Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
El Paso, TX – U.S. Army Joint Task Force-North and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) El Paso donated 15 pallets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Chihuahua State Attorney General’s Office, Chihuahua State Police, and Ciudad Juarez Municipal Police. The equipment, consisting of coveralls, heavy-duty rubber gloves, heavy-duty steel toe rubber boots, and respirator filters, assists Mexican law enforcement to respond to and disrupt drug laboratories manufacturing crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Exposure to these illicitly manufactured synthetic drugs can pose a significant health risk to first responders, and the provided equipment protects officers when assisting the public and when investigating a crime scene.
Eric S. Cohan, U.S. Consul General in Ciudad Juarez, marked the donation by underscoring the importance of collaboration in countering these dangerous drugs: “This equipment will increase the Mexican authorities’ level of preparedness. Illicitly manufactured synthetic drugs threaten the safety and well-being of people on both sides of the border. By working together, we can tackle this issue more effectively.”
The initiative aligns with the goals of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, established in July 2023, which aims to strengthen the coordinated global response to the public health and safety challenges posed by synthetic drugs. It fosters international cooperation to drive comprehensive, balanced, evidence-based, and effective actions at both national and international levels, in accordance with applicable international law.
To learn more about the participating countries of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, please visit this link.
The United States government remains committed to supporting bilateral efforts in combating the threat of synthetic drugs and ensuring the security of our communities.