The Southwest Border Initiative (SWBI) was established in December 1995. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) co-located a squad of agents and an FBI supervisor to the offices of the Los Angeles Field Division (LAFD). The enforcement priority of the SWBI entails a joint FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and local investigative strategy to target large-scale Mexico/Colombia-based drug trafficking organizations that utilize the U.S. southwest border as an entry point and distribution center for narcotics shipments. Additionally, the SWBI identifies and targets other major Colombian and Mexican trafficking groups through the receipt of numerous leads from the Special Operations Division (SOD). The majority of the investigative resources are directed at Title III intercepts, with a focus on the command and control cells of the drug trafficking organizations operating within the United States.

Mission

Identify, disrupt, and dismantle large-scale Mexican and Colombian drug trafficking organizations involved in the transport and distribution of narcotics and narcotic proceeds along the southwest border of the United States.