NCJ Number
127942
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 272-279
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
After a general description of the history and operations of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-sponsored State and local task forces, this article describes the structure, operations, and achievements of such task forces for New York State; San Diego, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Yakima, Wash.
Abstract
DEA-sponsored State and local task forces were begun in 1968, and there are now 44 formal and 12 provisional task forces having the participation of 240 Federal agents and more than 630 local law enforcement officers. Benefits of such cooperation include enhanced technical assistance and training, the sharing of intelligence information, the allocation of the resources of asset forfeiture from drug convictions, and increased effectiveness in targeting regional drug-trafficking networks. As part of the task force concept, 13 regional Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces target complex drug networks often extending beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries. The task force programs described have achieved a number of drug interdictions that have weakened drug trafficking within their jurisdictions.