Louisiana

Louisiana is one of the most culturally diverse and fascinating states in the nation. It’s also one of the states hit hardest by smugglers.

First there’s New Orleans itself, home of the second biggest container port on the Gulf Coast, where illegal narcotics transit from Latin America and the Caribbean. Then there are the 397 miles of Gulf coastline, including the Mississippi Delta (gateway to the vast Mississippi River system), which provide traffickers with multiple opportunities to smuggle drugs and other contraband into the U.S.

One heavily smuggled commodity is illicit tobacco, which costs Louisiana taxpayers more than $33 million every year. And these criminals use low-risk illegal goods to finance other, even more dangerous forms of organized crime.

New Orleans is considered a “heroin source city” for the southeast by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. According to statistics from the Louisiana State Police, a total of 70.16 pounds of heroin were seized across the state in 2017. This amount has increased from the 33.73 pounds seized in 2016 and from 19.74 pounds in 2015.

These crimes don’t always seem damaging—like when a man from Harahan was caught manufacturing and selling over 800 pirated copies of automotive diagnostic software valued at over $17 million—but they do have serious consequences for all Louisianans.

Law enforcement is doing everything they can to combat these criminals, but no agency, government, or industry can solve this growing problem alone. That’s why USA-IT is proud to join authorities in the fight against illegal trade in Louisiana.

We are United to Safeguard Louisiana from Illegal Trade.

Working Together To Fight Back

We’re building crucial relationships and sharing our collective, vast expertise with state and local agencies, law enforcement, business communities, and other relevant stakeholders. ​Stay tuned for more updates.