Bill Introduced to Combat Fentanyl Trafficking
Continuing his efforts to secure the border and combat the deadly flow of fentanyl into Montana communities, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., introduced his Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit synthetic drugs via legitimate air, road, sea, and transportation networks.
“The deadly flow of illicit fentanyl into Montana communities is tearing families apart and it’s making our state less safe,” said Tester. “If we’re going to end illicit drug trafficking, we’re going to have to come at this issue from all sides, and that means strengthening our southern border, funding law enforcement, and securing the transportation systems allowing bad actors to get these drugs into our communities.”
Tester’s Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on U.S. Transportation Networks Act would:
• Establish four, transportation mode-specific, pilot programs to determine the feasibility of detecting illicit synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, by deploying and utilizing non-intrusive and other advanced technologies or canines to conduct random inspections of cargo transported via civil aircraft, passenger and freight rail, commercial trucking, and maritime vessels.
• Establish a pilot program to detect illicit drug trafficking on Amtrak and passenger rail, including consulting with state, local, and tribal law enforcement on enforcing federal drug trafficking laws and on the unique public safety needs of passenger rail lines in rural areas and in Indian Country.
• Authorize the Department of Homeland Security to provide grants to state, local, and Tribal governments to acquire technology and canines, provide training and equipment needed to implement the programs, and pay overtime compensation and other investigative expenses associated with the inspection programs.
• Require Customs and Border Protection to carry out non-intrusive inspections of 100 percent of motor vehicles and railroads entering the United States at all land ports of entry to detect illicit synthetic drugs within five years.
