ICE HSI EXPANDS BEST TEAMS, DARKNET AND CRYPTO STINGS TO CHOKE FENTANYL PIPELINES

ICE Homeland Security Investigations outlines a nationwide push against fentanyl, emphasizing darknet and virtual-currency investigations, expanded Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST), and international partnerships to interdict shipments before they reach the U.S. HSI cites rising fentanyl seizures and arrests and is training hundreds of investigators on illicit payment networks tied to opioid distribution. Officials frame the response as intelligence-driven and multi-agency, noting enforcement must be paired with prevention and treatment. The feature signals continued prioritization of opioid interdiction across multiple jurisdictions.