MIAMI, Fla. – U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced the establishment of a new Joint Task Force (JTF) under II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) today to synchronize and augment counter-narcotics efforts across the Western Hemisphere.
The JTF will integrate the expeditionary capabilities of II MEF with Joint Force and U.S. interagency partners, represented by the Homeland Security Task Force. “Transnational criminal organizations threaten the security, prosperity, and health of our hemisphere,” said Adm. Alvin Holsey, Commander, SOUTHCOM. “By forming a JTF around II MEF headquarters, we enhance our ability to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit trafficking networks faster and at greater depth – together with our U.S. and partner-nation counterparts.”
Read more…
Source: U.S. Sothern Command
Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- TLR, Camp Robinson hosted AF EOD ToY Grand Finale
August 18, 2023
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. — Team Little Rock hosted the Air Force EOD Team of the Year competition at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Aug. 8-11, 2023. EOD teams from around the world traveled to Little Rock AFB to showcase their talents of performing full-scale, cradle-to-grave EOD operations and skills evaluations to ...
- Florida man dumps forgotten homemade pipe bomb at car wash after estranged wife turns him in
August 17, 2023
A Florida man was arrested after he left a homemade pipe bomb in a car wash trash can, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. Anthony Ray West, a 58-year-old electrical engineer, was arrested and charged with manufacturing an explosive device and possession of bomb-making materials. Read more… Source: Fox35 Orlando News
- Delaware: Millsboro man sentenced to seven years for possessing Molotov cocktails
August 17, 2023
A Millsboro man will serve more than seven years in federal prison for building Molotov cocktails and threatening to blow up or burn down the group home where he lived. According to court documents, Job Gillette, 25, amassed 17 Molotov cocktails – an improvised explosive device – an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, ammunition and a ballistic vest, ...
- Oregon: Joint Training Strengthens Emergency Response in Eugene
August 16, 2023
EUGENE, Ore. — On Aug. 16, various local and state agencies came together for a joint training exercise to enhance emergency preparedness in Eugene and surrounding communities. The annual event called a Joint Hazard Assessment Team (J-HAT) training, involved members from the Oregon National Guard’s 102nd Civil Support Team, Eugene Police Department, Eugene Fire Department, Federal ...
- Philadelphia Teenager Arrested in Terror Plot
August 14, 2023
Authorities say they rushed to arrest a 17-year-old boy, alleging he was preparing to build bombs and select targets after being in touch with an al-Qaida affiliate in Syria. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the arrest Monday, calling details of the threat “deeply disturbing.” An FBI SWAT team was sent to the teenager’s home in ...
- California: How Jewish community safety group tracked down suspect linked to extremist threat in Reseda
August 12, 2023
A tip from a community security group led to the arrest of a Reseda man who allegedly “called for the mass murder of Jews.” Ryan Scott Bradford, 34, was arrested last month after several agencies raided his home near White Oak Avenue and Saticoy Street. He’s been charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and being a ...
- Texas: APD, FBI conduct follow-up investigation in Cedar Park linked to St. David’s Medical Center car explosion
August 10, 2023
The Austin Police Department confirmed its Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit along with Cedar Park Police and the FBI is conducting a follow-up investigation in Cedar Park Thursday in connection to Wednesday’s car explosion incident at St. David’s Medical Center. Police evacuated some Cypress Gardens apartment complex residents at 335 Cypress Creek Road as detectives investigated ...
- NATO troops complete live-agent CBRN training at Exercise Precise Response in Canada
August 10, 2023
CANADIAN FORCES BASE SUFFIELD, Alberta, Canada – Highly specialized NATO forces honed their lifesaving and mission-enabling skills during live-agent chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) training at Exercise Precise Response on Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta, Canada, July 10 – 28. CBRN troops from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, ...
- Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company supports new bomb suit helmet program
August 8, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va. – U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians are helping the Army improve state-of-the-art combat helmets to better protect them on high-stakes missions. EOD technicians from the 55th Ordnance Company (EOD) are working with Program Executive Office Soldier and Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory to develop the Vertical Load Offset System (VLOS) for ...
- How to blast through a Russian minefield
August 6, 2023
What does it take to blast a path through a minefield? A monster of a vehicle – part tank, part bulldozer – firing a rocket attached to a cord of explosives. That detonation in turns detonates the mines that are in a soldier’s path. At Fort Carson, Colorado, Lt. Col. Latoya Manzey’s engineer battalion is training ...
- Iowa: Explosive device found in Springville roadway
August 3, 2023
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an explosive device found this morning. A Sheriff’s Deputy found the device on a road in Springville. Sheriff’s vehicles blocked Secrist Road from Crystal Creek Road to Campbell Road while Cedar Rapids bomb technicians investigated. By 1:30 this afternoon, the Cedar Rapids Metro Hazardous Device Unit removed the device. Read ...
- Team Minot hosts USAF-wide EOD exercise
August 2, 2023
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. – The 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight hosted Operation Frozen Peanut here, July 24-28. Operation Frozen Peanut is a routine exercise designed to test EOD capabilities, procedures, and readiness in the event of a nuclear incident. The exercise was conducted from the perspective of an Initial Response Force ...
- US Imposes Sanctions on 20 Individuals and 29 Firms in Maldives Over Terror Links
August 1, 2023
The United States has designated 20 individuals and 29 companies as being operatives and facilitators for the terror groups, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qa’ida in the Indian Ocean state of Maldives. The announcement by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that several of the individuals ...
- California: Suspect arrested after explosive devices found at Fremont business
July 31, 2023
Evacuations have been ordered for an area of Fremont after authorities located explosive devices in a business on Industrial Place on Sunday, police said. Earlier, police were called to a report of domestic violence in the north end of town and arrested a suspect and prepared to seize his registered firearms, Fremont Police said. Read more… Source: ABC7 ...
- New York: MTA K9 discourages terrorism on trains
July 30, 2023
The MTA is continuing to work to keep the region’s transportation system safe and canines are playing a large role in their efforts. The MTA PD Canine Unit currently has 35 teams whose mission is to deter terrorism and prevent crime on the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, Staten Island Railway, and at respective ...