Authority and limitations

(a) Authority The JTF–ISN shall be vested with power and authority to— (1) investigate and prosecute violations of Federal law relating to— (A) the trafficking of illicit synthetic narcotics and related offenses, such as money laundering and other financial crimes; and (B) smuggling, false statements, and any matter that arises or might arises directly from its investigations; (2) in the case of a prosecution relating to non-United States persons outside of the United States, bring a case— (A) in the district where the crime was committed; (B) in the district where the Drug Enforcement Administration is located; or (C) in a district described in section 3238 of title 18, United States Code; (3) facilitate the sharing of information between members of the JTF–ISN in a timely manner; (4) establish protocols for interagency referrals and procedures for referring cases to prosecuting and sanctions designating authorities as appropriate; (5) develop strategies to address the role of the People’s Republic of China in the illicit synthetic narcotics crisis; (6) work cooperatively with State, territorial, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies to combat and prosecute trafficking of illicit synthetic narcotics; (7) assess and improve existing methods of investigating and prosecuting illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking crimes; and (8) conduct direct operational activities, including joint operations, raids, and other tactical actions, to disrupt illicit synthetic narcotics trafficking networks and bring offenders to justice. (b) Limitation The Director may not direct the execution of operational activities outside the scope of counter-opioid efforts related to illicit synthetic narcotics suppliers and their networks pursuant to the primary missions of the JTF–ISN.