LAS CRUCES - During a visit to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry and the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) highlighted how investments they have secured are helping law enforcement agencies tackle the fentanyl crisis and strengthen border security.

Caption: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) visit the Santa Teresa Port of Entry to discuss how funding they secured for non-intrusive inspection technologies is working to combat the flow of fentanyl into New Mexico, August 12, 2024.

Photos and videos from today's visit can be viewed and downloaded here.

"Last year, we lost more than 110,000 Americans to overdose deaths. Here in New Mexico, we have the 6th highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the entire country. Congressman Vasquez and I refuse to accept this reality - it's why we're working to deliver tools law enforcement personnel need to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets and out of our communities," said Heinrich. "From securing hundreds of millions of dollars to help Customs and Border Protection personnel crack down on fentanyl trafficking, to delivering funding to New Mexico's state and local law enforcement to improve fentanyl detection, to passing historic legislation that gives agencies new resources to go after the illicit fentanyl supply chain, we're taking action to save lives and help put an end to the flow of this deadly drug into our communities."

"Since day one my goal is clear: to enhance our border security and drug interdiction efforts to keep our communities safe. From my visits and discussions with officials at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, I understand that our border personnel need more resources to do their job effectively. That's why I'm proud to introduce the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, a bipartisan, common-sense solution," said Vasquez. "Our bill will increase the presence of state-of-the-art technology at our ports of entry and support our law enforcement officers on the ground. I am committed to working across the aisle to pass this bill and ensure that we provide the resources needed to tackle the fentanyl crisis head-on."

Heinrich and Vasquez began their day visiting the Santa Teresa Port of Entryto discuss how $400 million they secured for new, state-of-the-art inspection technologiesfor U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is helping law enforcement personnel crack down on fentanyl trafficking and strengthen border security.

The funding, which Heinrich announced in March and helped secure as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is helping CBP improve the detection and seizure of fentanyl and other narcotics. The funding included $75.5 million for non-intrusive inspection equipment for in-bound and out-bound operations at ports of entry, $10 million for task forces dedicated to countering fentanyl, and $6 million for maritime operations to counter fentanyl.

In the afternoon, the lawmakers visited the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program to receive a briefing on interdiction efforts and highlighted their extensive work to tackle the fentanyl crisis.

HIDTA is working alongside federal agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to coordinate with our state and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to effectively stem the flow of these illicit substances into our communities. These collaborative partnerships are essential to investigating and stopping drug trafficking operations.

Senator Heinrich is leading comprehensive efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic and protect New Mexico communities from fentanyl, most recently securing more than $1 million for local law enforcement to detect illicit fentanyl, helping to pass the historic FEND Off Fentanyl Act into law, and authoring legislation to require the DEA to establish a nationwide fentanyl tracking system.

Find an extensive list of Heinrich's actions to tackle the fentanyl crisis here.

Find an extensive list of Vasquez's actions to tackle the fentanyl crisis here.

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