David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), pens an op-ed on the need to work across sectors to combat the growing threat of illegal trade.

“Over my 30 years in law enforcement, I have seen Tennessee’s position as a regional transportation hub being exploited by criminals seeking to conduct illegal trade and counterfeit operations. The same highways and taxpayer-funded infrastructure used to deliver groceries and consumer goods are being used by criminal enterprises to smuggle drugs and illicit tobacco, and even for human trafficking. Illegal trade is one of the most serious challenges facing the Volunteer State and our nation.”

“These illicit marketplaces also put dangerous and deadly products into our communities. Since the early 2000s, counterfeit prescription pills have flooded the market in Tennessee, endangering and killing unsuspecting Tennesseans. Today, the issue is more relevant than ever, with an alarming influx of counterfeit pills being injected into the state’s illicit drug supplies. In Tennessee, 80% of all crimes have an underlying drug-related cause.”

“While these numbers are alarming, there is progress being made in the fight to combat illegal trade, and that is why I was excited to participate in the Safeguarding Tennessee from Illegal Trade Summit hosted by United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry on June 21.”

“USA-IT brings together experienced entities from both the public and private sectors to form partnerships that will be integral to our fight against illegal trade and to make our communities safer and more prosperous statewide.”

Read more here.