Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

The Drug Enforcement Bureau (DEB) is responsible for investigation and suppression of illegal narcotics within Phoenix. The bureau is also involved in the interdiction of drug trafficking through the Sky Harbor International Airport and shipping facilities throughout the city.

DEB continued to expand, with the addition of personnel from federal (DEA) and state (National Guard) agencies to assist in accomplishing the bureau's mission. This year, DEA was actively involved in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, which provides grant funding to co-locate department narcotics operations with federal and state agencies in a joint-use facility-Metro Intelligence Support Technical and Investigative Center (MISTIC). Future co-location of task forces will reduce duplication of effort, increase interagency cooperation, enable sharing of intelligence, and make all narcotics operations in the valley more efficient and effective.

The bureau is organized into two specific functions/sections: enforcement and investigations, each managed by a lieutenant. The Enforcement Section has eight squads to investigate narcotics complaints and to conduct criminal investigations and includes a juvenile enforcement detail. The Investigations Section is assigned four squads to gather intelligence, conduct criminal and forfeiture investigations, and assist federal agencies conducting national/ international investigations.

Undercover Street Enforcement Squads continued to meet challenges. Emphasis is placed on responding to the needs of each individual precinct. For this purpose, each precinct is assigned its own enforcement squad to investigate neighborhood narcotics complaints, conduct undercover drug buys, and serve search warrants. These squads develop a close working relationship with each precinct area manager (patrol lieutenant).

DEB received a total of 2,486 narcotics and dangerous drug complaints, a decrease from 1998's total of 3,820. Of the complaints received, 1,197 (48 percent) were assigned for follow-up investigations. DEB concluded investigations on 1,197 complaints, 563 (47 percent) of which were resolved by arrest or seizure.

The Enforcement Section is also responsible for investigating methamphetamine labs located in the city and the valley. Currently, 20 lab-certified detectives and 5 certified supervisors are responsible for coordinating, investigating, and obtaining evidence found at methamphetamine labs and overseeing environmental cleanups. The Enforcement Section investigated 116 cases for the year, an increase from 87 in 1998.

During 1999, the Enforcement Section conducted Trojan Horse III, an undercover operation involving two valley high schools, to locate and identify drug dealers within schools, outside schools, and in areas frequented by youths. At the completion of the operation, 21 suspects were arrested, ranging from student dealers to suppliers. The undercover operation received positive attention from the media, and endorsements from the community, the school districts, and students.

The Investigation Section is comprised of the Asset Forfeiture, Conspiracy, and Commercial Narcotic Interdiction Squads, and the DEA Task Force.

The Asset Forfeiture Squad completes civil forfeiture investigations pertaining to proceeds from drug and racketeering offenses. In 1999, this squad seized 204 vehicles, $1.3 million in cash, and various property, i.e.; cell phones, guns, computers, and equipment.

The Narcotics Conspiracy Squad conducts long-term investigations of upper-level narcotics trafficking organizations, often incorporating use of court-ordered electronic surveillance techniques. As a result of these investigations, 18 indictments were returned. Unit activities resulted in disruption of six local organizations operating in and throughout Phoenix and surrounding U.S. and Mexican borders. This squad was responsible for seizing 5,000 kilograms of marijuana, 21 kilograms of cocaine, 133 vehicles, and $500,000 in cash. Many of the unit's investigations are funded through the Office of National Drug Control Policy's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program.

The Commercial Narcotics Interdiction Squad is responsible for interdiction of narcotics and drug proceeds transported via air, bus, rail, freight, parcel, or mail and is predominantly funded through a grant administered by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. The unit is also responsible for providing drug odor-detecting K-9s for the entire city. The unit is staffed with five working K-9s and is housed at the airport, where they are used most often. The interdiction squad was responsible for the seizure of 5.4 kilograms of cocaine, 463 kilograms of marijuana, 7.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, and $2.4 million in cash.

The DEA Task Force Unit arrested 223 suspects and seized 21.6 kilograms of cocaine, 112 grams of heroin, 365 kilograms of marijuana, 90 kilograms of methamphetamine, and $361,000 in cash.

In August, the Methamphetamine Community Awareness Program, entitled "What's Cookin in Your Neighborhood ?", was initiated to educate the public about the methamphetamine drug problem in neighborhoods and the city. The program produced an educational video about how to detect a "meth" lab and how to respond. In partnership with TASC (Treatment Assessment Screening Center), the program also produced 20 anti-meth billboards posted throughout the valley and 2.7 million anti-meth messages distributed on Safeway and Basha's shopping bags, conducted several community presentations, and is working with businesses throughout the valley to help create policies for a drug-free workplace. This program was made possible by a $750,000 COPS grant.

Effective July 2005 the Vice Enforcement Unit was reassigned to the Drug Enforcement Bureau. The Vice Enforcement Unit is commanded by a Lieutenant and is comprised of three (3) Vice Enforcement Squads, and the Liquor Enforcement Detail.

The three vice squads are supervised by a Sergeant, and each squad is comprised of five (5) undercover detectives and two (2) uniformed detectives. Together the Vice Enforcement Unit is primarily responsible for the suppression of vice-related crimes within the City of Phoenix. One squad normally works during the day; the second squad operates in the evening hours, and the third squad works weekends.

In early July 2005 a “Hotline” was established so citizens could report prostitution and vice related activity directly to the Unit. To report such activities citizens can call (602) 426-1231 or send an e-mail to vice.complaints.ppd@phoenix.gov.

The Vice Enforcement Squads work closely with the Catholic Social Services and City Prosecutor's Office who sponsors the "Prostitution Diversion Program". This program was developed to teach alternatives to prostitutes to turn their lives around and get off the street. The Squads also work very closely with the City Law Office as a member of the Sexually Oriented Business Task Force, which meets twice a month. The department members of the Task Force include Police, City Prosecutor's Office, Law, Development Services, Finance, City Clerk, Planning, and Neighborhood Services. The purpose of the task force is to coordinate departmental activities/services to insure that the ordinances that regulate the adult business industry in the City of Phoenix are in compliance. As the enforcement component of the SOB Task Force, vice personnel conduct compliance inspections of businesses licensed in the City of Phoenix and take enforcement action on observed violations. The businesses include adult nude cabarets, massage parlors, adult bookstores, adult arcades, adult movie theaters, adult video stores, nude model studios, escort bureaus, and adult social clubs.

In addition to their regular duties, the Vice Enforcement Unit provides undercover detectives to assist with security at high profile events by infiltrating the crowds to provide real-time intelligence on potential threats to the safety and security of the civilian attendees.

In 2005 the Phoenix Police Department was awarded a $450,000 federal grant to combat "Human Trafficking." Human Trafficking is nothing less than modern day slavery taking place in our community. It is the forced labor or indentured servitude of persons from other countries as well as our own citizens. The victims are forced to work in the sex trade, farm labor, sweat shops and as domestic servants by means of force or intimidation. Men, women, and children are victimized and reduced to nothing more than a piece of property to be bought, sold or discarded at the whim of their abuser. The Vice Enforcement Unit is responsible for the investigation of human trafficking offenses that occur in the city. Beginning in July 2005, as the program comes on line, the Vice Enforcement Unit will be available to respond to Patrol requests for assistance in suspected human trafficking incidents. Additionally, the Unit will be responsible for training department personnel in detecting human trafficking, and will act in an advisory role in training and assisting other law enforcement agencies in detecting, investigating, and preventing human trafficking in their jurisdictions.

The Liquor Enforcement Detail is comprised of one (3) detectives, and one (1) Administrative Assistant overseeing City Licensing. Together they are responsible for conducting background investigations on all types of license and zoning applications, follow-up on reports of all city license, zoning and liquor violations, compliance inspections of licensed establishments, and provided basic and advanced training on license, zoning and liquor issues. Additionally the detail conducts detailed investigations that involve organized crime, i.e.; money laundering, fraudulent schemes, and perjury, pertaining to licensed liquor establishments. They process thousands of licenses in the areas of liquor, special events, zoning and miscellaneous. The detail is also the Police Department's liaison to the State Department of Liquor License Control.

In July of 2005 the Liquor Enforcement Detail added a “Hotline” and an e-mail address so citizens can report liquor related offenses. To contact the Liquor Enforcement Detail citizens can call (602) 438-6625 or send an e-mail to liquor.task.force.ppd@phoenix.gov.

As a member of the Hot Spot Liquor Task Force, the detail identifies unique crime trends related to problem liquor licensed establishments, as determined by a monthly analysis of calls for service or at the request of the Precinct Commander, and develops responses to impact those areas and assists the Patrol Division in reducing calls for service, by teaming up with various city, and state agencies, such as Youth Alcohol Squad, Developmental Services, Neighborhood Services, City Prosecutor's Office, Department of Liquor License Control, Fire Department, City Planning, Maricopa County Health, City Clerk's office and other valley law enforcement agencies in a proactive, multifaceted enforcement response. During 2004 the Task Force reduced calls for service, on average, by 40%.