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Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and Dan Crenshaw have introduced the Enhancing Intelligence Collection on Foreign Drug Traffickers Act of 2024, aimed at combating drug trafficking networks on an international scale. Congressman Dan Crenshaw emphasized the importance of refocusing intelligence collection on cartels, stating, “Drug traffickers like the Sinaloa cartel and CJNG are a national security threat, and yet we are purposefully tying our own hands in the fight against them and their affiliates.”
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan highlighted the significance of expanding Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to target international drug trafficking networks. She stated, “This bill not only enhances our ability to disrupt these transnational criminal operations but also underscores our commitment to safeguarding public health and safety.”
The legislation addresses the limitations of the current Section 702 of FISA, which only allows targeting of narco-traffickers with connections to specific certifications related to foreign governments, counterterrorism, and combatting proliferation. The new bill aims to modify the definition of “foreign intelligence information” to include illicit drug production, distribution, and financing, paving the way for the creation of a fourth certification specifically focused on international drug activities.
The bipartisan effort by Houlahan and Crenshaw seeks to combat the devastating impact of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, on communities in the United States. The bill aims to confront the opioid epidemic directly and protect the well-being of all Americans by enhancing intelligence collection on foreign drug traffickers.
The Enhancing Intelligence Collection on Foreign Drug Traffickers Act of 2024 is a crucial step towards strengthening national security and addressing the transnational threat posed by drug trafficking networks.