Washington, D.C. –– U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to support Muscogee County law enforcement and stop the flow of drugs along the Chattahoochee River.
In a U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing this week, Sen. Ossoff secured a commitment from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to work with local law enforcement agencies in Georgia to stop drug smuggling and trafficking along the Chattahoochee River, particularly in and around Columbus.
Sec. Mayorkas committed to engaging with Sen. Ossoff’s office and local law enforcement to help determine how DHS can prevent the flow of drugs on and along the Chattahoochee River.
According to the Georgia Department of Health, opioid overdose deaths increased 58% in 2021.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning:
Please find a transcript of the exchange below:
SEN. OSSOFF: “I want to draw your attention to an issue that’s been raised by law enforcement in the Chattahoochee River Valley in Georgia, specifically the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department, about drug trafficking and the importance of drug interdiction operations on the Chattahoochee River, and the riverine operations necessary to prevent smuggling and trafficking in that area. Will you designate someone in the Department to meet either, in person or remotely, with me and the relevant local law enforcement agencies in that region of Georgia so that we can determine how DHS can support our local law enforcement agencies in preventing the flow of drugs on and along the Chattahoochee River?”
SEC. MAYORKAS: “I will, Senator. I’m not familiar with that challenge in that particular geography, but we’d be pleased to engage –– our department would be pleased to engage with your office to that end.”
###
