SALAMANCA — The Seneca Nation hosted a large contingent of law enforcement agencies and officials on its Allegany Territory Friday for a day-long meeting focused on combating illegal drug activity and drug trafficking on the Nation’s sovereign territories.

The meeting included a delegation of federal officials from the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office, the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs, in addition to several state and local agencies, including the New York State Police, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Salamanca Police Department.

“The Seneca Nation will stop at nothing to eliminate illegal drug activity on our territories,” said President J. Conrad Seneca. “The drug trafficking activity, the drug dealers and those who support them are a threat to our people, our sovereign territories and our neighbors. This gathering of top federal, state and local law enforcement agencies was focused on how we can all work together to put an end to this crisis and bring those responsible to justice.”

Throughout the day, the Nation and the law enforcement agencies in attendance discussed several issues, including the current drug trafficking activity taking place on Seneca Nation territories and the impacts it is having on the Nation and its people — as well as steps the Nation is taking to address the issue — and how federal agencies could potentially assist in combatting this public safety crisis.

Fighting the wave of illegal drug activity on its territories continues to be a priority issue for the Nation’s leaders. Earlier this year, the Nation presented and advocated for legislation amending Chapter 8 of New York Indian Law. The bill, which passed both the state Senate and Assembly, is aimed at strengthening state laws authorizing the removal of non-Native intruders from Nation lands. The bill is now awaiting the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The Nation is also advocating for changes to federal law 25 U.S.C. 232, which the federal government used in 1948 to give New York state criminal jurisdiction over non-natives on native Nation territory within the state’s boundaries, over the objection of the Seneca Nation. The amendments being proposed by the Nation seek to elevate federal law enforcement responsibilities on Nation lands by a compact with the Nation, and to modify jurisdiction as needed to allow growth of Nation law enforcement self-government.

In addition, President Seneca and his predecessors have issued multiple Executive Orders excluding known drug dealers from Nation territory and have moved to evict tenants at several properties on Nation lands where criminal activity is known and proven to have taken place. Earlier this year, Seneca addressed the drug activity crisis in remarks before the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C.

“We are going to take back our territories and not allow our people and our territories to be targeted, terrorized and victimized by individuals intent on profiting from poisoning our people,” the president said. “As our treaty partner, the United States has an obligation to protect the Seneca people. Together, the Nation and our law enforcement partners at every level of government can stamp out this crisis. We will not rest until our people are safe on our territories and our way of life is secure and protected.”