NCJ Number
67054
Date Published
1980
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION'S CENTRAL TACTICAL PROGRAM (CENTAC) IS AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO INVESTIGATING MAJOR NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS AND SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM, BEGUN IN 1973, HAS INCLUDED CONSPIRACY INVESTIGATIONS OF 21 MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS AND HAS BROUGHT ABOUT 731 INDICTMENTS OF TRAFFICKERS OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD. GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF THE CENTRAL TACTICAL UNITS AND THE NEED FOR MORE MULTIREGIONAL CONSPIRACY INVESTIGATIONS, PROGRAM EXPANSION IS WARRANTED. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD DIRECT THE DEA ADMINISTRATOR TO EVALUTE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS METHOD USED TO INVESTIGATE MAJOR TRAFFICKERS. THIS SHOULD HELP TO DETERMINE WHETHER REDIRECTING ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES FROM LESS PRODUCTIVE APPROACHES IS FEASIBLE. FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THE FORFEITURE OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS' ASSETS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF GOVERNMENT STRATEGY TO IMMOBILIZE TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS, THE CENTRAL TACTICAL PROGRAM HAS HAD MINIMAL SUCCESS IN THIS AREA. FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNMENT OBTAINED LITTLE OF THE $6.5 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUES OF THE FIVE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS PROBED BY THE CENTRAL TACTICAL UNITS. THIS LACK OF SUCCESS CAN BE PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTED TO A LACK OF FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIVE EXPERTISE IN DEA, A LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF FORFEITURE STATUTES BY U.S. ATTORNEYS, AND DEA'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH ASSET SEIZURES AS A GOAL IN THE CENTRAL TACTICAL UNITS' OPERATIONAL PLANS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD DIRECT FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO MAKE GREATER USE OF STATUTES TO OBTAIN FORFEITURE OF MAJOR NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS' ASSETS AND TO DIRECT THE DEA ADMINISTRATOR TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAM FOR THE USE OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION IN NARCOTICS INVESTIGATIONS. TABULAR DATA AND AN APPENDIX DESCRIBING CENTRAL TACTICAL UNITS ARE GIVEN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)