States, the District
of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United
States, and any waters within the jurisdiction of the United
States.''.
(b) Requirement for Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy.--
Section 706(c)(3) of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Reauthorization Act of 1998 (21 U.S.C. 1705(c)(3)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(D) Requirement for caribbean border
counternarcotics strategy.--
``(i) Purposes.--The Caribbean Border
Counternarcotics Strategy shall--
``(I) set forth the strategy of the
Federal Government for preventing the
illegal trafficking of drugs through
the Caribbean region into the United
States, including through ports of
entry, between ports of entry, and
across air and maritime approaches;
``(II) describe the specific roles
and responsibilities of each relevant
National Drug Control Program agency
for implementing such strategy;
``(III) identify the specific
resources required to enable the
relevant National Drug Control Program
agencies to implement such strategy;
and
``(IV) be designed to promote, and
not to hinder, legitimate trade and
travel.
``(ii) Specific content related to puerto
rico and the united states virgin islands.--The
Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy
shall include--
``(I) a strategy to prevent the
illegal trafficking of drugs to or
through Puerto Rico or the United
States Virgin Islands, including
measures to substantially reduce drug-
related violent crime on such islands;
and
``(II) recommendations for
additional assistance or authorities,
if any, needed by Federal, State, and
local law enforcement agencies relating
to the strategy, including an
evaluation of Federal technical and
financial assistance, infrastructure
capacity building, and interoperability
deficiencies.''.
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