Daytona Beach Lawyers Outline the Steps in a Typical Drug Trafficking Investigation
Drug trafficking investigations can be complex, multi-agency efforts aiming to disrupt supply chains and prosecute those involved. As Daytona Beach defense attorneys experienced in these types of cases, we wanted to outline some of the common steps involved for our readers.
Initial Tip Leads to Surveillance
Many investigations start with a tip – often from confidential informants looking for leniency or payments in exchange for information. Tips can also come from concerned citizens, though they may be reluctant to inform on dangerous criminals. Once received, tips are evaluated and, if deemed credible, lead to initial surveillance efforts.
Investigators will conduct physical surveillance, observing locations or individuals associated with the suspected trafficking. For example, they may watch a house suspected of storing drugs or observe apparent hand-to-hand street deals. Surveillance establishes patterns of activity and evidence for subsequent investigative steps. It can be resource-intensive, requiring teams tracking movements across jurisdictions. Sophisticated operations may also utilize electronic surveillance of phones, cars, or premises if warrants are obtained.
Undercover Cops and Informants Used to Infiltrate Operations
A next step often involves the use of undercover officers or confidential informants (CIs) to infiltrate suspected organizations. CIs can make buys or sell drugs to gain trust. Undercovers may pose as buyers, sellers, or assistants. These tactics yield direct evidence via audio/video recording of deals and expand knowledge of operations.
However, undercovers and CIs have associated risks and oversight challenges. Their motives may not be pure – CIs can be unreliable or fake evidence. Undercovers face safety issues if their true identity is discovered. Proper handling by supervisors provides some checks on these risks. But critics argue more accountability and limits are needed on these invasive tactics.
Controlled Buys and Deliveries Gather Additional Evidence
As undercovers and CIs learn operational details, law enforcement arranges controlled purchases or deliveries to further evidence trafficking. In controlled buys, officers provide recorded buy money and closely monitor purchases by an informant. This creates extensive proof connecting seized drugs to suspected dealers.
Controlled deliveries allow illicit shipments to progress under law enforcement supervision. Investigators can identify additional people and locations involved in the supply chain as the delivery progresses to its destination. International cooperation is often vital in tracking cross-border deliveries.
Search Warrants and Arrests Disrupt Operations
The evidence gathered leads to requests for search warrants of suspected stash houses, dealers’ residences, vehicles and more. Searches aim to seize drugs, cash, records, and other proof while arrests take suspected traffickers into custody. However, premature raids can compromise longer-term investigations if they alert associates to flee or destroy evidence. Warrant requests and timing require careful assessment of competing objectives.
Searches frequently uncover further investigative leads in the form of customer lists, accounting records, communications with suppliers, and more. Document translation and decryption of phones/computers become priorities. Financial investigations and asset forfeiture proceedings also commence to “follow the money trail.”
Prosecutions Target Both Street Dealers and High-Level Operators
Prosecuting those arrested on drug trafficking charges involves strategic decisions on charging and plea bargaining. Street-level dealers often receive probation or short sentences if convicted. Investigators must decide whether to pursue provable smaller cases or go up the supply chain after leaders who may be more insulated from direct criminal acts.
High-value targets require extensive, long-term investigations. But successful prosecutions can yield major asset forfeitures while disrupting or dismantling whole operations. Cooperating witnesses negotiate for immunity or reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against leaders. Sentences for top operators can involve decades in prison.