H.R. 2024 — Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings concerning the U.S. substance abuse and addiction crisis. It finds that (1) the crisis has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, most involving opioids; (2) federal, state, territorial, Tribal, and local governments are working to combat the opioid epidemic; and (3) no central entity exists at the appropriate level for agencies to share information and coordinate efforts.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act: (1) "controlled substance" and "listed chemical" have the meanings given in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802); (2) "Director" means the Director of the JTF–ISN; (3) "illicit synthetic narcotic" means (A) a controlled substance, excluding a substance of natural origin or a medication that is lawful under U.S. law and for which the Drug Enforcement Administration has provided an import permit; (B) a listed chemical; or (C) an active pharmaceutical ingredient or chemical used in the production of a controlled substance or listed chemical described in (A) or (B); and (4) "JTF–ISN" means the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics established under section 4.

This section establishes the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN), composed of representatives from the Departments of Justice (including DEA, FBI, and assistant U.S. attorneys), Treasury (including Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, OFAC, and intelligence office), Homeland Security (including HSI, CBP National Targeting Center, ICE, and Coast Guard), State, Commerce, Defense; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and other agencies as appropriate. The JTF-ISN is led by a Director appointed by the President with Senate confirmation and compensated at Level II of the Executive Schedule (i.e., same rate as Deputy Secretaries of Defense, State, and other major departments and certain agency heads such as NASA Administrator). The Director reports to the Attorney General and, not later than 180 days after enactment and every 180 days thereafter, must submit to the Senate and House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees (or provide briefings upon request) (1) a two-year comprehensive plan describing goals, agency collaboration improvements, and estimated funding and staff needs; (2) budget priorities for the period; (3) investigation and prosecution efforts, including raids, seizures, forfeitures, indictments, and convictions; and (4) efforts addressing the People's Republic of China's role in the opioids crisis.

This section establishes the primary mission of the Joint Task Force–International Synthetic Narcotics (JTF–ISN) as directing counter-opioid and synthetic narcotics activities—including disruption activities and associated investigations—and providing strategic coordination on related activities, including sanctions enforcement, joint operations, raids, and other tactical actions in coordination with federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies through memorandums of understanding and legal actions against traffickers and foreign entities, particularly in the People's Republic of China, complicit in the opioid trade.

This section vests the Joint Task Force–Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF–ISN) with authority to (1) investigate and prosecute violations of federal law relating to trafficking of illicit synthetic narcotics and related offenses such as money laundering, financial crimes, smuggling, and false statements; (2) for prosecutions of non-U.S. persons outside the United States, bring cases in the district where the crime was committed, where the Drug Enforcement Administration is located, or in a district described in 18 U.S.C. 3238 (i.e., for offenses begun or committed upon the high seas or outside any state or district's jurisdiction); (3) facilitate information sharing among JTF–ISN members; (4) establish interagency referral protocols; (5) develop strategies addressing China's role in the illicit synthetic narcotics crisis; (6) cooperate with state, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement; (7) assess and improve investigation and prosecution methods; and (8) conduct operational activities such as joint operations, raids, and tactical actions to disrupt trafficking networks. The section also limits the JTF–ISN director from directing operational activities outside counter-opioid efforts targeting illicit synthetic narcotics suppliers and networks.

This section requires the Director of the Joint Task Force–Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN) to establish and maintain four internal elements: (1) an intelligence coordination element with primary responsibility for government-wide analysis of illicit synthetic narcotics and related trafficking organizations using all intelligence sources; (2) a strategic operational planning element to develop plans for U.S. counter-opioid operations—including missions, objectives, tasks, interagency coordination, and roles—and to monitor implementation using information from the intelligence community and other relevant entities; (3) an Office of General Counsel to provide legal advice; and (4) an Office of Congressional Coordination to manage communications with Congress and ensure compliance with reporting and briefing requirements.

This section provides a rule of construction clarifying that nothing in this Act authorizes the JTF–ISN to investigate, target, or prosecute individuals for personal drug use or to pursue enforcement actions against low-level drug dealing that does not involve significant connections to larger trafficking networks.