(From the Desk of the Governor, February 16, 2024)
This week, I followed through on a commitment I made in my State of the State Address by signing an executive order to formally establish Operation Esto Perpetua – our crime-fighting group of leaders tasked with getting drugs off our streets and fighting human trafficking.
When I launched Operation Esto Perpetua in 2022, we knew we had our work cut out for us. Meth and fentanyl seizures have dramatically increased in Idaho and across the country. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we have more work to do, particularly in addressing human trafficking.
Operation Esto Perpetua is made up of leaders in law enforcement, the tribes, legislators, local and community officials, and others.
Since 2022, recommendations from Operation Esto Perpetua led to:
- The implementation of the highly successful Fentanyl Takes All campaign
- Better integration of information sharing between law enforcement, first responders, health care, tribes, coroners, and others to tackle the problems strategically
- Increased resources for mental health and behavioral health to help prevent tragedy
Operation Esto Perpetua has demonstrated that when you get the right heads together, we can form a strategic approach to complex problems and help save lives.
Now we’re expanding the group’s focus to include human trafficking, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human smuggling, and all other appropriation of vulnerable children and adults.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery. The cartel and other bad actors are taking advantage of our open border to manipulate and abuse the most vulnerable, including children.
Through this executive order, we will reconvene our Citizens Action Group to gather information about the severity of the threat of drugs and human trafficking in Idaho, as well as ideas to combat it and the needed tools to respond.
