Feds roll out first-of-its-kind New York task force to fight ‘evolving’ transnational organized crime

Federal authorities launched a first-of-its-kind task force in New York that law enforcement leaders vowed Wednesday would tackle “evolving threats presented by transnational organized crime.”

US Attorney prosecutors, the FBI, Homeland Security, the IRS and the NYPD unveiled the new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) New York that takes aim at notorious cartels and foreign gangs that set their sights on the Big Apple.

The task force would better streamline intelligence obtained across agencies at every level of government, officials said in Lower Manhattan during a press conference.

“This task force is the first of its kind, using a whole government approach through a unified framework, the HSTF serves as a model for protecting the homeland from evolving threats presented by transnational organized crime,” said Ricky Patel, who is the Homeland Security Investigations New York special agent in charge.

US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said while crime is down, it’s still stubbornly too high in vulnerable neighborhoods.

“New Yorkers want public safety. They want our parks, schools, subways and streets to be both safe places and places that feel safe for our families, our children and our visitors,” he said at the Wednesday press conference.

He cited the recent raid on Washington Square Park that led to the arrest of nearly 20 alleged drug dealers as law enforcement collaboration.

The task force will heavily focus on Foreign Terrorist Organizations with FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge Christopher Raia stating the feds are seeking two high-ranking members of the dangerous cartel Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which received the terror designation earlier this year.

While the official rollout was this week, Patel noted, “This historic, unified collaboration of sharing of resources has already been in motion behind the scenes.”