Operation UNITE is a drug task force operating under KRS 65.210-65.300 (Interlocal Cooperation Act). UNITE is a legal police agency and its law enforcement personnel have arrest powers under state law.

UNITE law enforcement officers focus on quality drug interdiction, confiscation and undercover operations. Law enforcement officers work in conjunction with city, county, state and federal police agencies to provide counter-drug initiatives in southern and eastern Kentucky. UNITE employs 23 undercover detectives who are assigned to one of three multi-county task forces -- Cumberland, Kentucky River and Big Sandy.

When established, Operation UNITE entered into three interlocal agreements creating task forces to provide a coordinated and professional regional drug enforcement initiative, to facilitate cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies, and to enhance narcotics investigations and prosecutions of drug traffickers. Officers within each task force could operate throughout their region, but could not cross into a different task force area. That agreement was amended in November 2005 to provide for one combined task force allowing jurisdiction to all 29 counties in the Fifth Congressional District.