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Return to Article: DEA veteran to lead DHS drug enforcement

• 91818
  

  ICE should focus on immigration investigations, since no other agancy does it, not even CBP. Drugs are already investigated by the locals, states, and the DEA.

  Dave Posted November 11, 2009 7:41 PM
• 91817
  

  ICE should focus on immigration investigations, since no other agancy does it, not even CBP. Drugs are already investigated by the locals, states, and the DEA.

  Dave Posted November 11, 2009 7:41 PM
• 91797
  

  Why all the fuss? I've worked for DHS and DEA as an agent and instructor. In my opinion, most all agents that are not FBI or DEA are simply bitter and insecure. This usually comes from those without a college degree; or from those that didn't make it through the hiring process. As a result, they're now being sour-grapes about "which badge is bigger"--get over it and grow up! If you didn't make the cut, you didn't make the cut. If you want to investigate narcotics join the DEA. If want to investigate "immigration and customs" sign up with ICE. If you can't get hired by the agency you'd ideally want to be with, keep trying or move on...

  JD Posted November 11, 2009 12:42 PM
• 91665
  

  Mission creep at the hands of legacy agency heads continues unabated. Bush, Obama, no difference. Amateur hour at ICE: Myers, Morton, no difference. The time to look at these agency budgets, missions, and systemic malfunctions can't come soon enough. Did I mention budgets? Does DHS still have one, or did they plug in directly to the printing plant across the mall?

  Mike Retsocer Posted November 10, 2009 8:11 AM
• 91579
  

  This will soon be a moot point, when ICE becomes the new INS, and only does immigration cases. It's almost there already, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of immigration-related press releases on the ICE website, and on ICE's annual reports. Legacy Customs investigations aren't even called "Customs" anymore, and are only referred to in a backhanded way, such as financial or fraud investigations, when they are mentioned at all.

  ICEd Posted November 9, 2009 12:10 PM
• 91262
  

  First ICE wanted to be renamed as something that the FBI rightfully objected to as being an infringement on their rice bowl. Now ICE wants to be the DEA, indeed believes that the DEA is actually poaching their game preserves. Forget that the DEA was created out of a merger of DOJ's BNDD (Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which was itself comprised of a merger of the FDA's Bureau of Drug Abuse Control and Treasury's Bureau of Narcotics) and the old U.S. Customs Service Drug Investigations --giving back primary responsibility for narcotics investigations to ICE essentially yields us 200 years of tradition unimpeded by progress.

  Paul D. Posted November 5, 2009 8:05 AM
• 91249
  

  "ICE has always had drug investigative authority involving the border, see Title 18 USC 545, and has been conducting those investigations for over 200 years. The title 21 cross designation is to enable domestic drug trafficking investigations in coordination with DEA."

  Um, no. These mass misconceptions about Customs and/or ICE authority have always been a serious problem. Executive Orders, policies and regulations since the enactment of 18 USC 545 stripped Customs of drug investigative authority and allowed us to gain SOME of it back, albeit with specific limitations.

  See recent GAO report GAO 09-63, in addition to the historical facts. When DEA was created, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was abolished. DEA was created to be the lead on drug cases in general. Customs initially lost ALL drug investigative authority and only gained back the NEXUS cases later (not domestic) with DEA's consent.

  See Reorganization Plan no. 2 of 1973. The only thing Customs initially retained under the Executive Order and Reorganization Plan was the seizure of drugs and related arrests at POEs and right at the border, with the stipulation the evidence was to be turned over to DEA. Furthering an investigation was not allowed. All of the Treasury's drug investigative authority was specifically transferred to the Attorney General, delegated to DEA, and we were required to turn over drug evidence and suspects from enforcement at the border. DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel clarified by stating Customs drug jurisdiction was limited to interdiction at the border and we didn't have investigative authority. We later gained back investigative authority by being cross designated under DEA's authority, operating under our MOU.

  See the old MOU and the new MOA. They restrict our investigations to smuggling (i.e., nexus cases) and do not allow for non-smuggling cases. The new MOA specifically states that the fact that drugs are known to originate from overseas does not confer nexus upon the case.

  DHS Posted November 5, 2009 1:15 AM
• 91242
  

  I know Grayling and he is all smoke and mirrors just like Obama. All politics no performance. Bad choice just like many others.

  scott hanson Posted November 4, 2009 7:43 PM
• 91215
  

  ICE has always had drug investigative authority involving the border, see Title 18 USC 545, and has been conducting those investigations for over 200 years. The title 21 cross designation is to enable domestic drug trafficking investigations in coordination with DEA.

  Dale Hickman Posted November 4, 2009 1:57 PM