This bill creates the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN). The task force brings together members of many federal agencies (Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, State, Commerce, Defense, intelligence offices, and others) to coordinate investigations, prosecutions, and operational actions against trafficking in synthetic narcotics and related crimes. The President, with Senate confirmation, appoints a Director who reports to the Attorney General. The Director must provide reports and briefings to several Congressional committees every 180 days and prepare 2-year plans and budget priorities. The JTF-ISN can investigate and prosecute trafficking, money laundering, smuggling, and related offenses, conduct joint operations and raids, share intelligence, and develop strategies that include addressing the role of the People's Republic of China in the opioid trade. The bill requires internal elements for intelligence coordination, strategic operational planning, legal counsel, and congressional coordination, and it preserves each member agency’s existing authorities. The bill also says the task force cannot be used to target people for personal drug use or low-level dealing without ties to larger trafficking networks.
If enacted, the bill creates a centralized, interagency group focused on disrupting large synthetic narcotics networks. The task force will coordinate federal criminal investigations and operations and work with state, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement through memorandums of understanding. The Director will regularly report to Congress on goals, operations, staffing, and funding needs. The law says the task force should not be used to investigate individuals for personal drug use or small-scale dealers who are not tied to larger trafficking networks.
No publicly available information on total estimated costs or budget impact. The bill does specify the Director’s pay is set at Executive Schedule level II but does not provide a total funding amount or appropriations schedule.
The bill’s findings and provisions show supporters view the opioid and synthetic narcotics crisis as a major public-health and public-safety problem that involves many agencies. Proponents want a central entity to improve information sharing, coordinate investigations and operations, target large trafficking networks (including foreign suppliers), and provide regular reporting to Congress on goals and resource needs.
No publicly available information.