Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan Elected Chair of Houston Area Drug Trafficking Board
Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan has been elected by his peers to serve as the Chair of the Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Executive Board.
Since taking office in 2021, Sheriff Fagan has served on the Houston HIDTA Executive Board. Last year, he was unanimously elected as Vice Chair. On November 16, 2023, the Houston HIDTA Executive Board unanimously elected Sheriff Fagan to serve as the Chair of the Houston HIDTA Executive Board. His term as Chair will run for one year, through November 2024.
Created by Congress in 1988 with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, the HIDTA Program was established to "coordinate and assist federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to address regional drug threats with the purpose of reducing drug trafficking and drug production in the United States." The purpose of the HIDTA Program is to "disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and/or money laundering organizations, as well as improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIDTA initiatives." There are currently 33 regional HIDTAs across the United States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The Houston HIDTA Executive Board is comprised of leaders of 20 area law enforcement agencies: 10 local and state agencies and 10 federal agencies. It is the duty of the Executive Board to assess drug trafficking threats in the region, develop strategies to address the threats, develop initiatives to implement the strategies, and propose funding to implement the initiatives.
"Sheriff Fagan has been an active member of the Houston HIDTA Executive Board for the past three years, bringing valuable input to the board, especially in light of his many years of law enforcement experience to draw upon," says Houston HIDTA Director, Mike McDaniel. "Our communities are facing unprecedented challenges brought to them by the regional and national overdose epidemic. The Houston HIDTA is looking forward to the experience and leadership that Sheriff Fagan will bring to this fight.”
"I take great pride in serving on the Houston HIDTA Executive Board, recognizing the significant benefits and resources it provides to Fort Bend County," says Sheriff Fagan. "Our unwavering commitment ensures we will persist in the crucial fight against drug trafficking and drug overdoses, striving for a safer and healthier community."
Source: FBCSO
