Law Enforcement/Public Safety

Working Together to Address Stimulant Use: Lessons Learned from South Florida

Friday, November 4, 2022

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Presenter(s)

Hugo Barrera

Director
South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (SFLHIDTA)
Weston, Florida
Gary Grimm

Drug Intelligence Officer
South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
Weston, Florida
Jasmin L. Sibai, MPH (she/her/hers)

Public Health Analyst, Overdose Response Strategy
CDC Foundation, Emergency Response Unit
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Weston, Florida
Ronen Barerez

Lieutenant
Broward County Drug Task Force, the Money Laundering Task Force, the Gang Unit, the Organized Crime Unit, and the Narcotics Interdiction Task Force
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Juan Antonio Gonzalez

Acting US Attorney
Southern District of Florida
AH

Adrian Halley

Group Supervisor
ATF (STOP Initiative)
RC

Richard Cernuda

Group Supervisor
DEA Miami Field Division

This panel presentation illustrates how partnering local, state and federal law enforcement resources (United We Stand) under one umbrella (SFLHIDTA) can collectively attack the cocaine and stimulant problem in South Florida. The panelists outline how the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area(HIDTA) was formulated and how one specific HIDTA, the South Florida HIDTA, is constructed. It illustrates their area of responsibility and gives insight into its CSI initiative addressing the ever existing threat of cocaine and stimulant use and abuse in their six county area. In addition, this presentation highlights how the Drug Information Officer (DIO) and the Public Health Analyst (PHA) work hand in hand to address the overdose issues.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the mission of the South Florida HIDTA
See the importance of law enforcement's efforts to reduce the supply of stimulant drugs
Know the origins of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program
Understand the collaborative efforts of partnering Law Enforcement entities, the DIO and the PHA within the Cocaine and Stimulant Initiative in order to tackle the ongoing fentanyl threat to our communities.