Covert Operations

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COVERT OPERATIONS DIVISION

Mission Statement

Covert Operations is a multi-faceted division whose primary goal is the identification, investigation, and arrest of those individuals, groups or organizations that pose a criminal threat to the safety and security of the citizens of Harris County and the United States. In addition, Covert Operations provides a secure, central repository for intelligence and information that is collected, investigated and disseminated to Sheriff's Office personnel and other law enforcement agencies requesting assistance in investigative matters. Through investigative and enforcement actions, the Covert Operations Division strives to create a safer environment for the citizens of Harris County by discouraging criminal activity.

The Covert Operations Division consists of the following investigative units:

Narcotics
The Narcotics Unit is responsible for conducting criminal investigations of those responsible for the use, possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of illegal narcotics throughout the unincorporated areas of Harris County. In addition, the Narcotics Unit provides investigators to the following Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force Units:

Houston Money Laundering Initiative (HMLI) - The HMLI is a concerted effort on the part of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the Houston/Harris County area to identify, target and dismantle domestic and international money-laundering organizations.
Major Drug Squads (MDS) - The MDS is comprised of investigators from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The MDS are based at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Houston Field Division offices. Analysts from DEA and the National Guard enhance the MDS. The Houston Intelligence Support Center (HISC) also provides intelligence and case support to the MDS. The primary focus of the MDS is to disrupt and dismantle major domestic and international drug trafficking organizations operating in greater Harris County and the southern region of Texas.

Methamphetamine Initiative Group (MIG) - The MIG is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The MIG was established in 2001 after the HISC noted a large surge in the reports of clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine and precursor chemical sales in the Houston region. Investigators assigned to the MIG receive specialized training in detecting, investigating and dismantling clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. The investigators are also trained in the handling of hazardous waste generated by clandestine laboratories.

Truck, Air, Rail and Port (TARP) - The TARP is comprised of federal, state and local investigators whose primary objective is to disrupt the transshipment of illegal contraband by gathering intelligence and performing enforcement actions against drug trafficking organizations using diverse modes of transportation and ports of entry within the Houston metropolitan area.

Vice
The Vice Unit is responsible for conducting criminal investigations pertaining to illegal gambling, prostitution, pornography, violations of the Harris County Sexually Oriented Business Regulations, liquor violations, and other vice related criminal activities throughout the unincorporated areas of Harris County.

In addition, in December 2004, the Sheriff’s Office was awarded a federal grant to combat human trafficking. Through this grant, the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) was formed. The HTRA is a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together with area social service organizations to identify and assist the victims of human trafficking and to effectively identify, apprehend and prosecute those engaged in trafficking offenses.

Criminal Intelligence
The Criminal Intelligence Unit is a functional component assigned to the Detective Bureau. The primary purpose of the Unit is to provide intelligence briefs concerning criminal activities, crime trends, officer safety, and Homeland Security that may have an impact on the safety, duties and responsibilities of our employees and the quality of life of the citizens of Harris County. The Unit also provides intelligence support to all investigative and enforcement divisions of the Department. The work of the Criminal Intelligence Unit is carried out in an efficient and timely manner to aid in crime prevention, crime suppression, and apprehension of criminal offenders. This is done in such a manner as to ensure that the rights of all citizens under the United States Constitution are protected.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit also provides investigators to the following HIDTA Initiatives:

Houston Intelligence Support Center (HISC) - The HISC is housed at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement. The HISC is tasked with providing relevant, accurate and timely intelligence information in support of HIDTA investigations as well as any requesting law enforcement agency. The HISC includes both investigators and analysts with access to a multitude of investigative databases. Investigators and analysts utilize various sources of intelligence in an effort to provide area law enforcement agencies with pro-active narcotics related intelligence.
Gangs and Nontraditional Gang Squad (GANGS) - The GANGS group is a collaboration of collocated federal and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to identify, document, disrupt and dismantle the capabilities, intentions and activities of criminal drug gangs and other criminal combinations operating locally, regionally, national and internationally.

FBI Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF)
An investigator from the Criminal Intelligence Unit is assigned to the MAGTF. The mission of the MAGTF is to identify and target for prosecution violent street gangs operating throughout the Houston Metropolitan Area. The MAGTF will enhance the effectiveness of federal/state/local law enforcement resources through a well coordinated initiative seeking the most effective investigative and prosecutorial avenues by which to convict and incarcerate dangerous offenders.

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)
In addition, the Criminal Intelligence Unit provides investigative and analytical support to the Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The JTTF is an FBI sponsored task force comprised of investigators and analysts from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is the detection, prevention, and response to domestic and international terrorist organizations and/or individuals who may threaten or attack United States citizens or interests abroad or conduct criminal activity within the United States, and/or any threat or incident involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or the proliferation of same directed against the population or interests of the United States.

The Covert Operations Division welcomes any assistance by the public to aide in the investigation and disruption of criminal activity in the greater Harris County area. If you have any knowledge of illegal activity involving narcotics, vice, or criminal gangs/organizations, or any information that may be of interest to investigators assigned to the JTTF, click HERE. All information will be treated as confidential and your identity will remain anonymous.