WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Rick Scott and Alex Padilla introduced the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act to stop the illegal trafficking of deadly drugs in the Caribbean, specifically between Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida. This bill builds off prior appropriations report language requiring that a Caribbean Border Counternarcotic Strategy is published by the White House Office of National Drug Policy along with the National Drug Control Strategy, the Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, and the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy. This legislation is endorsed by the Governor of Puerto Rico and former Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón.  

Senator Rick Scott said, “Over the past four years, President Joe Biden’s wide-open border served as an invitation for criminals to bring deadly drugs, like fentanyl, into our communities and kill Americans. The crisis Biden created caused heartbreak, devastation and violence within our communities in Florida, Puerto Rico and across the United States. I’m glad that’s finally coming to an end with President Trump and Secretary Noem leading the charge, who are making great strides to combat illegal immigration and keep these dangerous drugs from coming across our border. Our bill, the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act, will improve our nation’s ability to combat illegal narcotics operations, like fentanyl trafficking, and hold traffickers accountable for the devastation they cause. I’m proud to be joined by my colleague, Senator Alex Padilla, and have the support from the Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, on this effort and urge the House and Senate to get this bill passed quickly.”

Senator Alex Padilla said, “Drug trafficking through the Caribbean fuels crime, violence, and the spread of illicit drugs in the United States, putting countless lives at risk. Congress has an obligation to address the drug epidemic in our country, and our bipartisan bill would ensure the Office of National Drug Control Policy develops a clear strategy to disrupt these operations, strengthen enforcement efforts, and enhance public safety.”

Governor Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico said, “Cartels and drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean pose a significant threat to our national security.  Their illicit activities fuel violent crime within our communities and contribute to the overdose epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives across the nation.  It is essential the federal government has the necessary resources and tools at its disposal to tackle this problem and strengthen interdiction operations in the region, including in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act will help us achieve that by statutorily requiring the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop a federal strategy to combat drug trafficking from the Caribbean, just as it is currently required by law to develop a Southwest Border and a Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy.  I thank Senators Rick Scott and Alex Padilla for reintroducing our bill and look forward to working with them to advance it across the finish line this Congress.”

The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act would:

• Ensure the Federal government has a strategy in place to prevent the flow of illicit drugs through the Caribbean region and into the United States by codifying in statute the requirement for ONDCP to issue a Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy—just as Congress has codified the requirement for the Southwest Border and the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategies.

• Require the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy to include measures to combat drug trafficking and drug-related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as recommendations for additional assistance and authorities needed by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.

• Add a definition for “State” and “United States” in ONDCP’s authorization to clarify the inclusion of the U.S. territories.

• Amend the definition of “supply reduction” in ONDCP’s authorization to ensure the National Drug Control Strategy and its supplemental border strategies include efforts to tackle the financial networks of drug trafficking organizations.

Read the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act HERE.

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