Page 13 - The Indian EYE 061926

Op-Ed JUNE 19, 2026 | The Indian Eye 13

screening methods. Furthermore, sociated with synthetic drugs and
CBP is refining its data collection precursor chemicals,” the HSI offi-
processes for various shipment types cial adds.
to improve the identification of po-
tentially suspicious packages within THE INTERAGENCY ENGINE
intricate logistics networks. The fentanyl response depends
The challenge, officials say, heavily on coordination between
stems from the nature of fentanyl agencies operating at different
production itself. Instead of visi- points in the enforcement chain.
ble poppy or coca fields, producers
source chemicals through global sup- CBP focuses on identifying and
ply chains, often ordering them on-
line and shipping them in small, mis- interdicting illicit shipments at
declared consignments that blend ports of entry and across trade
into normal commerce. “Its dualuse
nature makes it difficult for authori- routes, while HSI uses seizure
ties to distinguish lawful trade from data, financial records, intelli-
illicit supply and to regulate specific
substances without disrupting legit- gence analysis, and investiga-
imate businesses,” the HSI official tive leads to identify and dis-
explains. “Traffickers can quickly Because fentanyl production relies heavily on globally traded chemicals, international cooper-
switch to alternative or ‘preprecur- mantle the criminal networks
sor’ chemicals when controls tighten.” ation is key. India plays an important role as a major producer and exporter of pharmaceutical behind them.
and industrial chemicals (File photo)
TARGETING
THE NETWORK In addition, CBP’s Office of icals,” the HSI official says. “Our Officials say information gath-
In response to this evolving Trade analyzes supply chain vulnera- engagement is framed as a shared ered through CBP interdictions
model, U.S. agencies have reworked bilities to target shipments of precur- supply-chain challenge: working to- often feeds directly into HSI inves-
where and how they intervene. Rath- sors and equipment entering through gether to prevent the diversion of tigations. “Continuous information
er than focusing on intercepting fin- legitimate trade pathways. legitimate chemicals and expertise sharing occurs between CBP and
ished drugs at the border, agencies HSI approaches fentanyl precur- into illicit fentanyl and other syn- HSI, with HSI units at CBP’s Na-
increasingly target the broader sys- sors “as a global illicit supply chain thetic drug production.” tional Targeting Center analyzing
tems that enable fentanyl production challenge, not just a narcotics issue,” Cooperation increasingly fo- shipping and seizure data to identify
and movement. the official says. To identify high-risk cuses on strengthening regulatory fentanyl trafficking organizations,”
“Transnational criminal organi- activity, HSI analyzes trade data, frameworks, supported by initiatives the CBP official says. The agencies
zations are most vulnerable at the shipping manifests, customs decla- like technical exchanges and training also share real-time intelligence
points where they must intersect with rations, and commercial records for on financial and trade-based inves- on trafficking routes, smuggling
legitimate systems—global trade, fi- anomalies such as unusual routing tigations, as well as cyber- and dark methods, suspicious shipments, and
nance, travel, communications, and patterns, inconsistent product de- web-enabled trafficking. emerging trends, while collaborating
the physical movement of goods and scriptions, or repeated low-volume “A central pillar of this cooper- through joint task forces and target-
people,” says the HSI official. The shipments that do not align with a ation is our engagement under the ing centers.
agency continuously assesses these company’s stated business. Financial U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework, CBP’s rapid testing technologies
intersections to identify emerging investigations run in parallel, tracing which provides a structured plat- and cargo-screening systems support
vulnerabilities and apply pressure payments through banks, shell com- form for aligning priorities, sharing intelligence collection and prosecu-
using investigative authorities, ad- panies, money service businesses, insights on emerging trends, and tion efforts, while HSI investigators
vanced analytics, and domestic and and trade-based schemes to iden- coordinating policy and operational use those leads to map trafficking
international partnerships. tify networks supporting precursor responses,” the HSI official adds. organizations, track precursor sup-
CBP, meanwhile, leverages in- procurement. CBP also works with Indian ply chains, and coordinate follow-up
telligence, data analysis, and rapid Officials say partnerships with authorities under mechanisms like investigations with federal, state, lo-
screening to identify high-risk cargo legitimate industry are also increas- the Customs Mutual Assistance cal, and international partners.
and passengers earlier in the supply ingly important. HSI works with Agreement. “This collaboration in-
chain. “It employs innovative strat- chemical producers, distributors, volves sharing intelligence to disrupt THE PATH FORWARD
egies like Forward Operating Lab- and logistics firms to improve visibili- online sales and developing train- Ultimately, the fight against
oratories, which provide rapid, on- ty into suspicious orders and encour- ing and advisory resources to build fentanyl reflects “whole-of-govern-
site precursor screening and fentanyl age reporting of questionable trans- capacity for targeting and disrupt- ment” recognition that in the age
testing, significantly reducing identi- actions or customers. ing synthetic drug movements,” the of synthetics, seizures alone are no
fication time from weeks to minutes,” CBP official says. longer enough. By treating fentanyl
says the CBP official. This enables THE U.S.-INDIA COOPERATION To deepen cooperation, HSI has as a global supply-chain and public
faster law enforcement action, intel- FRAMEWORK proposed bilateral initiatives such health crisis rather than a traditional
ligence collection, and prosecution. Because fentanyl production re- as Trade Transparency Units and smuggling problem, authorities are
Pre-border enforcement has also lies heavily on globally traded chem- Transnational Criminal Investigative moving toward a model of continu-
become central to CBP’s strategy. It icals, international cooperation is Units aimed at improving real-time ous disruption.
works with foreign governments, key. India plays an important role as information sharing and joint target- As trafficking networks increas-
private industry partners, and for- a major producer and exporter of ing of illicit supply chains. ingly hide within global commerce,
ward-deployed personnel to interdict pharmaceutical and industrial chem- “Only through close partnership, the race to adapt—through AI, di-
precursor chemicals and manufac- icals. mutual trust, and continuous infor- plomacy, and forensic finance—re-
turing equipment before they reach “India is a critical counterpart on mation sharing can we effectively mains the front line of modern drug
illicit networks. synthetic drugs and precursor chem- confront the complex challenges as- enforcement.

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