Job Description of a Drug Enforcement Agent
Careers in law enforcement are exciting and rewarding for the right person. Drug enforcement is among the avenues available for those interested in criminal justice.
Not sure what a career as a drug enforcement agent entails? Read on for some more information.
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What is a Drug Enforcement Agent?
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Federal drug enforcement agents are employed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). DEA officers are the only U.S. officers with the authority to enforce laws regarding drugs beyond United States borders. Their sole responsibility is to control and enforce laws regarding drugs within the country. They are part of an ongoing battle.
About the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
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The DEA was established by President Richard Nixon in July 1973. His Reorganization Plan No. 2 outlined the need for an agency to enforce drug laws more strictly, as well as control the spread and distribution of illegal drugs.
The DEA is the result of the merging of two bureaus: the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) and the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE). These two departments were eliminated when DEA was created.
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The Significance of Drug Enforcement Agents
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DEA teams have different roles. The Mobile Enforcement Teams (METs) comprise agents that work with local authorities to control drug trafficking and distribution in certain areas and neighborhoods.
The Foreign-Deployed Advisory team and Support teams are engaged in other countries, looking to control the spread of the same illegal drugs that plague the United States. Drug problems in other countries become drug problems in the United States. The purpose of these teams is to cut off the source of illegal and dangerous drugs in the United States.
What to Expect as a DEA Officer
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Pursuing a career in drug enforcement means pursuing a stressful and sometimes dangerous line of work. Illegal drug enforcement puts agents on the front line against some of the most dangerous people in the United States.
It is important to have the full support of friends and family for a position like this. Mental and physical fitness are also essential.
Drug Enforcement Agents and Education
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Anybody looking to work for the DEA should obtain a college degree first. There are several fields of study that could apply to working for the DEA. Among them are the following:
economics or finance
criminal justice
accounting
communications
telecommunications
Spanish, French (any foreign language)Careers in drug enforcement aren't for everyone. There are many different ways to be involved in law enforcement and criminal justice and drug enforcement is just one of the many.
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