HSI Philadelphia-led investigation leads to seizure of domains used for alleged drug trafficking
PHILADELPHIA- Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle field offices, along with HSI-Brussels, and the National Police Force of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, coordinated the international takedown of four domain servers allegedly used to sell fake pharmaceutical grade drugs. Some of the drugs contained methamphetamine and fentanyl and were unlawfully distributed across the United States. Individuals visiting the sites will see the following message that the website has been seized pursuant to an international seizure:
“HSI’s global reach through seamless coordination with our international law enforcement partners, coupled with the dedicated efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have made this possible,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William Walker. “Investigations like these can only be accomplished when teams of laser-focused investigators and prosecutors work hand-in-hand.”
HSI Philadelphia’s El Dorado – Cyber Crimes Investigations Task Force, HSI-Brussels, and the National Police Force of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg led the investigation into the pharmaceutical drug syndicate with significant assistance from the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). Also participating in the investigation were HSI-Los Angeles; HSI-Seattle; HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center; HSI-El Paso; the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA); the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF); and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.