In April 2024, SEACOP was invited to visit the facility of the US SOUTHCOM’s Joint Inter Agency Task Force South (JIATFS) in Key West, Florida. Recognised globally as a pinnacle of interagency intelligence fusion and operational coordination, JIATFS is a key player in Caribbean regional security.
During the visit, the SEACOP Project Coordinator and Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean engaged in meaningful discussions with JIATFS Director Rear Admiral Mark Fedor, political advisor Matthew Boland, Deputy Director Rear Admiral Larry Le Gree, and their expert teams in Operations, Intelligence, IT, and Innovation. These interactions are part of our strategic efforts under the 6th phase of SEACOP to enhance our Maritime Intelligence Units and Joint Maritime Control Units. Our goal is to boost intelligence sharing and operational efficacy in counter-narcotics efforts across our beneficiary countries.
By collaborating closely with leading law enforcement and intelligence agencies like JIATFS, we aim to empower our regional partners to conduct more effective operations and rummages, enhancing our collective ability to combat narcotics trafficking.
JIATFS, in conjunction with partner nations, leverages all-domain capabilities to target, detect and monitor illicit drug trafficking in the air and maritime domains, within the Joint Operating Area (JOA), facilitating interdiction and apprehension to reduce the flow of drugs and degrade & dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), according to its website.
It seeks to
(i) Eliminate the primary flow of illicit drugs in and through the JOA.
(ii) Expand to include all critical International and interagency partners.
(iii) Achieve 100% domain awareness of illicit trafficking.
(iv) Shape the command for success.
