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FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Mon Aug 29, 2005 at 10:32:56 AM EST
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Chris Swecker, the Assistant Director of the FBI's criminal division, says now it would take "a cartel" to get the FBI involved in a drug bust. The agency, Swecker says, has shifted to terrorism.

Drug crimes largely have been ceded to the Drug Enforcement Agency, while the U.S. Marshals Service now apprehends all but the most violent fugitives. Investigation of bank robberies, once a signature FBI duty, and large swaths of white-collar crime are also largely off the bureau's to-do list.

What's left? Public corruption, civil rights violations, organized crime - including gangs, major white-collar crime and certain kinds of violent offenses. The rationale is simple: The bureau now focuses on crime that might shed light on terror or that no other law enforcement agency can pursue.

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    • FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA | 8 comments (8 topical)
    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#9)
    by SeeEmDee on Tue Aug 30, 2005 at 12:39:14 PM EST
    This is only symptomatic of a trend that will get worse - for the drug warriors. Nobody has to be told that times are tight. But that fiscal crunch is ultimately going to force some belt-tightening amongst the various Fed agencies. Which means, inevitably, the cost of the drug war will become a political issue as things worsen, more lose their jobs, and demand unemployment bennies. When politicians begin to mealy-mouthing that they don't have any more money, someone is bound to say "Well, what about all the money allocated for the drug war?". No amount of screaming about "But, but, but...what about the chil-drunnn? will stop the budgetary butcher knives when things start looking grim. I remember all too well the 1970's, the economic 'malaise', and the elimination of programs like CETA when things began to get tough; look for a repeat performance, and this time the cuts will go to the bone. As far as I am concerned, some of the Feebs may be looking that far down the road, too, and are seeing the same possibilities, so they wanted to distance themselves from an agency that sooner or later will begin to look like a done roast ready for carving.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#1)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:53 PM EST
    Tell it to Tommy Chong.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:53 PM EST
    Amen quaker.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#3)
    by SeeEmDee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:53 PM EST
    I'll bet a lot of DEA agents are breathing a sigh of relief right now; according to their unoffical website DEAWatch, they've been very much afraid of the FBI absorbing their operations. But it could also be that the Feebs didn't want to swallow a very bitter pill, thanks to the DEA's poor showing as far as the government is concerned; they've received nothing but low marks and are way down the Fed LEO pecking order thanks to their inability to achieve their chartered goals. When there's no hope of cleaning the Augean Stables of drug prohibition, it's best not to be associated with an organization who's task is that impossible; it might negatively affect your chances for promotion. The Feebs smelled that skunk coming long ago and slammed the door on it.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:54 PM EST
    thanks to their inability to achieve their chartered goals.
    Not surprising since their stated goals are on par with making pigs fly or installing an ice skating rink in hell.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#5)
    by jackl2400 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:54 PM EST
    Or tell it to Marc Emory, Dionne Warwick or the other ~755,000 people who were busted by the DEA, Homeland Security goods or their state or local cops for pot last year, an all time record. (Read this recent think tank report or this report to see why even conservative orgs are backing away from the federal DEA's looney toons "War on Marijuana".

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#6)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:54 PM EST
    Just wait and see if some DEA guys shot some kid in some school room.

    Re: FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:56 PM EST
    As atrios points out the FBI is not wasting time taking up the slack. They are revving up after domestic terrorists; you know, the anti-war kind.

    FBI Says It Has Ceded Drug Busts to DEA | 8 comments (8 topical)