NEW YORK, N.Y., The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new initiative aimed at criminal networks “with ties” to New York City, an expansion of federal authority that signals an aggressive push against transnational crime. Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are jointly leading the effort, which DHS calls a first-of-its-kind operation supported by agencies ranging from the NYPD to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, now led by Tulsi Gabbard. Federal officials say the task force is designed to disrupt criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and broader transnational operations affecting New York and communities nationwide.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. said the collaboration strengthens the mission to shield communities from violent networks, human smugglers, and cybercriminals that inflict economic and public safety harm. According to DHS, the task force will focus heavily on groups designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, combining intelligence community data with law enforcement investigations to improve coordination and speed.
The administration argues that consolidating intelligence and policing tools will “increase our effectiveness,” though such expansions traditionally prompt concerns about oversight and civil liberties in densely populated areas. DHS says similar task forces nationwide have already conducted 400 operations since late August, arresting more than 3,200 individuals linked to foreign terrorism, narcotrafficking, or gangs. Officials report seizing over 91 metric tons of narcotics, more than $3 million in currency, and detaining more than 1,000 people connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, along with hundreds tied to MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
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