Video

Video by Charles Reed

The Border Enforcement Security Task Force

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Feb. 27, 2014 | 6:38

The Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), is a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led, multi-agency Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiative to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations that seek to exploit vulnerabilities along U.S. borders. There are currently 34 BEST units deployed across the country, covering major seaports and southern and northern border regions. BEST units are composed of more than 750 law enforcement officers from over 100 federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement and intelligence resources.

Formed in March 2012, BEST Nogales Tunnel Task Force (NTTF) is composed of full time members from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Border Patrol (OBP), Nogales Police Department (NPD), the Santa Cruz County HIDTA, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). BEST Nogales TTF is responsible for identifying, investigating and eliminating illicit subterranean tunnels in one of the nation’s busiest border areas with Mexico and combating the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) that finance, build, and use them. Available in high definition.