Arkansas – The Arkansas State Police’s Interstate Criminal Patrol team received multiple awards at the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Awards in Biloxi, Mississippi, on April 1, 2025. The team was recognized for its success in combating drug trafficking and criminal activity across the state’s highways.
The ICP team was named 2024 Agency of the Year for seizing illegal narcotics with a combined street value of $32.25 million, recovering $4.1 million in cash, and confiscating 25 vehicles linked to criminal operations.
Trooper Ana Escamilla earned the 2024 Officer of the Year award for her role in 21 drug seizures and seven currency seizures, amounting to nearly $5 million in value. She also made 27 arrests, seized seven vehicles, and confiscated two weapons.
Corporal Chris Short was recognized for making the largest cash seizure of 2024, recovering $813,490 during a single traffic stop in Crawford County.
Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar praised the ICP team’s efforts, stating, “I am extremely proud of the exemplary work our Troopers assigned to the ICP teams perform every day to safeguard the public from those who traffic illegal narcotics in our state.
These awards emphasize the ICP’s commitment to aggressively combat drug trafficking and criminal activities on Arkansas’ interstates and highways.”
The Arkansas State Police’s ICP team has been consistently recognized for its efforts, having won Team of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and this marks the third consecutive year that an ASP Trooper has been named Officer of the Year.