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resources (KR) in nearby Flonda ports, which would comply as potential high-profile targets. Indian <br />River County also encompasses two local airports which allow the possibility of air movement in and <br />out of the country as well. All of the information listed poses a moderate level of risk due to gaps in <br />situational awareness and our local agencies ability to work alongside and share information with <br />Border Patrol in an effort to expand capabilities to mitigate those threats. <br />I <br />B. Terrain/Weather: Indian River County encompasses twenty two and a half (22 1/2) miles of <br />relatively unincorporated Florida coastline, two small airports, additional airfields and a relatively short <br />distance to other countnes without as stringent security measures. These factors provide virtually <br />unlimited opportunity for those who wish to utilize maritime and/or aviation conveyances in order to <br />smuggle humans, drugs, and other contraband. Another notable fact is the Gulf Stream that flows <br />between Florida and the Bahamas is one of the most powerful ocean surface currents in the world. <br />Manners are able to take full advantage of these currents and prevailing easterly or southerly winds <br />when departing the Bahamas to arrive on the Indian River County shoreline. <br />i <br />C. Criminal Element: The United States Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center <br />(NDIC) has designated South Florida as a high intensity drug trafficking area. Due to our country <br />diligently protecting inland borders in recent years, criminal organizations are returning to the air and <br />sea as a means to smuggle humans and contraband. <br />I <br />Indian River County's economic climate, •largely dependent on agnculture and tounsm, the rich <br />demographic composition of Florida, ranked third for the number of immigrants living within its <br />borders, provides a steady supply of vulnerable victims for traffickers to prey on. Prostitution, <br />indentured servitude and migrant farm work are Just a few examples of how Florida's unique <br />demographic renders it an ideal location for human trafficking. Miami and the Florida Keys still <br />remain popular destinations for human and drug smuggling, although heavy enforcement and <br />prosecution in those areas push criminals to trend north. <br />Currently, the U.S. Government has an incomplete knowledge of the international recreational boating <br />public, their travel patterns, and limited information available regarding fishing fleets and the multitude <br />of small commercial vessels and/or aircraft operating in or near Indian River County Florida. Not.only <br />can these resources be exploited by a criminal element, small vessels and aircraft found in Indian River <br />County are vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorists to deliver weapons of mass destruction or <br />improvised explosive devices as well. <br />The ability to gather, track and share intelligence between law enforcement agencies has become <br />increasingly difficult and the criminal element has become more sophisticated with increased counter- <br />intelligence capabilities. This vulnerability is compounded by a very limited advance notice of arrival <br />regmrements for most recreational small vessels arriving from abroad and the inability to screen them <br />for;illegal activity. <br />D. Friendly Forces: Federal: Customs Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol (BP), Immigration and <br />Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Bureau of Investigations <br />(FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). <br />State: Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Central Florida Regional Domestic Security <br />Task Force (CFRDSTF), Central Florida Information Exchange (CFIX), Florida Highway Patrol <br />(FHP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (F -WC) <br />Local: Indian River County Sheriff's Office (IRCSO), Vero Beach Police Department (VBPD), <br />Sebastian Police Department (SPD), Indian River Shores Public Safety Department (IRSPSD), <br />Fellsmere Police Department (FPD). <br />135 <br />