In 2017, the drug task force kicked into high gear with over 56 pounds of meth and $300,000 in bulk cash seized off the streets. Still, Wooley believes you cant attack the problem from one side. In December 2000, R.W., an informant for the NWDTF, stated that he was an associate of BENAVIDES. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. 208 0 obj <>stream Biden's First Official 2024 Primary Challenger Is a Meditating Hippy Who Preaches the Kamala Harris's Husband Has a Message For All the Super-Progressive, Woke, Liberal Men Business Tycoon Criticizes Democrat-Run States: 'They Are Punishing People Who Are Success Nancy Pelosi Criticizes Biden for Giving Republicans a Win Over DC Crime Bill, Biden Abruptly Walks Away After Refusing to Answer Questions on Covid Lab Leak. Montana MethThe Montana Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time teen Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. ", Montana AG: 'I would absolutely advocate for cartels to be designated terrorist orgs' | CUOMOwww.youtube.com. Lincoln County is a member of the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. A lock ( Dem Mayor Highlights the Importance of God: 'When We Took Prayers Out of East Palestine Residents Demand Norfolk Southern to Own Up to Their Mistake During FBI Whistleblower Claims Agency Used 'Threat Tag' to Focus On Pro-Lifers After Dobbs Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, Kamala Harris's Husband Has a Message For All the Super-Progressive, Woke, Liberal Men Out There, Business Tycoon Criticizes Democrat-Run States: 'They Are Punishing People Who Are Successful', 'Stick That Up Their Fact-Checker': Sen. John Kennedy Shares More Trademark Truths, The Part of CNN's Interview With Bill Maher That Trump Supporters Probably Won't Like, Bill Maher Delivers Epic Dropkick to 'Trigger Warnings', Russell Brand was challenged to give examples of MSNBC pushing misinformation (that was a BAD idea). This was apparent in both cocaine- related arrests and cocaine removal statistics. According to Heino, the group received more than $140,000 in federal grants for calendar year 2021 and another $160,000 from the Montana Board of Crime Control . Duluth Authorities Make 'Historic' Drug Bust. Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that can be deadly. According to a media release from Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester, the standoff was sparked after officers attempted to serve a search warrant. DEA. All rights reserved. The investigators of CCSIU work with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force or EMHIDTA. The first thing that kind of popped out in this situation was a trunk release switch underneath the seat padding, thats not normally there.. They are making it in super labs, said Lt. Brandon Wooley with the Billings Police Department. Amendments to the Task Force pertaining to residency and to increase the number of members from 7 to 9 was adopted through Resolution 10407 on May 18, 2021. Knudsen has sued the Biden administration seeking to require the president to enforce the law and secure the southern border, but Biden and his cabinet continue to act as though the border is "secure" and under control. "The DEA Laboratory estimates that these seizures represent more than 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl.". STATE AGENCIES Eastern Montana Drug Task Force Montana Division of Criminal Investigation Montana Highway Patrol COUNTY AGENCIES Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office, MT Big Horn County Sheriiff's Office, MT Blaine County Sheriff's Office, MT Broadwater County Sheriff's Office, MT Carbon County Sheriff's Office, MT Cascade County Sheriff's Office, MT U. S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced on Wednesday that 37 people have been federally-indicted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces' Operation Say Uncle.OCDETF plays a key role in the Attorney General's strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics nationwide by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug traffickers, money launderers . They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. This allowed a comparison of MEG/TF drug arrest outcomes to those of arrests made by local law enforcement in the same counties during the same time period. With the direct cooperation of our state and local partners, the creation of the Task Force Program is one of the most productive ways that DEA enforces these laws. Fax: 406-293-8577, North Lincoln County Annex Dan James Nichols, 47, from Belgrade, Mont., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. In 2022, the task force reported 25 percent more firearm seizures than in 2021, an increase from 375 to 474. This collaborative group, housed under the . According to Knudsen, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) task force seized 206,955 dosage units of Fentanyl, roughly 10,800 percent more than in 2019 when the number of dosage units seized was 1,900. Get Smart About DrugsGet Smart About Drugs is a DEA resource for parents, educators & caregivers. Copyright Townhall.com/Salem Media. The lethality of the drug, paired with its rapid spread around the country, means that countless millions of Americans have had their lives affected by fentanyl in some way. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. %PDF-1.7 % Billings has always had a pretty healthy appetite for meth.. The sheriff's department is part of the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, which consists of partners in Lake and Lincoln counties, as well as law enforcement in Whitefish and Kalispell. According to Sheriff Brian Heino, Shawback was demoted from running the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and was put on administrative leave without pay for five days. Task force officers searched the vehicle and found meth, fentanyl pills, drug scales, plastic baggies, smoking devices, hypodermic needles and a 9mm handgun. hb```f``(2@q~)a`h\kPXJHA.e`uXd#3&/jLm~0g{:g3|n4d3XA& < Main Courthouse Just this year alone, to date, there are over 120 pounds of meth and over $600,000 in bulk cash seizures, said Wooley. Tables and figures, Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). BIDS/RFP/RFQ/SOQ. 17 July, 2018. He says that trafficker has started to manufacture a combination of multiple switches only activated in sequence to trigger a drug compartment to open. Montana's 545 miles of border with Canada is extremely porous. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Above the Influence goal is to help teens stand up to negative pressures, or influences. An investigation by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office has left a local woman behind bars facing federal drug charges. In Montana, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced on Friday that anti-drug task forces in Big Sky Country have seen an almost 11,000 percent increase in the amount of fentanyl seizures since 2019, just before President Joe Biden took office. The EMHIDTA task force partners local/state investigators with federal investigators, allowing the task force to conduct investigations globally. The Great Falls Crime Task Force was established through Resolution 10395 on April 6, 2021. At approximately 10 AM on October 13, officers attempted to contact the suspect, but there was no response from inside the residence. Montana communities are seeing the impacts of the drug trade first-hand, leaving local law enforcement left to deal with an increase in crimes associated with meth. This publication is based on information submitted by multijurisdictional drug task forces in Montana that received grant funds under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. According to his arrest report, Antonio Magnone, 35, of Weirton, West Virginia, was the former owner of Crowne Arcade, located at 8890 Lawrence Road. These officers are assigned full time to the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. It also appeared that arrest patterns changed, possibly due to pressure applied by task forces. Additional information on task force operations is appended. Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force (MJDTF) drug arrests on these corridors that have yielded large amounts of drugs, cash, and weapons. On November 2, 2021, The Crime Task Force presented there findings . Libby, MT 59923 Established in 1995, the MNOA has subsequently grown in size to include over 100 members from throughout Montana. https://www.dea.gov/operations/state-and-local-task-forces. State and Local Task Forces. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. May 23, 2021 MACHIAS Five individuals are facing drug-related charges after the Southern Tier Drug Task Force assisted by the Cattaraugus County Patrol Division executed at search warrant at 3506. All Rights Reserved. 512 California Ave Provisional task forces are supported by the operating budgets of DEA field division offices, without resources from DEA headquarters, and do not included state and local overtime. . During the search, police located a handgun on Starcevich that was stolen. Drug Task Force Lincoln County is a member of the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. The national HIDTA program is federally funded with the goal to identify, and disrupt or dismantle drug trafficking organizations. MNOA is an association that was formed for all levels and areas of law enforcement. Free South Dakota Warrant Search. However, in some cases that go to prosecution, the complainant can be asked or subpoenaed to testify. These task forces are staffed by over 2,200 DEA special agents and over 2,500 state and local officers. According to Dawson County Undersheriff Katie Mills, teamwork and participation with the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force ensures safety for our children and community. Get the news that matters most delivered directly to your inbox. Accessed 3 March, 2023. It's no secret that the fentanyl crisis worsened and accelerated by the border crisis is claiming lives at a devastating rate. The Eastern Montana High-Intensity Drug Task Force. In 2021, 60,577 dosage units were seized. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is charged with the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act as well as investigation of the highest level of domestic and international narcotics traffickers. Wooley unveils a yellow button tucked under the drivers side seat. In Montana, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced on Friday that anti-drug task forces in Big Sky Country have seen an almost 11,000 percent increase in the amount of fentanyl seizures. And Wooley says the drugs are not immune to any one area or a specific type of person, changing much about what the ordinary person believes to be true about meth. Participating agencies include Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, Montana Department of Justice, Gallatin County Sheriffs Office, Lewis & Clark County Sheriffs Office, Park County Sheriffs Office, Bozeman Police Department, Helena Police Department, and Montana State University Police Department. "Our narcotics agents and troopers are getting more fentanyl off the roads than ever before, but we need additional tools and resources to keep it out of our communities," Knudsen noted. On the demand side, you have the addicts, the drive, the desire or the need for the drug. "Our narcotics agents and troopers are getting more fentanyl off the roads than ever before, but we need additional tools and resources to keep it out of our communities. The Custer County Sheriff's Office has a Civil Enforcement Division that serves papers involved in any civil proceeding and some criminal actions. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes it as "a highly addictive man-made opioid," and says that two milligrams of it is considered a possibly lethal dose. Of all the task forces, it has the largest budget this year, $756,000 . We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. 418 Mineral Ave. DEA. Phone: 406-297-3139 Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 180 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<1BDB5995F6E9494FA12F520EBB498918>]/Index[162 47]/Info 161 0 R/Length 94/Prev 352267/Root 163 0 R/Size 209/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream District (GSWMD), Big Sky Meadow Trails, Recreation & Parks Special District, Gallatin Local Water Quality District Board, Historic Preservation Board of Gallatin County, Human Resource Development Council Board of Directors, Investment Advisory Committee of Gallatin County, Streamline Advisory Board (Subcommittee of HRDC Board), West Yellowstone / Hebgen Basin Refuse District, Prescription Drug Take-Back Program Q & A. ", Knudsen has called for designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations during an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, the Montana attorney general said that the cartels are "undermining our country" and "poisoning our citizens. Libby, MT 59923 "Drug Enforcement Agency, 17 July, 2018, https://www.dea.gov/operations/state-and-local-task-forces Accessed 3 March, 2023. Police report Milasevich barricaded himself in the residence after members of the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force delivered a search warrant there Wednesday at about noon. However, along with that, comes the crime. Libby, MT 59923 DEA. N ( The officers also had a felony extraditable arrest warrant for a 36-year-old man living at the residence. Officers of the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force reportedly had information that large quantities of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, were being sold from the residence. The difference between funded and provisional state and local task forces is that the financial support for funded task forces is provided by DEA headquarters and includes additional resources for state and local overtime. PART ONE:Montanas Drug Superhighway: Troopers form specialized team to stop interstate drug loads. 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC 20531, United States, PO Box 201408, 3075 North Montana Street, Helena, MT 59620-1408, United States. For added context, the state crime lab reported just four fentanyl overdose deaths in 2017. This is an ongoing investigation and we will provide updates as information becomes available. BUTTE Details about a standoff between a reported armed man and law enforcement in Uptown Butte were released Friday afternoon. KALISPELL - Two people face federal charges after a seven-month drug trafficking investigation in Flathead County. And then you have more distribution at the local levels. In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved the following at trial: ICE HSI, the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Agency, and the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force began investigating a methamphetamine-trafficking organization in the Butte area in 2008. Report a crime or to speak with an officer : 406-758-7780, ext. Shawback was also a member. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Get the facts about drugs and just think twice. Another man is under arrest on suspicion of murder and . Date: 03-03-2023 Case Style: United States of America v. Dallas Michael Acoff, a/k/a "Dal" Case Number: 5:22-cr-00013 Judge: John Preston Bailey Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (Wheeling County) Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney's Office in Wheeling Defendant's Attorney: table> Click Here to Watch How To Find A Lawyer by Kent Morlan Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Setting the Record Straight on East Palestine, Greenies and Commies Partner For Propaganda, Montenegros EU Membership Key to Opposing Russias Imperial Aspirations. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. An official website of the United States government. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Man gets 11 years for trafficking meth . . Drug addiction has also led to an increase in property crime, according to Flathead County Sheriff's Office Sgt. LockA locked padlock "The amount of illicit fentanyl coming across the southern border has skyrocketed," Attorney General Knudsen said in a statement. Central to the integrated, research-based campaign is MethProject.orga definitive source for information about Meth for teenssupported by hard-hitting TV, radio, print, online, mobile, and social media campaigns that communicate the risks of Meth use. The DUI Task Force members shall be appointed by the Lewis and Clark County Commission and will include representatives from a cross section of the community, such as, but not limited to, government officials, law enforcement, public health, school personnel, church, civic, and community groups, and citizens at large. And we advocate for greater understanding and more effective programs to treat the disease of addiction. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized well over three times as much fentanyl in 2022 as in 2021, but the 2022 figure is up nearly 11,000% from the 2019 level, according to a press release from the Montana attorney general. Arrest records were electronically extracted from the Illinois State Police Criminal History Record Information System. A locked padlock Throughout the afternoon and evening, negotiations continued, and the suspect was given the opportunity to leave the residence to surrender safely. This includes summons and complaints, subpoenas, writs of executions, child support, foreclosures, and many others. The Eastern Montana High-Intensity Drug Task Force. In the early morning of October 13, Lewis and Clark SWAT arrived on the scene. Provisional task forces are supported by the operating budgets of DEA field division offices, without resources from DEA headquarters, and do not included state and local overtime. The Eastern Montana Drug Task Force prioritizes cases involving drug endangered children above all other criminal investigations. Task forces secured a whopping 206,955 dosage units of the drug in 2022, up from 60,577 in . Wooley said law enforcement is seeing actual Mexican drug cartel presence in communities like Billings, because the distribution pipeline has shortened, cutting out a middle man and allowing for more profits for distributors. Street DrugsRecognized for its emphasis on quality, the Streedrugs.org creates meaningful change in the world with products that are rated exceptional and recognized & accepted internationally. The Missoula Prescription Drug (Rx) Task Force was created in 2014 in response to growing concern about the rise in prescription drug misuse and overdose in Missoula County. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The chemical compounds that they make and that they use south of the border are still very similar but maybe a little bit more sophisticated.. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Montanas Drug Superhighway: Troopers form specialized team to stop interstate drug loads. Logan Shawback, who works with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force. In addition to pursuing drug traffickers, the MRDTF supports the Montana Meth Project and the DEAs Drug Take Back Day. The purpose of the Task Force is to conduct drug-related investigations thereby reducing illicit drug use and availablity in the region. At a Billings towing yard, he points out what looks like an ordinary passenger car, except thats it not. Butte Police and Butte SWAT responded to the scene to assist in containing the situation. Drug Enforcement Agency on DEA website. Gallatin County, Montana311 West Main StreetBozeman, MT 59715Website Information, Website DisclaimerGovernment Websites by CivicPlus, Gallatin Solid Waste Mgmt. On the supply side, you have the manufacturing and then you have the distribution hubs. Because Montana had no historical data with which to compare current statistics, it was necessary to develop task force data over a period of time between 1987 and 1992 in order to do an evaluation. The Narcotics Task Force can be contacted by phone at 435-743-5302. Multijurisdictional drug task forces began in 1987, and significant changes occurred in the drug community between 1987 and 1992. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This includes patrolmen, detectives, administrators, corrections, state wildlife officers, state land officers, highway patrol, and federal agents from all branches. 1, Administration, Detectives, or Records: 406-758-7780, ext. An investigation by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office has left a local woman behind bars facing federal drug charges. Lock Phone: 406-293-7781 In this same vehicle, a drug trafficker would press that yellow drivers side seat switch, followed by a variety of other knob turns or switches such as a heater gauge or windshield wiper to get the secret drug compartment to open. Still, the sheer quantities of the drug that have been seized by law enforcement remain staggering. But as the Eastern Montana Drug Task force makes progress in taking down drug operations, Wooley said law enforcement is still seeing an increase. The County Seat of Bozeman at large encompasses over 50,000 people, yet has a small town feel. The. Just Think TwiceResearch shows that there is a definite link between teen substance abuse and how well you do in school. Sign up! Investigation of the drug trafficking organization began in September of 2013, when law enforcement agents with the FBI and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA . For over two years, Wooley served as commander of the Eastern Montana High-Intensity Drug Task Force, or HIDTA, working undercover and in sometimes less than ideal conditions, to gain information that could dismantle and take down drug organizations coming into Montana. Agencies currently represented on the EMHIDTA/CCSIU task force include: Q: How do I report suspected drug activity?A: You can report suspected drug activity in a couple different ways. endstream endobj 163 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/Pages 160 0 R/StructTreeRoot 26 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 181 0 R>> endobj 164 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 160 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 165 0 obj <>stream Montana has four (4) major drug trafficking corridors: I-15 that runs north to the Canadian border and south to Idaho; I-90 that runs west to Idaho and east to Hardin, then south to Wyoming; I-94 that runs west to I-90 at Billings and east to North Dakota; and Highway 2 which runs west to Idaho and east to North Dakota along the northern tier of "Just this year alone, to date, there are over 120 pounds of. Fax: 406-297-2767, Lincoln County Health Department Eureka, MT 59917 Multijurisdictional drug task forces began in 1987, and significant changes occurred in the drug community between 1987 and 1992. Townhall.com is the leading source for conservative news and political commentary and analysis. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. In 2016, the DEA State and Local Task Force Program managed 271 state and local task forces, which included Program Funded, Provisional, HIDTA, and Tactical Diversion Squads. Their mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle local, regional, and international DTO operations using Local, State, and . After an eight-month investigation, the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and Kalispell police arrested two people for possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.. While investigators with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force had long had their eyes on Eby, a late night fight in a local trailer park led to his arrest. They are also assigned to investigate crimes against persons which include: One detective is assigned to oversee the Sexual and Violent offender Registry for the City of Kalispell. Central Montana Drug Task Force officers and Leaf's parole officer confronted the former quarterback and found a container with 28 oxycodone pills inside and another container with a prescription . All fees must accompany papers before service. kyx^xkquY, 68vwN\>\ Uq=:N9 Dssfb|ZmC~A7h Dq 2qEYUq` 6L\K0z^{+3"N3S6y ZFD6`}&,=6(#v Sale and distribution arrests decreased while misdemeanor arrests increased, indicating the goals to target street-level dealers and to increase pressure on users in order to reduce the demand for drugs were working. "This poison is killing Montanans.". The call taker will create an incident report that is forwarded to the EMHIDTA task force commander.Second, you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by calling 406-245-6660. Above-The-InfluenceEvery teens life is filled with pressure, some of it good, some of it bad. Construction Projects. You have the traffickers to get it to place, he said. The Missouri River Task Force, which includes Bozeman and Helena in a six-county region, could see the biggest dollar loss. But those efforts can only do so much to protect Montanans as long as the Biden administration's lax policies continue to unleash havoc along the U.S. - Mexico border while turning all states into "border states" that now face an influx of drugs and crime. Officers of the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force reportedly had information that large quantities of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, were being sold from the residence on the 500 block of W Aluminum Street. Often times the investigator will contact the complainant to obtain as much information as possible. DEA administrator Anne Milgram pointed to two drug cartels: "DEA's top operational priority is to defeat the two Mexican drug cartelsthe Sinaloa and Jalisco (CJNG) Cartelsthat are primarily responsible for the fentanyl that is killing Americans today," she said, according to the DEA press release. To: Interim Budget Committee Section D From: Steve Crawford, Narcotics Bureau Chief Date: December 6, 2021 Ref: Drug Task Force Funding Streams and Interagency Cooperation Overview During the Interim Budget Committee Section D meeting held on September 15, 2021, the members were briefed on current drug trends and criminal issues occurring in Montana. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person for the commission of a crime.All drug reports are reviewed by the EMHIDTA task force commander and then assigned to an investigator for follow-up. Official websites use .gov ]et.\3L:-pwc[.(Ao :[9m-5V*;i55R>a-Lh[/)uh9'2.VzD {]OT' X%v[ds ][ZLp8z^C{yJ!e~K[.9~3`s6(Tp The trio appeared in court on Jan. 30 and pleaded. %%EOF For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our Privacy Policy. Weve done search warrants in literally every neighborhood in this community. The Detectives Division is comprised of one captain, one Senior Sergeant, three detectives, four School Resource Officers, one detective assigned to the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and one Evidence Technician / Administrative Assistant (non-sworn). Sign up for Smart 911 Emergency Notifications. Drug task force warrant sparked 30-hour Butte standoff Details emerge following Butte standoff Officers of the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force reportedly had information that large quantities of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, were being sold from the residence. Phone: 406-293-4112. Drug trafficking affects everyone in our community, directly or indirectly families, children, businesses, the court system, law enforcement, corrections, first responders, schools, hospital. He's also added narcotics agents to the state DOJ, increased coordination between his office and local law enforcement agencies, and deployed more drug sniffing dogs around his state to aid in detection. QZB3cD0`lLy0059&hX$>Q^mt7*.2RogWWq}K*-lNS{7C{jVcXuM|Q?8I7_|TI:tYt\9:}JG$. The investigators of CCSIU work with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force or EMHIDTA. I do think that our problem here in Billings is much worse, said Wooley. These task forces are staffed by over 2,200 DEA special agents and over 2,500 state and local officers. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol, the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Butte . Patrick O'Leary and Toni Krause-Velasquez of Martin . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "The amount of illicit fentanyl coming across the southern border has skyrocketed.