Federal Drug-Trafficking Database Hacked, Locking Milwaukee Officers Out of Critical Records
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — A federal program used by law enforcement agencies to track drug-trafficking operations in Wisconsin and Minnesota was hacked last week, temporarily locking Milwaukee officers out of a major crime-fighting database, according to sources familiar with the incident.
Federal Drug-Trafficking Network Breached
The breach targeted the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program — a nationwide network of federal, state, and local agencies designed to combat major narcotics activity.
Multiple law enforcement sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the hack occurred on Nov. 21, affecting the HIDTA system used in the North Central region.
Officers reportedly lost access to records stored within the system, though the cause and origin of the breach remain unknown.
Federal agencies including the FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security did not comment on the incident.
Milwaukee Police Confirm City Systems Were Not Compromised
Despite the breach, the Milwaukee Police Department emphasized that no local systems were impacted.
“There was no impact or hack to a city-operated database,” said MPD Chief of Staff Heather Hough.
She declined to provide additional information and directed further questions to the federal HIDTA administrators — who have not yet responded to repeated requests for comment.
HIDTA’s Wisconsin Reach Spans Multiple Counties
Milwaukee County became an HIDTA region in 1998, according to the program’s website. The designation later expanded:
- 2002: Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha counties added
- 2009: Dane County included
The program supports law-enforcement agencies by providing intelligence sharing, analytics, and investigative support to coordinate drug-interdiction efforts.
Last year alone, HIDTA-affiliated agencies made over 6,000 arrests.
Regional Law Enforcement Temporarily Disrupted
Sources say officers in Milwaukee lost access to the HIDTA database immediately after the hack, an unexpected setback for agencies that rely on the system for tracking drug networks, suspects, and regional threats.
The extent of the disruption across Wisconsin and Minnesota remains unclear, as federal officials have remained silent.
Local agencies continue to wait for federal updates on the cause of the breach, how long access will remain affected, and whether sensitive information was compromised.
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