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JIATF-West focuses on disrupting the trafficking of heroin and other drugs originating in South Asia. In coordination with JIATF-East and the Mexico country team, it also seeks to disrupt maritime smuggling of cocaine along the Eastern Pacific to Mexico for further transit to the US.
In early 1989, the Defense Department, at the direction of Congress and the President, tasked four war fighting, regional Commander's in Chief (CINCs) to carry out the drug interdiction mission, because drugs posed a direct threat to the sovereignty and security of the country. The CINC of Atlantic Command (USCINCLANT) created Joint Task Force, JTF-4 [subsequently redesignated Joint Interagency Task Force East] at the Key West Naval Air Station, FL. The CINC for Continental Defense (USCINCFOR - subsequently combined with USCINCLANT into USACOM) established JTF-6 at Fort Bliss, TX. And the Pacific Command CINC (USCINCPAC) established JTF-5 at the Alameda Naval Air Station, CA. Under the 1994 National Interdiction Command and Control Plan these units were designated as Joint Interagency Task Forces (JIATFs).