New Castle County designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

State and local officials are hoping additional federal resources will help combat New Castle County’s drug epidemic.

The National Drug Control Policy recently announced that New Castle County will be considered a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, making it available for federal resources to crack down on drugs.

“We are aware of the drug problem, especially the heroin epidemic, facing the communities of New Castle County,” said Col. Elmer Setting, chief of the New Castle County Police Department. “The resources provided to us by the Federal Government can be viewed as a force multiplier to keep the drugs and the violence that comes along with them out of our communities. This partnership with Federal, Local and adjoining state agencies will further disrupt those engaged in illegal drug activity. Criminals do not care about jurisdictional boundaries and we, along with each law enforcement partner will remain relentless in protecting our neighborhoods.”

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, communities considered High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas receive enhanced law enforcement intelligence and coordinated law enforcement strategies among federal, state and local agencies.

“By providing access to additional federal resources, this productive partnership addresses a critical need in our communities and will further support our ongoing, collaborative efforts to stop crime and violence in Delaware. We are grateful to the members of our federal delegation for their unwavering support on this issue,” said Gov. Jack Markell.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas are located in nearly every state in the country as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

U.S. Rep. John Carney, D-Delaware, said the Delaware delegation in Washington pushed for New Castle County to be added as a designation.

“It brings much needed additional resources to combat the serious violent crime that stems from the drug trade. We must continue to work together at the federal, state, local, and community levels to make progress that will save and improve lives,” he said.

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking areas has already been applied to Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania and Camden County in New Jersey.