District Attorney Marteeny learns about border efforts

ALBANY — Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny saw the workings of the Customs and Border Protection agents up close November 6, as one of five Oregon District Attorneys invited to spend time at the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, Calif.

Marteeny was a guest of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, which assists local law enforcement agencies that are committed to responding to drug trafficking.

“We received briefings from Customs and Border Protections and Homeland Security Investigations,” Marteeny said.

Topics included fentanyl abatement and suppression team reports.

“Our Border Patrol agents are the front line for preventing entry of drugs, human trafficking and terrorists from entering the United States,” Marteeny said.

Marteeny said he visited the San Ysidro Port of Entry, where 100,000 people cross every day.

Marteeny said he learned that trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine are both up and heroin is dfown.

“Drugs are one of the main things crossing our borders that affect our communities,” he said. “Human trafficking also crosses our borders and we are now seeing an influx of Chinese nationals crossing borders illegally. Once they cross our border, they are told they must work off the crossing fees and then are held in servitude.”

Marteeny said there is also an increase in the number of Chinese nationals who have come into the United States and are running illicit marijuana operations.

“They are violating state growing rules, code enforcement, environmental laws and are creating a huge drain on the power grid,” Marteeny said.

Marteeny said Chinese nationals are also involved in illegal massage parlor operations (one such case prosecuted in Linn County a few years ago).

Marteen said the group also toured the border wall and saw several iterations of fencing, put into place over decades.

“For me, this trip confirmed the dedication of our Border Patrol professionals. They want to serve our country and make it safer. It is an overwhelming job.”

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, the HIDTA Program was created by Congress in 1988. There are 33 HIFTAs and HIDTA counties are in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.

• To qualify for consideration as a HIDTA, an area must meet the following criteria:
• The area is a significant center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation, or distribution;
• State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies have committed resources to respond to the drug trafficking problem in the area, thereby indicating a determination to respond aggressively to the problem;
• Drug-related activities in the area are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other areas of the country; and
• A significant increase in allocation of Federal resources is necessary to respond adequately to drug related activities in the area.