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New This Month: DEA Operations: DEA
Community Support: DEA Speaks Out: Recent DEA Speeches and Press Releases Working
Together: Did You
Know? Stay Informed Useful DEA Links
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DEA
Operations On Tuesday February 12th, DEA Special Agents confiscated marijuana plants and made several arrests at a San Francisco cannabis club. Coincidentally, later that day Administrator Hutchinson spoke before a sold-out audience at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club, a prestigious public affairs speech forum. San Francisco, caught between conflicting state and federal laws concerning medical marijuana, has long been home to intense debate regarding drug laws. Mr. Hutchinson's visit and the cannabis club arrests prompted public protests from San Francisco residents and elected officials.
When Administrator Hutchinson arrived to deliver his speech, over 200 protestors had gathered outside the Commonwealth Club. Chanting "DEA, go away," (click for video clip) and waving banners, protestors expressed their disapproval of the marijuana arrests. Simultaneously, protest groups launched a "web attack" against the DEA website. They attempted to shut down the DEA site by visiting it repeatedly. The site received 30,000 hits at once, but service was not disrupted. "In many ways, this debate is a good thing," said Administrator Hutchinson of his not-so-warm welcome. "If nothing else, it shows everyone how important this issue is and it helps the DEA get our message across. The DEA must follow the law-we don't judge what is use and what is abuse. We judge what is legal and what is illegal." In his speech at the Commonwealth Club, Administrator Hutchinson stressed that, "When deciding how to handle the medical marijuana issue, we listen to science. What science has told us thus far is that there is no medical benefit from smoking marijuana. It is not recommended for the treatment of any disease. In fact, the research has shown that it can do more harm than good in people with already compromised immune systems." The Administrator has repeatedly asserted that the DEA is not against the use of appropriate, effective pain medication. "I think it's an unfortunate misconception-the DEA is too often portrayed as being unsympathetic to those who desperately need pain medication. This couldn't be further from the truth, the DEA is committed to ensuring that effective pain medication is accessible to those who truly need it. We continue to listen to the science community. In fact we've authorized studies of the effects of smoked marijuana in humans. Under a program established by the state of California, two researchers at the University of California San Diego are studying the safety and efficacy of cannabis compounds as an alternative for treating certain debilitating medical conditions." For more statements from the Administrator about pain management, see "DEA and Pain Management Groups Begin Unprecedented Collaboration."
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 John B. Brown, III Acting Deputy Administrator |
White
House Officially Nominates John B. Brown, III, To Be DEA Deputy Administrator
Asa Hutchinson, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, today said that he was "extremely pleased" with this week's White House announcement that the nomination of Special Agent John B. Brown, III, to the post of DEA Deputy Administrator was being sent to the U.S. Senate. "John Brown is just the person for the job," Mr. Hutchinson said. "He has the personal qualities and the right kind of background that the DEA needs for this important position. His experience ranges from work as a street agent in New York State in the early 1970s, to international enforcement work in Mexico in the 1980s, to management responsibilities in a wide variety of areas." Among Special Agent Brown's management responsibilities was his 1997 appointment as Director of the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) in El Paso, Texas. EPIC is a unique cooperative effort, staffed by representatives from 15 participating Federal agencies, that collects, analyzes and disseminates information on illicit drug trafficking operations. "That experience," said Mr. Hutchinson, "will be invaluable as the DEA continues to work toward greater cooperation with local, state, federal and international law enforcement organizations. I am sure the contributions he makes to this agency will be felt for many years to come." Responding to the White House nomination, Mr. Brown said that he was "deeply grateful to President Bush, Attorney General Ashcroft, and Administrator Hutchinson for their confidence in me. There is no agency with a more important mission than the DEA, and I am honored to help Mr. Hutchinson lead it into the future. I have been fortunate to work with many dedicated, talented people in my thirty years at the DEA, and whatever success I have had in this agency has been due in great measure to their cooperation and hard work." Special Agent Brown is currently the Acting Deputy Administrator of the DEA. Before his current assignment, he was the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Dallas Division, where he oversaw enforcement and intelligence operations in North Texas and Oklahoma. Prior to his Dallas assignment, Special Agent Brown was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and was selected to manage the El Paso Intelligence Center. Mr. Brown began his law enforcement career in 1969 as an officer in the Brockport Police Department in western New York State. He joined the DEA's predecessor agency, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), in Buffalo, New York in 1972. Since then, Mr. Brown has served the DEA in Mazatlan and Merida, Mexico; Miami, Florida; and DEA Headquarters. While in Miami, Special Agent Brown was given an "Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" award, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. From 1995 to 1997, he served as the agency's Deciding Official for Disciplinary Matters until his assignment as SAC of EPIC. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Literature from the State University of New York at Brockport. He is married and has two grown sons.
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Recent Case Highlights Takedown of Operation Wirecutter in Colombia, Arrest of Eight Defendants On January 15, DEA Bogota Group II, in conjunction with the Colombian authorities culminated "Operation Wirecutter." This 11-month joint operation with the Department of Treasury, U.S. Customs Service (USCS); and the New York El Dorado Task Force, targeted the money laundering activities of a Colombian national and several of his associates. This network was capable of laundering millions of dollars in proceeds for drug traffickers in Colombia. A total of eight principal targets were arrested in Colombia and their extradition is pending. During the course of this investigation, approximately 880 pounds of cocaine, 12 pounds of heroin and over $2 million U.S. were seized. Seizure of 1,735 pounds of Cocaine and Arrest of Seven Defendants in Venezuela On January 16, DEA Caracas, in coordination with Venezuelan authorities, seized 1,735 pounds of cocaine and arrested seven defendants in Caracas and El Tigre, Venezuela. The cocaine was dropped by air from Colombia on the Orinoco River and transported to El Tigre by speedboats. From El Tigre the cocaine was bound for Caracas, where it would be shipped to the United States in an oceangoing container loaded with Yucca. Rome Reported the Seizure of 440 Pounds of Cocaine DEA Rome reported the seizure of 440 pounds of cocaine as part of a joint investigation among DEA Rome and DEA Athens, as well as Greek, Italian, and Swiss authorities. This extensive investigation focused on a maritime smuggling enterprise operated by Greek nationals. The organization transported cocaine from Colombia through Greece and eventually to Italy. On January 8, DEA Athens identified a suspect container located at a port south of Athens. The cocaine was later discovered in the container. Seizure of Nearly Six Pounds of Heroin in Pakistan On January 10, DEA Islamabad reported the seizure of nearly six pounds of heroin and the arrest of four West African males. The seizure and arrests were conducted by the Special Investigative Cell of the Pakistani Anti-Narcotic Forces after a raid conducted on a residence in Islamabad. Fifty-Seven Pounds of MDMA Seized in Three Seizures DEA Brussels, in conjunction with DEA Frankfurt and several other DEA offices in Europe, has been investigating an international MDMA trafficking organization. Several of the European based traffickers have been identified as Dominican nationals. During the weekend of January 12, three significant seizures occurred from couriers believed to be a part of this trafficking organization. The two seizures totaling 57 pounds occurred in Europe and Canada. Phoenix Division Reports the Culmination of Operation Green Prickly Pear On January 28, DEA Phoenix arrested 50 members of a marijuana smuggling organization. These individuals are believed to have direct links to the Arrellano-Felix Organization based in Mexico. The investigation identified the importation and seizure of 4,000 pounds of marijuana. 22 Pounds of Heroin Seized in Pakistan DEA Islamabad conducted a joint investigation with Pakistani Anti-Narcotics Forces in Lahore that resulted in the arrest of two defendants and the seizure of 22 pounds of heroin and 374 pounds of hashish. The drugs were seized from a warehouse identified as belonging to a major drug trafficking organization based in Lahore, Pakistan. 2CT7 Violator Arrested in Columbus, Indiana The owner of a business known as JLF was arrested on January 28, after a Grand Jury in the Southern District of Indiana, indicted the individual on a total of 14 violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Controlled Substances Act. The business (JLF) is operated from the owner’s residence located in Columbus, Indiana and products are sold through its Internet website. Two counts of the indictment are related to the distribution of 2CT7 (a/k/a: Tripstasy, T-7), an analogue of the Schedule I hallucinogenic substance known as mescaline. To date, one documented death in the U.S. has been attributed to a 2CT7 ingestion and one more fatality is being investigated. These proceedings are believed to be the first federal indictments involving the substance 2CT7. Six Carrillo-Fuentes Associates Assassinated in Mexico The bodies of six victims were found brutally murdered inside a pickup truck located behind a commercial center in Chihuahua, Mexico. All six of the victims were identified as cocaine, heroin or marijuana traffickers associated with the Carrillo-Fuentes Organization based in Mexico. Ranking Members of Taliban Arrested in Quetta, Pakistan On January 31, DEA Islamabad reported that Pakistani officials had arrested two individuals identified as former ranking officials of the deposed Taliban government of Afghanistan. The arrests were of Maulvi Noor Mohammed Saqeb, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and Maulvi Abdul Rahman, former Senior Deputy Foreign Minister. Administrator Hutchinson Addressed Drug Court Training Conference On January 24, Administrator Hutchinson addressed the Juvenile and Family Drug Court Training Conference in Reno, Nevada. The Administrator discussed the importance of formulating a strong partnership between enforcement and treatment in the nation’s drug control strategy. 13 Pounds of Heroin Seized in Pakistan On January 25, DEA Islamabad reported the seizure of 13 pounds of heroin by the Pakistani Anti-Narcotics Forces. The seizure was made on the highway between Peshawar and Islamabad. The heroin was concealed in a hidden compartment of a vehicle. The three occupants of the vehicle were arrested including the two intended recipients of the drugs. Arrest of Four Individuals, Including a Catholic Priest, for GHB Manufacturing and Distribution On January 24-25, the arrests of four individuals involved in the manufacture and distribution of GHB in the Quad City area (Moline and Rock Island, Illinois; Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa) were made by DEA Cedar Rapids and local authorities in Illinois and Iowa. To accomplish the manufacturing process, the main precursor chemical, GBL, was first delivered to a Catholic Church after which the priest would deliver the chemicals to another location where the GHB was manufactured clandestinely. In addition to the arrests, two drums of GBL and one gallon of GHB were seized. Seizure of Thirty-six Pounds of Methamphetamine in California On January 19, DEA Modesto, DEA Sacramento, and the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency discovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in the garage and basement area of a residence located in Newman, California. Approximately 36 pounds of methamphetamine were seized and six defendants were arrested. Seizure of About 3000 Pounds of Cocaine in Spain DEA Madrid reported the seizure of about 3,000 pounds of cocaine by the Spanish National Police on January 22. The cocaine had entered the country in oceangoing containers through the Port of Bilbao. Four Colombian nationals and one Mexican national are in custody. Seizure of 100,000 Ecstasy Tablets DEA Madrid reported that on January 19, Guardia Civil officers arrested five Spanish nationals and two Dutch nationals subsequent to the seizure of 100,000 MDMA tablets. Birmingham Resident Office Reports Seizure of Over $2 Million US DEA Birmingham reported that on January 16, the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Department seized approximately $2.2 million from a vehicle travelling near Tuscaloosa, AL. Mexican Drug Trafficker Sentenced in United States On January 14, Everardo Arturo Paez-Martinez was sentenced in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California to a term of 30 years in prison. Paez-Martinez had pled guilty to one count of operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and one count of Conspiracy to Launder Money. Paez-Martinez is a high-ranking member of the Arellano-Felix drug trafficking organization. Paez-Martinez was extradited to the United States from Mexico on May 4, 2001. This proceeding represented the first time that a major Mexican drug trafficker had been extradited based on United States criminal charges. Guilty Verdicts Returned Against Cartel Operatives in South Texas On January 18, Jose Alberto Fuentes-Leal and Rey Vincente Montanez were found guilty by a jury in the Southern District of Texas on three counts of conspiracy to possess approximately 750 pounds of cocaine, possession of cocaine and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. Fuentes-Leal and Montanez were targets of an investigation conducted by DEA McAllen. Fuentes-Leal has been identified as a domestic cell head for the Gulf Cartel led by Osiel Cardenas-Guillen. Dutch Authorities Arrest High-Level MDMA Trafficker DEA Hague reported that Dutch authorities arrested Dutch National Cor Trommelin on January 18. Trommelin is the suspected source of supply for several major MDMA trafficking organizations based in Belgium and the Netherlands. Neil Laboratories Corporate Officer Arrested On January 16, DEA Newark executed a search warrant as well as an administrative inspection warrant and suspension order at Neil Laboratories in East Windsor, NJ. This followed a long-term investigation implicating corporate officers of Neil Laboratories in the diversion of multiple tons of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine traffickers. Mantu Patel, an officer of the firm and brother of the President of the company was arrested. Mantu Patel was arrested based on undercover negotiations he conducted where two prior shipments of pseudoephedrine to a business in California were arranged. Approximately 30-50 tons of pseudoephedrine and 100 boxes of documentary evidence were seized as part of the operation. Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four in Conspiracy to Distribute Pseudoephedrine On January 16, a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City indicted four individuals as part of a conspiracy to distribute nearly 10,000 pounds of pseudoephedrine from two businesses in Oklahoma City and Arlington, TX, to Middle Eastern brokers in California. The brokers then provided the pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine traffickers also located in California. Three defendants have been arrested. Ecstasy Seizure in Paris Leads to Arrest of French Nationals in Philadelphia DEA Paris reported that on January 14 French authorities seized about 12 pounds of MDMA at Charles de Gaulle International Airport. The drugs were discovered in the false bottom of a suitcase belonging to a French male headed for Atlanta. The sources of supply (a French mother and her son) for the MDMA were destined for the United States. On January 20, the mother and son were arrested when they arrived at Philadelphia International Airport. An additional 25 pounds of MDMA were discovered in their luggage. Belgian Authorities Seize Two MDMA/PMA Laboratories DEA Brussels reported that Belgian authorities seized two Ecstasy (MDMA) and four-Methoxyamphetamine (PMA) laboratories on January 14 and 16 in Deurne, Belgium. Belgian authorities seized approximately four pounds of PMA powder and have arrested four people connected with the labs. PMA is a chemical variation of MDMA that causes deadly effects to the human body when ingested. The raids were spurred by the deaths of four Belgians in the past six months after ingesting PMA tablets that were sold as Ecstasy. Seizure of Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory and Arrest of Four Defendants in Los Angeles On January 4, the Southern California Drug Task Force seized one pound of crystallized methamphetamine "ice," seven pounds of processed methamphetamine, 170,000 pseudoephedrine tablets, and a variety of methamphetamine laboratory equipment. The laboratory was located in a heavily populated area, approximately five miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
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DEA
Community Support On Friday, January 4, 2002, the DEA Dallas and the United States Hot Rod Association hosted the RACE AGAINST DRUGS at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas. Realizing that kids would be receptive to an anti-drug event centered around the popular monster trucks, the DEA collaborated with the Hot Rod Association to create an exciting program. Two of the Monster Jam’s premier trucks—El Toro Loco, driven by Lupe Soza, and Ford Blue Thunder, driven by Tony Farrell, were featured at the event. The kids were also thrilled when a DEA helicopter, normally used in enforcement and surveillance operations, made an appearance at the Race Against Drugs Event. This is the first year the DEA and the Boys & Girls Clubs have coordinated with the Hot Rod Association. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas strive to inspire and empower all youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to achieve their full potential in a positive, safe, and fun environment. The DEA often collaborates with the Dallas Organization, which has served over 100,000 members since the opening of its first club in 1965.
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DEA Washington Division Sponsors High School Wrestling Competition One goal of DEA Demand Reduction is to support safe and healthy activities for teenagers. Sports, clubs, and other programs help teens develop a sense of accomplishment and provide a healthy outlet for teens’ energy and enthusiasm. In support of this goal, the DEA Division sponsored the “DEA Assault on Drugs” High School Wrestling Tournament at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The wrestling tournament, held on Saturday, January 5, featured more than 120 wrestlers from seven local high schools. Mount Vernon came in second place overall in the tournament. A DEA Special Agent staffed a table with Demand Reduction materials and spoke to many students from the different schools. The DEA sponsored the tournament by providing the trophies, medals, t-shirts, and the patriotic “DEA Assaults Drugs” banner.
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McAllen Agents Lend a Helping Hand to Local Kids On January 8, 2002, DEA McAllen Special Agents met with school personnel from the Alvarez Elementary School in McAllen, Texas. This initial meeting was for DEA personnel interested in becoming mentors in the school's "hosts" program. The 6-8 week Host program brings in community volunteers to assist students who are having difficulty in language arts. DEA Special Agents will be mentors who will also act as instructors, encouragers, advocates, and tutors. Special Agent mentors will provide emotional support to these children, much as a teacher, coach, or friend would. One of the most important parts of the Host program is that it helps kids see that there are people who care about them and want to help them be successful in school. DEA McAllen Special Agents will participate as mentors at Alvarez Elementary for the next 6-8 weeks. A Special Agent from DEA McAllen will be available every Tuesday morning to provide tutoring to students who need assistance with reading and other academics. These Special Agents are extremely excited to participate in this program.
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Working
Together On January 17, 2002, U.S. Representative Mark Souder, (R, Indiana) and members of his staff visited the Detroit Division Office. Representative Souder is the current Chairman of the Criminal Justice, Drug Policy & Human Resources Committee in the House of Representatives. DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Michael Braun briefed Congressman Souder on current drug trafficking trends in the Detroit region. Specific focus was given to the current status of the illegal drug flow into the United States from Canada. Detroit is the busiest commercial land border entry point in the world. Approximately 7,000 commercial trucks enter the United States each day through the Detroit Fort Street cargo facility. The Blue Water Bridge, connecting Port Huron, Michigan with Sarnia, Ontario, is the third busiest commercial land border entry point in the world. The recent case Operation Mountain Express III called attention to the illegal drug flow from Canada through Michigan. Following the briefing, Congressman Souder was given a tour of the Rick Finley Building. The tour included a demonstration of Detroit’s Clandestine Lab Truck by the Detroit Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team.
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Dedication of the New Richmond District Office
During a ceremony on Friday, October 12, 2001, the Amoroso-Benitez Building was formally named in memory of Special Agent Gil Amoroso and Special Agent Emir Benitez. Gil Amoroso was the Richmond Resident Agent in Charge from 1985 to 1988. He died suddenly on January 9, 1989 at age forty-four. Gil’s wife, Jean Amoroso, has worked in the Richmond Office as an Asset Forfeiture Specialist since Gil’s death. Jean and Gil have two daughters, Jeanette and Lisa. They were ages seven and five when their father died. Jeanette is now a junior at Longwood College studying economics and finance. Lisa is a freshman at the University of Tennessee and plans to major in journalism. Emir Benitez died while working in Ft. Lauderdale on August 9, 1973. He was the first Special Agent killed in the line of duty after the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration on July 1, 1973. Emir was twenty-eight years old. Emir’s only child, daughter Michelle, was born five months after his death. Now married, Michelle LaRosa joined DEA as a Group Assistant in Richmond in 1999. In March 2001, Michelle and her husband Frank celebrated the birth of their first child, Domenick Emir LaRosa.
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Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor Visits Richmond DO On January 10, 2002, DEA Richmond gave an informational briefing to Eric Cantor, the U.S. Congressman who represents the Seventh District of Virginia and serves as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism. DEA Washington Special Agent-in-Charge R.C. Gamble and Associate Special Agent-in-Charge Louis Pharao were on-hand to welcome Congressman Cantor. Following an all-hands meeting, Congressman Cantor was given an in-depth briefing of DEA efforts within the Seventh District of Virginia, which includes Richmond. DEA Intelligence Specialists Scott Springer, Jennifer Lofland, and others presented the Congressman with the current drug trafficking trends in Central Virginia, highlighting the increased abuse of club drugs. Agents also briefed the Congressman on significant cases, thereby giving him both a comprehensive understanding of the scope of the drug activity taking place in his District and knowledge of the efforts being employed to combat the problem. In addition, the DEA's new community-based program, Integrated Drug Enforcement Assistance (IDEA) was also described to the Congressman. The pilot project for the IDEA program will take place in Portsmouth, Virginia. While this area is not in the Congressman's district, he was very interested to learn more about the program. Congressman Cantor, as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism, shared some of his experiences since September 11th, and spoke of his commitment to the problems facing communities today. The visit allowed the Congressman to see first-hand the mission of the DEA at work. Congressman Cantor expressed a keen interest in maintaining an honest, cooperative, and open dialogue on important matters of mutual interest.
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 DEA Tallahassee staff and Administrator Hutchinson prepare for the press conference. |
DEA Tallahassee Welcomes Administrator Hutchinson Administrator Hutchinson recently traveled to DEA Tallahassee while he was in Florida to attend the “Prevention First” conference in Orlando. The Administrator held a press conference in Tallahassee to promote the conference’s emphasis on the role of education in the fight against drug abuse. This trip was also significant because it was the first time a DEA Administrator has visited Tallahassee. Mr. Hutchinson said of his trip, “It was great to get out and meet the folks out here in Tallahassee. A good part of my job does occur at headquarters and in the Washington area, but DEA employees are working all over the world, not just in headquarters. That’s why I enjoy coming out to the field and really getting to know our people and our agency.”
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John Jay College of Criminal Justice Honors SAC Felix Jimenez
On December 11, 2001, The John Jay College of Criminal Justice held a reception in honor of Special Agent in Charge Felix Jimenez. The President of John Jay College, Gerald W. Lynch, commended SAC Jimenez for his 31 years of distinguished and dedicated service in law enforcement. Guests included, alumnus William Simpson Jr., Chief of Operations Management, DEA, HQ and representatives from many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. DEA New York maintains a strong relationship with John Jay College. Most students are interested in a career in law enforcement and DEA New York recruits many John Jay graduates because they meet DEA’s high standards.
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DEA Detroit Sponsors "Club Drug Evolution Seminar" On January 16th, 2002, DEA Detroit, along with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and The Prevention Coalition of Southeast Michigan, co-sponsored "The Club Drug Evolution," a day-long seminar in Southfield, Michigan. Over 600 law enforcement professionals, educators, and treatment and prevention experts from the Michigan area attended the conference. DEA Detroit SAC Michael Braun commented on the importance of the conference that focused on Club Drugs, including MDMA, GHB and Ketamine. SAC Braun stated, "These drugs are just as dangerous as heroin-just as dangerous as cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP and other drugs. And maybe even more dangerous, because many of our young people share the myth that club drugs are actually safe to use." Dr. David Gauvin of DEA's Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section also addressed the conference and provided statistics and information concerning the threat posed by club drugs and the rave culture. To learn about recent DEA cases targeting Club Drugs, see Operation Triple X or Operation Green Clover.
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Phoenix Division Has Banner Combined Federal Campaign
DEA Phoenix Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) had a banner year raising $9,797 in donations and pledges. As part of DEA Phoenix CFC Campaign there were three additional fundraisers: a Halloween costume contest, a bake sale, and a mystery auction. The additional fundraisers resulted in about $1500 that was donated to the Children’s Hope Fund on behalf of “Team DEA.” Each year the Phoenix Field Division picks a deserving organization to contribute the cash raised by the additional fundraisers on behalf of Team DEA. In 2000, $1000 was donated to the DEA Survivor’s Benefit Fund. In 1999, $800 was donated to a house for abused and battered women and children from domestic violence. The success of the DEA Phoenix CFC is no accident says SAC Raffanello, “I have quality people that do top notch work in the Phoenix Division. I am always amazed at the efforts of our people.”
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Did
You Know? As in years past, DEA agents and analysts supported the security activities at the Olympics. The Olympics were such a high-profile international event that extensive security was planned at all Olympic venues in and around Salt Lake City. After the FBI asked for security assistance, the DEA requested volunteers for the assignment, and the DEA Salt Lake City office was flooded with calls. Twelve agents and four intelligence analysts reported to Salt Lake City. Six Special Agents were from DEA Salt Lake City and six were from DEA Denver. Two of the intel analysts were from DEA headquarters, one was from Denver, and one was from Salt Lake City. The agents arrived in Salt Lake City several weeks ago to begin training and accreditation by the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command. Protest groups had begun assembling in Salt Lake City by mid-January, so DEA agents and other accredited officers started their security detail immediately. During the Olympics, each of the agents were assigned to what are known as “I-Teams,” or Intelligence Teams. They mingled around all the venues and attempted to gather intelligence information. This means that they were outside in the elements the entire time. Salt Lake City ASAC Barry Jamison reported that the agents were enthusiastic about the detail, but notes that it wasn't an easy assignment. “These people are going to be standing knee-deep in the snow, sometimes overnight. Right now I’m working to make sure that they have the proper gear to deal with the cold weather conditions.” DEA Intelligence Analysts arrived in Utah on January 26th and began training to work in the Olympics Intelligence Command Center. The center operated around-the-clock and was staffed by a variety of federal, state, and local intelligence analysts. The Olympics began on February 8th and ran through February 24th. The DEA employees were honored to work among the finest law enforcement officers in the world and excited about their role in securing such an internationally significant event.
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 DEA special agents were constantly on alert at the Olympic Games in Atlanta to detect possible problems before they arose. |
DEA's
History at the Olympics Security is always an important issue at the Olympics because national leaders from 197 participating nations, along with athletes, coaches, and visitors from all over the world attend the Games. When the Olympics are hosted by the United States, the Department of Justice requests that the DEA and other federal agencies assist the FBI and the Secret Service with the massive security effort. The DEA has provided assistance at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. DEA agents were instrumental in preserving the safety of hundreds of spectators at the Atlanta Games when a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park. Over 200 men and women from the DEA were detailed to the Atlanta games, and several were on hand when FBI and Defense Department experts identified a suspicious-looking knapsack as a bomb just minutes before it exploded. The DEA agents, along with Georgia State patrol and other law enforcement officers, hurriedly began evacuating the hundreds of people in the park. The agents risked their own safety by attempting to evacuate nearby civilians and, after the explosion, administering first aid. The agents’ ability to remain calm and focused during this chaotic situation saved many lives. One DEA agent, Craig Wiles, was injured in the blast. He was stationed just 25 to 30 feet from the explosion and was struck in the back of the head by a piece of wood. Despite his injuries, Special Agent Wiles continued to help fellow agents and wounded civilians. He was later taken to nearby Georgia Baptist Medical Center where doctors removed wood splinters from his head. Wiles fully recovered within a few days and was the first agent to receive the DEA’s Purple Heart Award. All of the DEA agents who helped evacuate Centennial Olympic Park were honored for their courage when that group, Atlanta Olympic Division Squad 23, was given the Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Group Achievement in 1997.
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Drug
Enforcement Administration
One
in every four Americans believes drug and alcohol addiction is the nation's
most serious health issue, according to a new survey. Research conducted
by Roper ASW for the Council of Public Relations Firms found 26.5 percent
of Americans believe addiction is the most serious health problem in America,
placing the problem ahead of heart disease, cancer and depression. The
survey was based on interviews of 1,014 men and women nationwide. The
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest foundation devoted to improving
the health and health care of all Americans, has identified substance
abuse as the nation's number one health problem (for more info, contact
The Council of Public Relations Firms @ 877-773-4767 or www.prfirms.org).
(source: Partnership for A Drug-Free America)