The primary mission of HSI’s Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) are to combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) by employing federal, state, local, tribal and international law enforcement authorities and resources to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle these organizations at every level of operation.
The BEST investigative model is a comprehensive response to the growing threat to border security, public safety, and national security. BESTs eliminate the barriers between federal and local investigations and close the gap with international partners in multinational criminal investigations.
BESTs serve as an important tool to combat TCOs engaged in drug trafficking, human smuggling, weapons trafficking, and money laundering. There are over 90 BESTs throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.