United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW ORLEANS – Today, in a demonstration of unity, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley joined U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to announce their joint efforts to address the violent crime spike occurring in the City of New Orleans.  The collaborative effort features a team comprised of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), City of New Orleans Office of Criminal Justice Coordination, Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana State Police (LSP), and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).

The components of the collaborative deterrence plan include:

• Investigative resources focused on the most violent offenders/gangs and the use of federal prosecution for long-term criminal deterrence.
• Daily investigative coordination and interagency de-confliction reviews to include the following:
• Interagency sharing of analytical and investigative resources targeting violent crime;
• USMS violent offender warrant list for violent criminals; and
• ATF NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) and eTrace leads.
• Proactive community engagement to guide law enforcement in the apprehension of violent criminals, identification of cooperators, and the development of leads for short-term and long-term racketeering, and VCAIT (Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team) investigations.

“DEA is proud to be a partner in this joint effort to curb the rising violent crime in our city and beyond.  The combined strength that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies bring to bear in the battle against these violent offenders will strike a significant blow to their criminal and drug trafficking organizations.  By working together, we will leverage our respective resources and expertise to achieve results that we could not accomplish on our own. Our combined, concentrated efforts will make our communities a safer place to live by disrupting the flow of guns and dangerous drugs to our neighborhoods,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Byerley.

U.S. Attorney Evans stated, "As a law enforcement collective, we recognize the imminency of the violent crime surge sweeping across our community.  We want the public to know that federal, state, and local law enforcement stands ready to collaborate, combine resources and continue to target those who prey on our citizens. Victims of crime also should know that law enforcement is committed to preventing, investigating, and solving the crimes that have plagued our community. Just as importantly, the perpetrators of these offenses are on notice that they will be apprehended and held accountable for their actions.”

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.

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