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Chester County Press

District Attorney named chairman of HIDTA Intelligence Committee

09/18/2013 01:15PM ● By Acl

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan has been named chairman of the Intelligence Committee for the region’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

Funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, HIDTA is a combined federal, state, and local program that coordinates law enforcement efforts to fight high-level drug trafficking and the violence that goes with drug trafficking. More than 30 agencies are members of the regional HIDTA group, including the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

The regional HIDTA group covers Chester County, Delaware County, and Philadelphia County, as well as Camden County in New Jersey. There are 28 HIDTA regions across the United States.

HIDTA executive director Jeremiah Daley said, “We are very honored and gratified to have someone with Tom Hogan’s commitment, vision and experience as both a federal and local prosecutor taking this important leadership role as chairman of our Intelligence Committee. He will play an integral part in advancing HIDTA’s capacity to bolster the efforts of the region’s law enforcement community through information sharing, intelligence assessments, and investigative case support.”

Hogan said, “Drugs and violent crime are inextricably intertwined. We need to bring all of our intelligence tools to the game to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, whether we are talking about Philadelphia or Camden or Coatesville. HIDTA gives us the tools to take the fight to the criminals and keep our law-abiding citizens safe.”

The HIDTA Intelligence Committee works to spot emerging trends in drug trafficking at a national and local level. The group also acts as a bridge for agencies to share information and law enforcement techniques to combat violent crime.

In Chester County, HIDTA was part of the team responsible for Operation Tubería Rota, resulting in arrests and convictions of members of international drug trafficking organizations in Southern Chester County. HIDTA also was part of Operation Silent Night, an initiative in Coatesville that targeted violent criminals and drug dealers in that city.

Chester County HIDTA is commanded by the Chester County Detectives. Officers and agents from the Coatesville Police Department, Kennett Square Police Department, Oxford Police Department, DEA, FBI, and Homeland Security also are part of Chester County HIDTA .

Hogan added, “I deeply appreciate our federal and local law enforcement partners entrusting the Chester County District Attorney’s Office with this position. It is always important for law enforcement to coordinate our efforts and work together to keep our region safe, particularly from the violence and destruction caused by sophisticated drug trafficking organizations. When law enforcement works as a team, nobody can stop us.”