The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and its predecessor agencies, have a proud history of enforcing the federal drug laws of the United States. The DEA was established July 1, 1973, by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973. It resulted from the merger of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the Office of National Narcotics Intelligence, those elements of the Bureau of Customs which had drug investigative responsibilities, and those functions of the White House's Office of Science and Technology which were drug enforcement related. The DEA was established to control more effectively narcotic and dangerous drug abuse through enforcement and prevention. In carrying out its mission, the DEA cooperates with other federal agencies, foreign, as well as state and local governments, private industry, and other organizations.

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