Federal officials announced a fresh, one‑of‑a‑kind task force in New York that law‑enforcement leaders say will confront the changing dangers posed by transnational organized crime.
The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) New York, created by the U.S. Attorneys’ Office, the FBI, DHS, the IRS and the NYPD, is aimed at dismantling well‑known cartels and foreign gangs that operate in the city.
Officials explained that the new unit will streamline intelligence sharing across all levels of government, making it easier to act on information no matter where it originates.
“This task force is the first of its kind, using a whole government approach through a unified framework, the HSTF serves as a model for protecting the homeland from evolving threats presented by transnational organized crime,” Ricky Patel, HSI NY Special Agent in Charge, said.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton acknowledged that, while overall crime rates have dropped, they still remain stubbornly high in certain vulnerable neighborhoods.
“New Yorkers want public safety. They want our parks, schools, subways and streets to be both safe places and places that feel safe for our families, our children and our visitors.”
Christopher Raia, FBI New York assistant director in charge, highlighted the recent operation at Washington Square Park, where a coordinated team seized nearly 20 suspected drug dealers, as a clear example of cross‑agency cooperation.
The task force will focus heavily on Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Raia noted that federal investigators are pursuing two high‑ranking members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which received its terror designation earlier this year.
While the official launch happened this week, Patel added that “This historic, unified collaboration of sharing of resources has already been in motion behind the scenes.”
(HSI NY Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel. — Stephen Yang for the NY Post)
(Christopher Raia, FBI New York assistant director in charge. — Stephen Yang for the NY Post)
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