The White House has officially designated St. Joseph County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a move that will bring new federal resources and partnerships to fight the fentanyl crisis and organized crime.

“This designation is a turning point for St. Joseph County,” Sheriff Bill Redman said in a statement. “For too long, our families, neighborhoods, and law enforcement officers have been on the front lines of a battle against powerful, well-funded criminal networks. With this HIDTA designation, we now have the resources, intelligence, and federal support we need to fight back and win.”

The program strengthens coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, while providing funding, technology, and training. Officials say the effort will focus on disrupting drug trafficking routes, dismantling criminal organizations, and reducing the deadly flow of fentanyl and other narcotics into the community.

“This is about more than law enforcement – it’s about saving lives,” Redman said. “Fentanyl is the leading driver of overdoses here and nationwide. These drugs are trafficked into our community by organized crime groups who care nothing about the devastation they cause. Today, we stand united with our partners at every level of government to end this plague.”

Todd Smith, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division, praised the move. “The additional investigative resources at our disposal as a result of the HIDTA designation will bolster our collective efforts to keep Hoosiers safe and hold drug traffickers accountable,” he said.

Local officials say the designation will strengthen ongoing collaboration between federal agencies and area law enforcement, including South Bend Police, Mishawaka Police, Pokagon Band Tribal Police, Indiana State Police, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.