I'm just going to keep shouting it: TRUMP TOLD PROSECUTORS TO DIVERT RESOURCES AWAY FROM DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO GO AFTER IMMIGRANTS.
January 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I'm just going to keep shouting it: TRUMP TOLD PROSECUTORS TO DIVERT RESOURCES AWAY FROM DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO GO AFTER IMMIGRANTS.
How the HECK is it not a nationwide scandal that Trump told federal law enforcement to divert resources away from drug trafficking and terrorism cases to instead prioritize prosecuting undocumented immigrants for living here?
They screamed about fentanyl and then did this!
They screamed about fentanyl and then did this!
January 28, 2025 at 1:03 AM
How the HECK is it not a nationwide scandal that Trump told federal law enforcement to divert resources away from drug trafficking and terrorism cases to instead prioritize prosecuting undocumented immigrants for living here?
They screamed about fentanyl and then did this!
They screamed about fentanyl and then did this!
NEW FOIA Files newsletter is out! Anti-Drug Unit Officially Shut Down by DOJ
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces responsibilities, including 5,000 existing case, have been transferred to a new set of task forces under DHS
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces responsibilities, including 5,000 existing case, have been transferred to a new set of task forces under DHS
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
November 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
NEW FOIA Files newsletter is out! Anti-Drug Unit Officially Shut Down by DOJ
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces responsibilities, including 5,000 existing case, have been transferred to a new set of task forces under DHS
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces responsibilities, including 5,000 existing case, have been transferred to a new set of task forces under DHS
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
OCDETF, as it’s called, worked jointly on investigations with other agencies to combat illicit finance and take down transnational criminal networks.
March 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
OCDETF, as it’s called, worked jointly on investigations with other agencies to combat illicit finance and take down transnational criminal networks.
As Trump cites fentanyl as a reason for 25% tariffs on our allies, a reminder that after taking office he ORDERED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP INVESTIGATING DRUG TRAFFICKERS so he could divert resources to prosecuting immigrants instead.
He's making our communities poorer and less safe.
He's making our communities poorer and less safe.
February 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
As Trump cites fentanyl as a reason for 25% tariffs on our allies, a reminder that after taking office he ORDERED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP INVESTIGATING DRUG TRAFFICKERS so he could divert resources to prosecuting immigrants instead.
He's making our communities poorer and less safe.
He's making our communities poorer and less safe.
Leaders of the unit, called the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, or OCDETF, were told they had until Sept. 30 to shut down operations.
May 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Leaders of the unit, called the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, or OCDETF, were told they had until Sept. 30 to shut down operations.
In his letter to Blanche, which cited Bloomberg’s recent reporting, Wyden said that “shortly after I requested an unredacted copy of this OCDETF memorandum, DOJ stepped in to prevent DEA from complying with my request.”
March 18, 2026 at 1:58 PM
In his letter to Blanche, which cited Bloomberg’s recent reporting, Wyden said that “shortly after I requested an unredacted copy of this OCDETF memorandum, DOJ stepped in to prevent DEA from complying with my request.”
“I’m writing to follow up on our conversation last Friday regarding setting a meeting with your staff and mine to discuss the process for closing down OCDETF functions in the wake of zeroing our budget for FY2026,” Padden wrote in the email, under the subject line “OCDETF de-commissioning.”
May 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
“I’m writing to follow up on our conversation last Friday regarding setting a meeting with your staff and mine to discuss the process for closing down OCDETF functions in the wake of zeroing our budget for FY2026,” Padden wrote in the email, under the subject line “OCDETF de-commissioning.”
President Trump claims to be in a war with drug cartels as DOJ closes OCDETF, the office responsible for coordinating cartel prosecutions.
October 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
President Trump claims to be in a war with drug cartels as DOJ closes OCDETF, the office responsible for coordinating cartel prosecutions.
Trump Admin is shutting down OCDETF program — prosecutors, agents and analysts who target transnational drug cartels. Odd decision in light of stated priorities.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump Team Set to Dissolve Reagan-Era Transnational Crime Unit
Task forces that specialize in fighting organized crime, drug cartels and human traffickers were told to shut down by Sept. 30, according to documents and people familiar with the matter
www.bloomberg.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Trump Admin is shutting down OCDETF program — prosecutors, agents and analysts who target transnational drug cartels. Odd decision in light of stated priorities.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Separately on Monday, @whitehouse.senate.gov sent a letter to Bondi, Kash Patel and Terry Cole, the DEA administrator, requesting records & details about another OCDETF operation that surfaced in the Epstein files that was also cited in Bloomberg’s reporting
March 18, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Separately on Monday, @whitehouse.senate.gov sent a letter to Bondi, Kash Patel and Terry Cole, the DEA administrator, requesting records & details about another OCDETF operation that surfaced in the Epstein files that was also cited in Bloomberg’s reporting
A DEA agent told OCDETF the agency needed the information to support an investigation into money laundering, drug trafficking and the procurement of Eastern European prostitutes for high profile clientele, the people familiar with the matter said.
March 6, 2026 at 2:50 PM
A DEA agent told OCDETF the agency needed the information to support an investigation into money laundering, drug trafficking and the procurement of Eastern European prostitutes for high profile clientele, the people familiar with the matter said.
In May 2011, OCDETF formally launched an operation called Chain Reaction. Over the next four years, federal authorities targeted and prosecuted nearly a dozen people in New York, including associates of the Genovese crime family, on various racketeering charges
March 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
In May 2011, OCDETF formally launched an operation called Chain Reaction. Over the next four years, federal authorities targeted and prosecuted nearly a dozen people in New York, including associates of the Genovese crime family, on various racketeering charges
WATCH: Fmr. U.S. Attorney Dena King explains how federal task forces like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) used a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to dismantle organized crime and drug trafficking networks.
September 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
WATCH: Fmr. U.S. Attorney Dena King explains how federal task forces like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) used a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to dismantle organized crime and drug trafficking networks.
That operation, known as Trip Knot, was launched by OCDETF & FBI a few months before Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking. It was a money laundering and human and drug trafficking investigation tied to Russian organized crime. Epstein’s name surfaced repeatedly in that case as well
March 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM
That operation, known as Trip Knot, was launched by OCDETF & FBI a few months before Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking. It was a money laundering and human and drug trafficking investigation tied to Russian organized crime. Epstein’s name surfaced repeatedly in that case as well
“I’d like to get guidance as soon as possible regarding the options for our employees and the vision for either the termination or transfer of OCDETF functions and responsibilities," Padden added.
May 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
“I’d like to get guidance as soon as possible regarding the options for our employees and the vision for either the termination or transfer of OCDETF functions and responsibilities," Padden added.
The Trump administration shut down the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), zeroing out its budget, ordering operations to end
OCDETF ran the Epstein‑related investigation into prostitution, drug running, and money laundering known as Operation "Chain Reaction"
OCDETF ran the Epstein‑related investigation into prostitution, drug running, and money laundering known as Operation "Chain Reaction"
March 21, 2026 at 10:35 AM
The Trump administration shut down the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), zeroing out its budget, ordering operations to end
OCDETF ran the Epstein‑related investigation into prostitution, drug running, and money laundering known as Operation "Chain Reaction"
OCDETF ran the Epstein‑related investigation into prostitution, drug running, and money laundering known as Operation "Chain Reaction"
The document, a 69-page target profile prepared for the DEA by DOJ's now-defunct Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, was released in January. Although heavily redacted, it showed that DEA and the Task Forces, known as OCDETF, investigated Epstein, 12 other people and two businesses in 2015
March 18, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The document, a 69-page target profile prepared for the DEA by DOJ's now-defunct Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, was released in January. Although heavily redacted, it showed that DEA and the Task Forces, known as OCDETF, investigated Epstein, 12 other people and two businesses in 2015
Tomorrow the last employees of DOJ's OCDETF program—one of America's most effective organizations in combating drug cartels—will be terminated.
Former Deputy Director Thomas Padden warns OCDETF's closure leaves the country more vulnerable to organized crime.
Former Deputy Director Thomas Padden warns OCDETF's closure leaves the country more vulnerable to organized crime.
Say Goodbye to the Nation’s Largest and Most Effective Anti-Crime Task Force
The Administration claims to be serious about stopping drug cartels, but it’s shutting down DOJ's OCDETF program — a critical resource in dismantling organized crime.
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Tomorrow the last employees of DOJ's OCDETF program—one of America's most effective organizations in combating drug cartels—will be terminated.
Former Deputy Director Thomas Padden warns OCDETF's closure leaves the country more vulnerable to organized crime.
Former Deputy Director Thomas Padden warns OCDETF's closure leaves the country more vulnerable to organized crime.
The documents say that OCDETF began to wind down its operations in June. The unit’s various responsibilities, including “5,000 existing OCDETF cases,” were then to be transferred, by Sept. 30, to a new set of task forces under DHS. That transition is now largely complete.
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The documents say that OCDETF began to wind down its operations in June. The unit’s various responsibilities, including “5,000 existing OCDETF cases,” were then to be transferred, by Sept. 30, to a new set of task forces under DHS. That transition is now largely complete.
It's page 12 of the document, and you need to look around for the acronyms if you don't know all things DOJ, but here they are —>
October 3, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It's page 12 of the document, and you need to look around for the acronyms if you don't know all things DOJ, but here they are —>
SCOOP: DOJ is dissolving its four-decade old transnational crime fighting network, OCDETF. Its operations, I've learned, will be absorbed by the new DHS task forces
But many q's remain. A group of Democratic senators have sent a letter to AG Bondi seeking answers
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
But many q's remain. A group of Democratic senators have sent a letter to AG Bondi seeking answers
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Democratic Senators Want Bondi to Explain Crime Unit's Closure
The lawmakers gave Pam Bondi two weeks to respond to questions about the Justice Department’s plans to dissolve a unit tasked with dismantling organized crime networks and drug cartels.
www.bloomberg.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
SCOOP: DOJ is dissolving its four-decade old transnational crime fighting network, OCDETF. Its operations, I've learned, will be absorbed by the new DHS task forces
But many q's remain. A group of Democratic senators have sent a letter to AG Bondi seeking answers
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
But many q's remain. A group of Democratic senators have sent a letter to AG Bondi seeking answers
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The day after receiving news that his office would be shut down, Thonas Padden, the acting director of OCDETF, emailed Jolene Ann Lauria, the assistant attorney general for administration and DOJ’s chief financial officer, to discuss next steps.
May 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The day after receiving news that his office would be shut down, Thonas Padden, the acting director of OCDETF, emailed Jolene Ann Lauria, the assistant attorney general for administration and DOJ’s chief financial officer, to discuss next steps.
Drug traffickers love private islands. Just say’n.
Wyden: "The fact that Epstein was under investigation by the DOJ's OCDETF task force suggests that there was ample evidence indicating that Epstein was engaged in heavy drug trafficking and prostitution as part of cross-border criminal conspiracy.”
Wyden: "The fact that Epstein was under investigation by the DOJ's OCDETF task force suggests that there was ample evidence indicating that Epstein was engaged in heavy drug trafficking and prostitution as part of cross-border criminal conspiracy.”
This is a big one. A newly uncovered document has revealed the existence of a mystery Epstein investigation. It was spearheaded by the DEA and involved drug trafficking and money laundering. Epstein was one of 15 targets. The other 14 names are redacted. I've got questions.
Senator calls for DEA to provide info on "incredibly disturbing" Epstein drug investigation
Federal drug enforcement investigators targeted Jeffrey Epstein and 14 others in a yearslong probe first reported by CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 27, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Drug traffickers love private islands. Just say’n.
Wyden: "The fact that Epstein was under investigation by the DOJ's OCDETF task force suggests that there was ample evidence indicating that Epstein was engaged in heavy drug trafficking and prostitution as part of cross-border criminal conspiracy.”
Wyden: "The fact that Epstein was under investigation by the DOJ's OCDETF task force suggests that there was ample evidence indicating that Epstein was engaged in heavy drug trafficking and prostitution as part of cross-border criminal conspiracy.”
This definitely fits with the admin’s goals of fighting drugs, cartels, and human trafficking. Btw, OCDETF takes in more in seized organized crime assets than it costs in funding
May 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This definitely fits with the admin’s goals of fighting drugs, cartels, and human trafficking. Btw, OCDETF takes in more in seized organized crime assets than it costs in funding