1. Recognition, Control, and Investigation of Drug Abuse
NINETEEN
Recognition, Control, and Investigation of Drug Abuse

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify and describe several opium‑derived drugs
List and describe synthetic narcotics
Identify and distinguish among stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens
Outline techniques used in investigating dangerous drugs and narcotics
Assess the motives, methods, and management of drug informants
Describe the process of identifying and conducting raids on clandestine labs
Explain the type of information necessary to establish probable cause and obtain search warrants
Be familiar with drug evidence handling and potential security problems
19-1

3. OPIUM-DERIVED DRUGS Opium Morphine Heroin (Diacetylmorphine)
One of the first drugs of abuse was opium
Morphine
Morphine is obtained from raw opium
Heroin (Diacetylmorphine)
Heroin was found to be considerably stronger than morphine in 1890
19-2(a)

4. OPIUM-DERIVED DRUGS (cont'd)
Codeine
The alkaloid codeine is found in raw opium in concentrations from 0.7 to 2.3 percent. It was first isolated in 1832 as an impurity in a batch of morphine.
Other Opium Derivatives
Other opium derivatives abused and stolen from pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians are Dilaudid, Papaverine, and Pantopon.
19-2(b)

5. HEROIN FILLED LATEX BALLOONS
Heroin is smuggled into the U.S. in a variety of ways
Drug couriers often swallow heroin filled balloons before boarding commercial planes
Most heroin is smuggled into the U.S. from Columbia
(Courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
19-3

6. SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS
Synthetic narcotics, though chemically related to the opium alkaloids, are produced entirely within the laboratory
Meperidine (Pethidine)
The commercial name for meperidine is Demerol, and it was the first synthetic narcotic
Methadone
A heroin-dependent person can be treated with doses of methadone as a replacement for heroin
19-4

7. STIMULANTS
Drugs falling into the stimulants group directly stimulate the central nervous system
Cocaine
Cocaine is a naturally occurring stimulant that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca)
Amphetamines
Amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methamphetamine are closely related chemically
19-5(a)

8. STIMULANTS (cont'd)
Phenmetrazine (Preludin), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), and Pemoline (Cylert)
Phenmetrazine is related chemically to the amphetamines, and its abuse produces similar effects
Crystalized Methamphetamine
Crystalized methamphetamine, better known as crystal meth and speed during the 1960s and 1970s
Methcathinone
Methcathinone, called cat or goob, is a pyschomotor stimulant with a chemical structure similar to methamphetamine
19-5(b)

9. POWDERED COCAINE Cocaine is a naturally occurring stimulant
It is extracted from the leaves of coca plants
The powder is often adultered at each level of sale by drug dealers
(Courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
19-6

10. COCAINE TRAFFICKING PATTERNS
Drug dealing is an international business
Much of the illegal cocaine arriving in the U.S. is smuggled in from countries in South America
The Drug Enforcement Administration seeks assistance from foreign police officials in its war on drugs
(Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice)
19-7

11. KILO PACKAGES OF COCAINE
Cocaine may be smuggled into the U.S. in single batches
Lower-level drug dealers adulterate or “cut” the cocaine before re-sale
The cutting process increases the profits for the dealers
(Courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
19-8

12. DEPRESSANTS (SEDATIVES)
Glutethimide (Doriden)
Depressants of sedatives depress the central nervous system and are prescribed in small doses to reduce restlessness and emotional tension and to induce sleep
When introduced in 1954 glutethimide was wrongly believed to be a nonaddictive barbiturate substitute
Methaqualone
Methaqualone was at one time very popular in the United States but has since been removed from the market
19-9(a)

13. DEPRESSANTS (SEDATIVES) (cont'd)
Meprobamate
First synthesized in 1960 as a mild tranquilizer, meprobamate is distributed in the nited States under the generic brand name
OxyContin
Another powerful narcotic that is presently sold legally is OxyContin
19-9(b)

14. HALLUCINOGENS
The hallucinogenic drugs, natural or synthetic, distort perception of objective reality.
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Phencyclidine, commonly called PCP, in pharmaceutically pure form is a solid white powder
Methylenedioxy Methamphetamine (MDMA)
Commonly known as MDMA or “ecstasy,” is a bitter white power
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD 25)
LSD is a semisynthetic compound produced from lysergic acid. An average does of 30 to 50 microgramsCabout the size of a pinpointCwill take the user on a “trip” lasting 10 to 12 hours
19-10(a)

15. HALLUCINOGENS (cont'd)
Mescaline (Peyote)
The primary active ingredient of the peyote cactus is the hallucinogen mescaline
Psilocybin and Psilocyn
Psilocybin and psilocyn are obtained from mushrooms generally grown in Mexico
Marijuana
Marijuana is made by crushing or chopping the dried leaves and flowers of the plant into small pieces
The cleaned or manicured leaves are then rolled into a cigarette and smoked
19-10(b)

16. HALLUCINOGENS (cont'd)
Hashish
Hashish is processed by drying to produce a drug several times as potent as marijuana
Hashish Oil
Liquid hashish is produced by concentrating THC
Ketamine
Ketamine hydrochloride is a synthetic drug and is an anesthetic agent that has legitimate uses
19-10(c)

17. KETAMINE Ketamine is a synthetic drug
It was developed as an anesthetic agent in the 1960s
Today its use has been associated with all night parties called “raves”
(Courtesy Sergeant Christopher McKissick and Detective Tyler Parks, Port Orange, Florida, Police Department)
19-11

18. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES
Most of the techniques used in investigating dangerous-drug and narcotics cases are the same as those used in investigating other cases; however there are some unique procedures.
The Purchase
One important aspect is identification of the source. It is desirable to make more than one direct purchase from a seller, if possible.
The Apprehension
All arrests should be as unobtrusive as possible to prevent them from becoming common knowledge on the street
19-12

19. DRUG INFORMANTS: MOTIVES, METHODS, AND MANAGEMENT
Informants: Motivations and Types
Problem Informants. Some informants have personalities that make them difficult, if not impossible, to manage.
Egotistical Informants. Investigators who provide positive reinforcement motivate egotistical informants to continue supplying information.
Informants with the James Bond Syndrome. While working as informants, they imagine themselves in a police of spy drama.
19-13(a)

20. DRUG INFORMANTS: MOTIVES, METHODS, AND MANAGEMENT (cont'd)
Wannabe Informants. They now seek to become involved in law enforcement as informants.
Perversely Motivated Informants. These informants offer their services in order to identify undercover agents.
Restricted-Use Informants. By virtue of their criminal background or other status, these pose special management challenges.
19-12(b)

21. OFFICER TALKING TO DRUG DEALER INFORMANT
Informants in drug enforcement are unique
Investigators must know what motivates them
The informants must be carefully managed
© Bonnie Kamin
19-13

22. DEPARTMENT POLICY REGARDING MANAGING INFORMANTS
Agencies should not leave the management of drug informants exclusively to investigators
Formulating a written policy ensures consistency in the use and management of CIs and serves as a guide for inexperienced investigators
The Informant File. This file is used to document every encounter
19-14(a)

23. DEPARTMENT POLICY REGARDING MANAGING INFORMANTS (cont'd)
Phenmetrazine (Preludin), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), and Pemoline (Cylert)
Phenmetrazine is related chemically to the amphetamines, and its abuse produces similar effects.
Investigator-Informant Contact Procedures. The department must establish investigator-informant contact procedures and train employees in their use.
Informant Payments. Payments to CIs can be divided into two distinct categoriesCawards and rewards.
19-14(b)

24. CLANDESTINE DRUG LABORATORIES
Illicit operations that produce a variety of illegal drugs for sale and distribution; due to the chemicals, processes used, and workers= inexperience, pose serious danger to police and firefighters, as well as the public.
Clandestine drug laboratories throughout the United States produce a variety of illegal drugs for sale and distribution.
Clandestine laboratory operations are typically identified in several ways:
fire investigations
information from informants
tips from the community
19-15

25. METH LABS
Illegal laboratories that manufacture methamphetamine; range from industrial-size organizations to one-person tweeker labs, with prevalence skyrocketing due to availability of “recipes” and chemicals via the Internet
19-16

26. METH LABS
Meth labs are one of the fastest-growing types of clandestine labs today
Some dealers have developed small labs that can produce quantities from one ounce to one pound
These small labs create significant problems for law enforcement
(Courtesy Drug Enforcement Administration)
19-17

27. CONDUCTING A LABORATORY RAID
Conducting a raid on an occupied laboratory requires careful planning.
Normally, a planning meeting involves:
the police tactical unit
bomb squad
hazardous-material or chemical-waste disposal personnel
a chemist
and the fire department representatives
19-18

28. METH LAB RAID
The methamphetamine cooking process is dangerous due to fumes and volatility of ingredients
After the scene is secured the assessment team (as shown) enters
Team members wear special protector equipment and breathing gear
(Courtesy Detective David Street, Riverside County, California, Sheriff’s Department)
19-19

29. SEARCH WARRANTS AND PROBABLE CAUSE
Officers engaged in drug enforcement must understand the legal elements necessary to constitute probable cause for obtaining search warrants.
Law Enforcement Background of the Warrant Applicant
Past Reliability of the Confidential Informant
Information Supplied by the Informant
Corroboration of the Information Supplied
19-20

30. EVIDENCE HANDLING AND SECURITY PROBLEMS
Aside from the burglaries, larcenies, and other crimes committed because of narcotics, there are additional related problems sprouting from the drug-culture vine
Some of these involve the police officers= integrity
19-21(a)

31. EVIDENCE HANDLING AND SECURITY PROBLEMS (cont'd)
The handling and securing of narcotics and dangerous drugs after they are collected and seized, has emerged as an area of growing concern
The evidence must be protected against loss from the outside and sometimes from inside the police agency
19-21(b)