U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) seated in the middle, meets with White House “Drug Czar” Jim Carroll seated middle-right and HIDTA Task Force Members at Madison County’s Drug Task Force Facility in Richmond, Kentucky on Thursday, October 22.

Richmond, KY– U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) hosted White House Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll (more colloquially known as President Trump’s “Drug Czar”) during his visit to Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District today.  Congressman Barr and Director Carroll met with members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, comprised of law enforcement leaders in the Sixth District.  HIDTA designations, which are made by the Director of National Drug Control Policy, enhance federal, state and local collaboration to stop drug trafficking and prosecute other drug crimes. 

The HIDTA Task Force and Congressman Barr have worked together to secure four HIDTA County designations in the Sixth District.  They include Madison, Montgomery, Powell and most recently Clark County, which was designated a HIDTA County in June of this year. 

“The drug epidemic is claiming thousands of lives nationwide each year and has deeply affected the Commonwealth.  For that reason, I have made allocating resources to drug enforcement and rehabilitation for people in recovery a top priority in Congress,” said Congressman Barr.  “It was a privilege to welcome Director Carroll to the Sixth District to discuss the progress we have made in Kentucky on this issue as well as additional actions we can   to further confront this challenge.

“It was an honor to be welcomed back to Kentucky by Congressman Barr to highlight the Trump Administration’s unparalleled support for law enforcement and the HIDTA designations that enhance their work,” Director Carroll said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we have allocated record resources to both address the scourge of drug trafficking in communities across the United States, and to connect those suffering from substance use disorder with needed treatment.  President Trump, Congressman Barr, and I share a deep commitment to combating the drug epidemic in the Sixth Congressional District, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and our country. Working together, we are bringing drug traffickers to justice and saving the lives of those suffering from addiction.”

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, which is funded by ONDCP, coordinates and assists 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. For more information about the work and successes of the HIDTA program, click here.

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