00:02 thank you derek good morning to everyone
00:03 it's derek said my name is gary
00:05 barksdale
00:06 i'm the chief postal inspector for
00:07 united states postal inspection service
00:09 certainly a pleasure to be here with my
00:11 distinguished colleagues
00:12 to talk about the result of operation
00:15 disruptor
00:16 obviously these are very unique and
00:18 challenging times for law enforcement
00:20 we operate in an environment where
00:22 criminals hide behind computer screens
00:24 and lines of code to avoid detection
00:27 some of these people are extremely tech
00:29 savvy and capable of adapting
00:31 quickly to ever changing techniques and
00:33 technologies
00:34 by using the dark web and other means
00:37 they're able to sell and ship narcotics
00:39 and other dangerous goods around the
00:41 world exploiting the u.s mail and other
00:44 consignment carriers
00:46 when they utilize the us mail for these
00:48 transactions
00:49 they create real hazards for our postal
00:52 employees
00:52 and threaten the integrity of the postal
00:54 network that hundreds of millions
00:57 in the u.s and around the world the
01:00 postal inspection service is committed
01:01 to finding and stopping these criminals
01:04 it is critical now more than ever
01:07 that federal law enforcement agencies
01:09 and our international partners cooperate
01:11 to bring down these dark red sellers
01:13 and dismantle the marketplaces they use
01:15 to promote themselves
01:17 operation disruptor is a prime example
01:20 of what we can
01:21 accomplish together through our
01:23 partnership with federal agencies
01:25 and close cooperation with international
01:27 partners we've seen a remarkable
01:28 increase in arrests
01:30 prosecution and seizures of narcotics
01:33 and assets
01:35 over the course of operations the deputy
01:37 attorney pointed out there are over 121
01:39 arrests
01:40 and more importantly over 274 kilograms
01:43 of narcotics seized
01:45 in addition more than 6 million dollars
01:47 in illicit profits from dark web
01:49 transactions
01:50 both in cash and virtual currencies
01:53 these successes could not have been
01:54 fully realized without our international
01:56 law enforcement partners
01:58 specifically through our interaction
02:00 with europol
02:02 that's why i'm proud to have a permanent
02:04 post-inspector now assigned to the hague
02:06 serving as a key international liaison
02:08 helping to expand our efforts
02:10 to protect the u.s mail worldwide these
02:13 coalitions help to make the u.s mail
02:15 safe while also crippling drug
02:17 trafficking organizations
02:18 around the world so on behalf of the
02:21 united states postal service
02:22 i want to thank those and my colleagues
02:25 many are here on stage with me
02:27 who cooperated an operation disruptor
02:30 i'd also recognize the many partners in
02:32 europol the royal canadian mounted
02:34 police
02:34 and the canada post for your
02:36 contributions to this successful
02:38 operation
02:39 the postal inspection service strives
02:41 each and every day to stop those
02:43 who would use the u.s mail to send
02:44 illegal goods
02:46 with the combined efforts of our law
02:47 enforcement partners we expect continued
02:50 success
02:50 in targeting and taking down these drug
02:53 trafficking organizations
02:54 thank you