Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) personnel said a recently formed partnership would target criminal smuggling enterprises.
The partnership is tied to Operation Sentinel, a new counter-network targeting operation launched in April 2021. Operation Sentinel targets hundreds of criminal organization members, affiliates, and associated businesses, investigating the potential exclusion from federal programs via suspension and/or debarment, any such persons not presently responsible.
“Ensuring smuggling organizations are not able to do business with the U.S. government will severely limit their ability to operate,” CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller said. “Our partnership with NICB will broaden the reach of each government action by informing insurance companies of the debarred organizations.”
Operation Sentinel would map the organizations’ networks; target members, associates, and assets; and employ a series of targeted actions and sanctions against them.
“NICB has a long history of partnering with CBP, and we welcome the opportunity to expand on that relationship to aid with ongoing investigations targeting Transnational Organized Crime,” David Glawe, NICB president and CEO and former DHS Under Secretary for Intelligence, said. “We look forward to working with Secretary Mayorkas and Commissioner Miller to extend the reach of their efforts in targeting organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants.”