U.S. Senator Angus King is pressing military leaders to provide more information about the resources they need to bolster drug interdiction efforts.
“These drugs are killing our people and — one-a-day in Maine — and this is it seems to me a high return opportunity here," King said.
Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Marine Corps General Thomas Waldhauser, the head of Southern Command, testified that some progress has been made, but acknowledged that there are still known drug smuggling operations underway that the military doesn’t have the resources to stop.
King urged leaders to advise the Committee on what might be needed in the way of ships, aircraft or other resources, as work starts on next year’s budget.
Originally published Feb. 8, 2019 at 2:56 p.m. ET.