Law enforcement in Bucks County will be strengthened in its ongoing fight against the illegal drug trade as a result of the county’s addition today to the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The HIDTA designation, announced this afternoon, gives Bucks County access to even more resources to facilitate greater cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement for the purposes of drug enforcement.

“I am incredibly grateful Bucks County has received the HIDTA designation,” said District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub. “This will serve as a force multiplier of funding, technology and manpower in our focus against the scourge of illegal drugs plaguing our community.”

DA Weintraub pursued the designation to bolster the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office’s multi-pronged approach to addressing the drug crisis, which has included both the prioritization of treatment for drug users who enter the criminal justice system, as well as the creation of the Drug Strike Force to investigate and tear down drug trafficking organizations.

For their support in this fight as well as the application process, DA Weintraub also thanks Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania William McSwain for his letter of support and also Attorney General Josh Shapiro both for his support, and for allowing First Deputy Attorney General Michelle Henry to author a letter of support. 

Bucks County joins the program's Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA region. It is one of 13 counties added to various HITDA regions across 12 states.

“We are excited to have Bucks County become part of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA and become full partners in the region’s battle against drug trafficking organizations” said LMA HIDTA Executive Director Jeremiah Daley.  “Forging stronger operational ties, facilitating increased information-sharing and maximizing available resources among the law enforcement agencies in the lower Delaware Valley are essential parts of the HIDTA program, and will assist in reducing the deadly toll taken by the distribution of illegal substances in our communities.   We congratulate District Attorney Matthew Weintraub and his office for leading the effort to obtain HIDTA designation for Bucks County, and thank the partner agencies who have lent their support to this effort.  We look forward to partnering with them in a variety of initiatives to benefit the county’s citizens.”

Contact: James O’Malley, 215.348.6298, jtomalley@buckscounty.org