SCHUMER, AFTER YEARS OF NON-STOP ADVOCACY, ANNOUNCES SULLIVAN COUNTY HAS RECEIVED CRITICAL FEDERAL “HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA” DESIGNATION; SCHUMER SAYS HUDSON VALLEY WILL NOW RECEIVE MAJOR BOOST IN FED CRIME FIGHTING RESOURCES COMING TO FIGHT OPIOID SCOURGE, STOP DANGEROUS DRUG TRAFFICKERS, AND KEEP SULLIVAN STREETS SAFE
For Years, Despite Having The Highest Overdose Death Rate In NYS, With 218 Overdose Incidents And 24 Fatalities In 2022 Alone, Sullivan County Has Remained The ONLY Hudson Valley County Not In The HIDTA Zone – Meaning It Has Lacked Access To Critical Federal Resources Needed To Stop Overdose Epidemic And Go After Drug Traffickers
Now, After Personally Bringing NY HIDTA Boss To Meet With Sullivan County Drug Task Force Earlier This Year And Launching An All Out Multi-Year Push, Schumer Says Feds Have Heeded His Request And Sullivan Will Receive Critical HIDTA Designation
Schumer: This Will Help Save Lives In Sullivan County And Across The Hudson Valley
Following years of non-stop advocacy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has heeded his calls and granted Sullivan County’s request to be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Schumer said that despite having the highest per capita fatal drug overdose rate in New York, until today, Sullivan was the only county in the Hudson Valley that wasn’t included in the New York/New Jersey HIDTA zone. Schumer personally brought the Director of ONDCP, Dr. Rahul Gupta, to Sullivan County to announce the critical designation, which will finally provide access to the federal resources to help local law enforcement combat the opioid crisis in the Hudson Valley and stop dangerous drug traffickers.
“This is going to help save lives and improve community safety here in Sullivan County. Sullivan County and the Hudson Valley have been hit hard by the drug overdose epidemic. Year after year, I stood with local law enforcement and community members and promised I would not stop fighting until I delivered this critical HIDTA designation and the invaluable federal coordination and resources that come with it. Today, I am proud to say that a promise made is now a promise kept,” said Senator Schumer. “Sullivan County’s HIDTA designation will bring better tools, intelligence and resources to stop dangerous drug traffickers, help those suffering from addiction, and reduce the flow of deadly opioids across the Hudson Valley. I want to thank ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta for working to address this life-threatening issue, and NY-NJ HIDTA Chauncey Parker, the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, and so many others whose heart and soul went into making today’s announcement possible. This is a critical first step to finally reverse the tide of the overdose epidemic in Sullivan County.”
“In his Unity agenda, President Biden called for a major surge to stop illicit drug trafficking while accelerating public health efforts to save lives,” said ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta. “Senator Schumer and public safety officials in New York have worked to deliver on the President’s call to action by ensuring their communities get the critical resources and support they need to reduce drug trafficking and save lives. This HIDTA designation will help local law enforcement leaders hold drug traffickers accountable, prevent overdoses, and protect the health and safety of communities in Sullivan County and the region. We look forward to a strong partnership as we work together to beat the overdose epidemic.”
NY-NJ HIDTA Chauncey Parker said, “I want to thank Senator Schumer for his exceptional leadership and tireless work — once again! — to support the NY/NJ HIDTA, in this case helping to make Sullivan County a HIDTA-designated county. For so many years, Senator Schumer has been an unwavering champion for the vision of the HIDTA program — both in our region and across the country — in particular the belief that we are always stronger and better when we work together. ONDCP Director Gupta’s designation of Sullivan County today as a part of the NY/NJ HIDTA will be a springboard to help the remarkable Sullivan County multi-agency partnership to achieve its common North Star — to reduce drug overdoses and save lives.”
"The HIDTA designation is a crucial milestone for Sullivan County. With federal resources and enhanced collaboration, we will combat the opioid crisis, dismantle drug networks, and provide justice for victims. Thanks to Senator Schumer for delivering on his promises to help, Sullivan County is on a path to a safer future." said Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff.
"The HIDTA designation is a long-awaited and crucial milestone for Sullivan County and a testament to the unwavering support and tireless advocacy of Senator Schumer, who worked collaboratively with our community to secure federal resources and effectively combat the opioid crisis. We're grateful for Senator Schumer's dedication and commitment to our well-being, which will be remembered for years to come. With the resources and tools provided by the HIDTA designation, we'll continue our important work of dismantling drug trafficking networks, bringing justice to victims, and creating a safer and brighter future for our residents. This achievement is a result of the collective hard work of a community determined to succeed, and we're proud to move forward together," said Sullivan County Drug Task Force Co-Chair, Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty.
“Today , the collaborative efforts of many individuals and agencies has brought the HIDTA designation to Sullivan County. Thanks to the tireless work of Sullivan County's law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office, Public Health Service and our federal partners , Sullivan County is a safer place to live, work and thrive. We owe a tremendous thank you to Senator Schumer and his team who have championed and consistently supported our efforts,” said former Sullivan County Drug Task Force Co-Chair, Wendy Brown.
“This is a turning point for Sullivan County. The designation will unlock critical federal resources to combat drug trafficking, expand treatment options for those suffering with addiction, and ultimately, save lives. Senator Schumer has been a leader on this bipartisan endeavor and I’m proud to have joined him and our dedicated local partners in pushing for this long overdue step. We are poised to make a profound difference for Sullivan County,” said Congressman Marc Molinaro.
Schumer has fought for years to be able to deliver this critical HIDTA designation for Sullivan County:
Senator Schumer first became aware of Sullivan County’s need for HIDTA in February 2021 after hearing directly from community leaders and stakeholders and personally wrote a letter of support for Sullivan to the ONCDP. Schumer personally visited Monticello in April 2022 to meet with Sullivan County’s Drug Task force, providers, local law enforcement, and elected officials to discuss the growing opioid crisis facing the county. After hearing stories firsthand of loved ones lost and learning firsthand about the extraordinary efforts of Sullivan County to combat the opioid epidemic, he became even more dedicated to ensuring that they obtained the resources to effectively prevent a growing number of deaths and overdoses and knew that as Majority Leader, he was in a position to do something to assist. Schumer explained that Sullivan County law enforcement agencies had already committed significant resources to combat the drug trafficking problem, with strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies Notably, the Sullivan County District Attorney had already dedicated funds from drug-related prosecutions to support proactive operations and, the establishment of Sullivan's Drug Task Force further underscored the county's proactive approach to addressing substance abuse, reducing overdoses, and saving lives.
More determined than ever to help Sullivan, on June 15th, 2022, Schumer personally called the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Dr. Rahul Gupta, and insisted that the Sullivan County be included in the ONDCP’s next round of HIDTA admissions. But less than a month later, Schumer learned that Sullivan County’s application was denied. Schumer doubled down on his efforts and immediately called Dr. Gupta again, demanding technical assistance (TA) to bolster the County’s application in the next cycle. Since then, Schumer has stayed in constant contact with Sullivan County and its Drug Task Force. He knew when they planned to submit their new application and made sure that prior to that submission the rural county got the resources it needed to put together the best application possible.
In March 2023, weeks before submission, Schumer hosted a TA workshop with Chauncey Parker, Director of the NY/NJ HIDTA, and Frank Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA NY Division. The pair brought invaluable experience to Sullivan County’s Drug Task Force and convened various federal, state, and local law enforcement to round up the additional drug trafficking data, resources, and feedback needed for a successful application. That same month, after failing to obtain HIDTA designation in 2021 and 2022, Schumer wrote his third and final letter of support for Sullivan County to the ONDCP.
Following three years of relentless work, Schumer’s tireless advocacy and fight alongside the Drug Task Force and the NY/NJ HIDTA has finally come to fruition with today’s announcement that Sullivan County has received its critical HIDTA designation. Schumer said the people of Sullivan County will now be provided with additional equipment, technology, and federal intelligence resources to tackle the county’s severe opioid crisis. This designation will directly support Sullivan County’s Drug Task Force and coordinated law enforcement strategy at all levels to make more federal resources available to stop the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl to Sullivan County and save countless lives. Schumer further explained that this process was highly competitive this year, with only 30% of applications filed with ONDCP meeting approval.
Schumer said Sullivan County is a significant center of illegal drug importation and distribution, with its location along Route 17, a critical transportation corridor used by drug trafficking organizations. The rural nature of Sullivan County and other areas through which Route 17 runs incentivizes drug traffickers to use this route, rather than the New York State Thruway which is more heavily patrolled. Local cases and data support the fact that Sullivan serves as a hub for the importation and distribution of illicit narcotics by domestic and international drug trafficking organizations. Drug traffickers from outside the county also use Sullivan County as a base to expand their narcotics operations and launder drug proceeds.
With Sullivan County's inclusion as New York’s 28th county in the NY/NJ HIDTA program, a significant increase in the allocation of federal resources will be available to adequately respond to drug-related activities. The HIDTA program was created by Congress in 1988 to coordinate and assist regional law enforcement agencies in reducing drug trafficking and production in the United States. Specifically, the NY/NJ HIDTA program supports 16 initiatives, including investigation/interdiction, prevention, management, training, intelligence, and technology. New York State law enforcement partners identify fentanyl and heroin as the leading threats in the region, with the program's mission to invest in law enforcement partnerships to promote safe and healthy communities. In Sullivan, fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is present in over 80% of fatal overdoses in the county. Rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for opioid overdoses are higher than the state average, with the use of fentanyl having detrimental effects on public health indicators.
Schumer said there was no time to waste as drug sellers in the county are responsible for the deaths of their customers. Disturbingly, recent data indicates that Sullivan County is disproportionately burdened by Opiate Use Disorder (“OUD”) and overdose-related mortality per capita. Preliminary reports by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) published this year show that in 2021, Sullivan’s opioid overdose death rate was 49.5 per 100,000 people, 108% higher than the statewide average. Final reports of the NYSDOH reveal that Sullivan’s fatal overdose rate involving opioid painkillers, including fentanyl were 245% higher than the NYS average, with overdoses involving synthetic opioids (other than methadone) 231% higher. Sullivan County’s opioid overdose death rate for 2022 was 15 deaths per 100,000, while neighboring regions of the State, including Orange and Ulster Counties, reported rates of 8 and 6.5 per 100,000, respectively. All of these rates exceed the New York State average per capita opioid-related death rate of 6.1 per 100,000. In 2022, Sullivan County reported 218 overdose incidents, including 24 fatalities.
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