By the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
TOPEKA, Kan. — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City’s acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho presented the HSI KC office’s 2023 Agency Partnership Award, Feb. 13, to KBI Director Tony Mattivi, who accepted the award on behalf of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Attorney General Kris Kobach, accepting for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.
“HSI’s partnership with the KBI and the Kansas Attorney General’s Office has been instrumental in our efforts towards combating transnational organized crime in the state of Kansas,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho.
Each year, HSI Kansas City presents the partnership award to a group that fosters and facilitates cooperation between agencies. Such duties include successful negotiations and agreements with interagency partners; development of interagency programs and initiatives that enhance homeland security efforts; providing manpower, technical advice, assisting and training interagency partners; and supporting joint law enforcement initiatives to enhance homeland security efforts.
“HSI is one of KBI’s closest allies in fighting the influx of deadly narcotics into Kansas,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “The partnership we have built together, and the coordination of resources and expertise is extremely valuable to Kansans. It allows us to counter a complex network of cartel activity responsible for flooding Kansas communities with fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine.”
“KBI’s unwavering willingness to collaborate on matters involving law enforcement intelligence, enforcement operations, and criminal investigations is good governance that ultimately makes the state in which we reside, safer,” continued Cho.
Because of the size of the fentanyl problem and the deadliness of the drug itself, combatting it requires the effort and commitment of many,” said Attorney General Kris Kobach. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners like HSI, because we know we can’t hope to make a dent in this crisis without their help.”
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 7,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries.
“I applaud KBI Director Mattivi and Attorney General Kobach for their commitment in protecting the citizens of Kansas and look forward to our continued partnership,” Cho concluded.
