High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area H.I.D.T.A

The Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) was established in December of 1996. It is one of thirty-three (33) such designated areas in the United States. Now, comprising the six (6) Midwestern States of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota, it is one of the largest HIDTAs in the country.

The purpose of the Midwest HIDTA's program is to encourage cooperative, joint, multi-jurisdictional anti-drug efforts at task force, state, regional and national levels. In the Midwest HIDTA this effort was initially exclusively directed at the manufacture, importation and distribution of methamphetamine. In September of 2000, the Midwest HIDTA Executive Committee voted to maintain a methamphetamine focus, but allow for the utilization of HIDTA resources, with approval, to meet the threat posed by other drugs on a case-by-case basis. Midwest HIDTA works at achieving its anti-drug mission through facilitating the coordinated efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement. In addition to providing resources to law enforcement efforts, Midwest HIDTA also enhances the resources and capabilities of forensic laboratories, along with prosecution and demand reduction efforts throughout the state and region.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau, and the Division of Drug and Crime Control within it, are active in all facets of Midwest HIDTA Programs. In fact the Patrol was active in the planning, formation and implementation of the HIDTA program in the Midwest and Missouri.

During 2002 the HIDTA funded Initiatives in Missouri received over three million dollars ($3,000,000). The MSHP is currently the direct recipient of $662,800 per year in HIDTA reimbursements/funding. That funding provides the following resources to the Patrol: four DDCC Narcotics Officers (along with their overtime, leased vehicle and equipment); a crime analyst; four-chemist/forensic examiners, numerous pieces of specialized investigative and lab equipment; and supplies. The equipment and supplies are to support both enforcement activities in the field (Patrol Task Forces) and the laboratories that conduct examinations for them. In addition to the Patrol's direct efforts, the HIDTA program in Missouri provides funding and resources to several other Initiatives. The HIDTA State Program Coordinator, the Patrol's HIDTA funded Statewide Analyst and HIDTA Awards Accountant are located at the DDCC for constant interaction regarding statewide trends, formulation of strategy and plans regarding budget/ financial matters, and the sharing of information.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Midwest HIDTA remain major facilitators in efforts to develop uniform and accurate reporting mechanisms regarding anti-methamphetamine enforcement and information sharing in Missouri. This is to bring about not only accurate reporting and criminal intelligence sharing, but to also ensure that Missouri receives funding commensurate with the scope of its problem and its efforts to combat it. In pursuing these efforts during 2001 and 2002 the DDCC refined the new statewide reporting of methamphetamine incidents and served as a conduit for reporting Missouri's statistics and information to the National Clan Lab Seizure System in EPIC. This system is considered the national measure of the scope of that problem and is used in justifying funding. Through the efforts of the Statewide HIDTA Funded Analyst, Missouri's reported figures, for CY-02, will again truly reflect the scope of the problem in Missouri and the anti-methamphetamine work of its law enforcement personnel with the projected entry of over 2,800 seized methamphetamine labs, chemical/glassware recoveries and dumpsite cleanups.

During 2002 the HIDTA program also supported the implementation of MoSPIN, a statewide intelligence system developed by DDCC that will provide connectivity and information sharing not only between Missouri Law Enforcement Agencies, but also regionally and eventually nationally through the RISS.Net. DDCC and Midwest HIDTA sponsored quarterly statewide information sharing meetings, for task forces and drug units from around the state, throughout 2002. These meetings, referred to as MODEM (Missouri Drug Enforcement Meeting) are well attended and productive for participants.