Duval Times

On February 13, 2025, Senators Rick Scott and Alex Padilla introduced the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act in Washington, D.C. The bill aims to combat illegal drug trafficking in the Caribbean region, specifically targeting routes between Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida. This legislation follows previous directives for a Caribbean Border Counternarcotic Strategy to be published by the White House Office of National Drug Policy.

Senator Rick Scott stated, “Over the past four years, President Joe Biden’s wide-open border served as an invitation for criminals to bring deadly drugs, like fentanyl, into our communities and kill Americans. The crisis Biden created caused heartbreak, devastation and violence within our communities in Florida, Puerto Rico and across the United States. I’m glad that’s finally coming to an end with President Trump and Secretary Noem leading the charge, who are making great strides to combat illegal immigration and keep these dangerous drugs from coming across our border." He emphasized that their bill would enhance efforts against narcotics operations such as fentanyl trafficking.

Senator Alex Padilla remarked on the dangers posed by drug trafficking through the Caribbean: “Drug trafficking through the Caribbean fuels crime, violence, and the spread of illicit drugs in the United States, putting countless lives at risk.” He highlighted Congress's responsibility to address this issue through bipartisan legislation.

Governor Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico expressed support for the bill: “Cartels and drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean pose a significant threat to our national security. Their illicit activities fuel violent crime within our communities and contribute to the overdose epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives across the nation.”

The proposed act seeks to establish a statutory requirement for a comprehensive strategy by ONDCP similar to those for other U.S. borders. It also includes measures addressing drug-related crime in Puerto Rico and recommendations for law enforcement assistance.