A team of Idaho State Police Troopers is deployed to Texas for the fourth time

Boise, Idaho (CBS2) – Another team of Idaho State Police Troopers has deployed to Texas. Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office sent out a new release Monday making the announcement.

The news release said the troopers left Idaho on Sunday and will remain in Texas until mid-December. This is the fourth time Idaho has sent soldiers to the border.

The 13 troopers are assigned to the ISP Domestic Highway Enforcement team. The DHE team is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-led, multi-agency and prosecutor-assisted approach.

In the press release, Governor Little’s office states that the troopers will assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in intercepting drug and human traffickers entering our country across the open border. They will use what they learned and return to Idaho to train other ISPs and local law enforcement on the latest tactics used by Mexican drug cartels to smuggle drugs, weapons and people into America.

Here are statements from Governor Little and Idaho State Police Director Colonel Bill Gardiner.

“Reports of human trafficking are increasing in Idaho and across the country. Meanwhile, law enforcement seized record amounts of fentanyl, meth and other dangerous drugs. In too many cases, these illegal activities can be traced directly to cartels and other bad actors exploiting our lawless southern border,” said Governor Little. “The soldiers we send to Texas come back with better knowledge to stop these perpetrators in our state. As before, our Soldiers will survey and train their law enforcement schools across the state so we can protect Idahoans from these deadly and dangerous threats.”

“The Idaho State Police is proud to partner with the Texas Department of Public Safety on this important mission. This collaboration is consistent with Governor Little’s Esto Perpetua initiative and enhances our ability to protect Idahoans and strengthen public safety in our communities,” said Col. Bill Gardiner, ISP Director. “Our Soldiers’ deployment to the southern border provides invaluable hands-on experience in investigating drug interdiction and human trafficking – critical issues that impact communities across the country, including here in Idaho. These deployments not only sharpen our Soldiers’ skills and introduce updated interdiction techniques, but also allow them to bring that expertise back to Idaho where they can train and equip their counterparts.”