DEA

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice tasked with combating illegal drug trafficking and enforcing the nation’s drug control laws. Its responsibilities include investigating the production, distribution, and sale of controlled substances, regulating precursor chemicals, and working to reduce the availability and demand for illegal drugs. The DEA operates alongside other federal, state, and local agencies and cooperates with international partners.

Created on July 1, 1973 by Reorganization Plan No. 2, the DEA consolidated several earlier drug-control agencies, notably the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD). Since its inception, the agency has aimed to disrupt drug trafficking networks, seize illicit substances, and enforce the Controlled Substances Act and related statutes. It also regulates chemical precursors through the Office of Diversion Control.

Structure and operations: The DEA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and led by an Administrator appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It maintains field divisions across the United States and international offices, and its operations are supported by divisions such as the Office of National Security Intelligence, the Special Operations Division, and various investigative and regulatory components. The DEA collaborates with other federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, and foreign governments, sharing intelligence through formal channels and task forces.

Impact and oversight: The agency plays a central role in U.S. drug policy, including investigations into major trafficking organizations, laboratory seizures, asset forfeiture actions, and compliance enforcement for pharmaceutical companies and distributors. DEA activities have been subject to oversight by Congress and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, and have faced public scrutiny over civil liberties concerns and enforcement practices.