On September 18, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability passed the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act (HR 920), originally proposed by Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (NPP, R) of Puerto Rico and Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D) of the United States Virgin Islands.
The act aims to combat drug-related issues around the Caribbean, especially in Puerto Rico and the USVI. Specifically, the bill would codify a requirement of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop strategies combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean region. The bill states “This strategy must include measures for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs through the Caribbean region into the United States.”
In February 2023, when the legislation was initially proposed to the House, González-Colón said in a press release, “Drug trafficking in the Caribbean represents a major security threat to the United States. Nowhere is this risk more apparent than in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, where the illicit activities of drug smugglers operating in the region fuel most of the violent crime we see in our streets and communities. That’s why I’ve long advocated for the federal government to prioritize and allocate the necessary resources to address this threat.”
In that same press release, Plaskett said, “The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act is the natural next step in our country’s efforts to understand and effectively combat the ongoing threat of Caribbean drug trafficking. I am honored to join my fellow colleagues in leading this bill to bring both the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico fully into the vital work of drug interdiction in our region.”
The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act was added to the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024 (HR 9598)., which was originally passed in 1998 and included a “Commitment to a five-year national drug-control program budget,” “Increased reporting to Congress on drug-control activities,” “Improved coordination among national drug-control program agencies” and “Development of a long-term national drug control strategy.”
The passing of the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act will continue to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Caribbean region as well as their mission to reduce illegal drug usage and transport.
