United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHICAGO – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, DEA Chicago Division, announced today that Lake County, Illinois, has been designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The designation means Lake County will receive more resources to coordinate federal, state and local government efforts to fight drug trafficking and abuse.

“The Drug Enforcement Administration has been a long-time partner with law enforcement agencies in Lake County, focusing on violent drug trafficking organizations operating in and around communities within the county.  This HIDTA designation will provide much needed additional support in our collective effort to keep Lake County communities – families - safe from violent drug organizations and the poisons they selfishly sell for profit,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bell.

Created by Congress in 1988, the HIDTA program facilitates information sharing among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies that work together to address regional drug threats, with the purpose of reducing drug trafficking, drug abuse and violence in the United States.  HIDTA programs have been regionally established in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.