Coalition assembles during National Police Week to promote enforcement strategies and safeguard U.S. communities

/PRNewswire/ -- United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) today united more than 75 law enforcement leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to press Congress for swift action against criminal networks exploiting American consumers, businesses, and communities through illegal trade - a $3 to 5 trillion global enterprise.

Held during National Police Week, USA-IT's 2026 National Summit examined how advanced, tech-savvy criminal organizations are expanding operations across borders - and how lapses in coordination and outdated resources are obstructing enforcement.

"Illegal trade crimes span from human trafficking and drug smuggling to counterfeit goods and organized retail crime. These crimes rob American businesses and families of their hard-earned money and bring violence into our streets," said USA-IT Spokesperson and former Acting Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations Alysa Erichs. "Law enforcement needs better access to intelligence and stronger coordination across agencies to disrupt these operations before they reach our communities."

The scope of this threat is steadily increasing, representing roughly five percent of global gross domestic product and inflicting broad economic and consumer damage across the United States.

Summit speakers highlighted chronic breakdowns in information-sharing among jurisdictions and between public and private sectors - gaps that organized crime exploits relentlessly. Discussions emphasized the urgency of modern enforcement tools and real-time intelligence to counter evolving dangers.

"These are not isolated crimes - they are interconnected, global criminal systems," said Timothy J. Cruz, District Attorney of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and President of the National District Attorneys Association. "Today's networks are agile, tech-driven, and cross-border. Tackling them requires stronger partnerships and the ability to build prosecutable cases that hold up in court."

USA-IT launched its 2026 policy agenda to tackle these issues, calling on Congress to pass targeted, bipartisan measures emphasizing intelligence-sharing, supply chain transparency, digital accountability, and victim protections.

Key priorities include:

Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA): Enhances federal enforcement tools and creates a national coordination center to improve intelligence-sharing and dismantle organized retail theft networks.
Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA): Permits survivors of human trafficking to expunge criminal records resulting from their exploitation, clearing paths to recovery and stability.
National Human Trafficking Database Act: Develops a unified database to enhance tracking, coordination, and enforcement nationwide.

Coalition members and panelists stressed that policy choices in Washington directly shape law enforcement effectiveness on the front lines.

"We've seen firsthand the consequences from a lack of cooperation between the private and public sectors," said Jay Kennedy, Head of Policy & Engagement for Illicit Trade Prevention at PMI U.S. "Lawmakers have clear opportunities to close those gaps by advancing practical, bipartisan solutions that strengthen coordination, increase transparency, and help law enforcement stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks."

"Organized retail crime is not just a retail problem - it's a supply chain crisis driving higher costs for consumers nationwide," said David Johnston, Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Operations at the National Retail Federation. "Without real-time coordination and a national framework, critical connections are being missed, allowing these networks to thrive."

The average American family loses an estimated $500 annually due to organized retail crime, while counterfeit goods cost U.S. businesses roughly $200 billion each year and nearly half fail to meet basic safety standards. Meanwhile, human trafficking cases in North America are rising sharply, with victim detection increasing 78 percent.

About USA-IT

United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) is a public-private partnership dedicated to protecting Americans' security and prosperity from black-market criminals. Established in 2021, USA-IT equips local officials, law enforcement, and community leaders with data-driven insights, training programs, and policy solutions to combat the escalating threats of illegal trade crimes, including organized retail crime, counterfeiting, cargo theft, drug trafficking, and intellectual property infringement. Founded by Philip Morris International's U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.), the coalition draws support from national and state brand enforcement experts, law enforcement, leading industry associations, and civic organizations.