Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Homeland Security Investigations awards $3 million + grant to Marshall University to combat opioid crisis

On August 27, Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Homeland Security Investigations awarded a $3 million + contract to Marshall University to combat the opioid crisis in the US.

According to the solicitation and award published on FedBizopps, Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia was the sole entity that expressed interest in developing a tool designed to aid ICE / HSI in investigating, disrupting and dismantling criminal activity related to the opioid epidemic in the United States.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has awarded up to $4.25 million to Marshall University for the development and implementation of a tool to aid in opioid investigations.

The statement of work identifies the need for a solution to aid HSI in the investigation, disruption, and dismantlement of criminal activity fueling the opioid crisis. The Marshall Digital Forensics Information Assurance program’s students, faculty and facilities will spearhead the effort.

Read the rest here. 

Attendance maxed out at South Florida human trafficking event

A training event designed to raise public awareness of the National Human Trafficking  hotline reached full capacity today, announced the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. 

More than 150 people attended a training forum co-hosted with the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida press release:

"The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and support.  The National Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force in certain cases.  Through information received by the National Hotline, law enforcement authorities can connect investigations that span jurisdictions across the country."

"he Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Miami-Dade Police Department, and International Rescue Committee, works to increase public awareness, identify victims, ensure that survivors receive assistance, and prosecute traffickers. 

The Task Force is composed of federal agencies including, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (specifically, its Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force), State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, and U.S. Department of Labor.  Several other state and local law enforcement entities in South Florida are supportive task force members.  Additionally, the Task Force collaborates with non-law enforcement entities, including the Florida Department of Children and Families, service providers, victim advocates, faith-based organizations, academic representatives and community members. Presently, the Task Force includes more than 300 non-law enforcement members."

On August 8th in this post, County Examiner reported Miami as one of the top three U.S. areas of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) responsibility receiving requests for service from families impacted by crimes committed by removable criminal aliens handled by the VOICE (Victims Of Immigration Crime Enforcement) office in Q3 2018.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Task Force will host a Human Trafficking Symposium at Nova Southeastern University on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.  The program is free and will provide advanced human trafficking training and resources for victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, and the local community. 

To register for the symposium visit https://nsuinfo.nova.edu/chcs/human-trafficking-symposium/.