251 East Sixth Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
213-485-4044
The Los Angeles Police Department Narcotics Division is one of the largest drug enforcement entities in Southern California. It’s responsible for enforcing local, state, and federal narcotics laws in the City of Los Angeles. Often, Narcotics Division, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, investigates narcotics related violations in neighboring communities, cities, and counties. Captain Kevin McCarthy is the Commanding Officer of Narcotics Division. Currently, Narcotics Division is composed of five Sections:
▪ Support Services Section
▪ Major Enforcement Section A
▪ Major Enforcement Section B
▪ Drug Task Forces Section
▪ Investigative Support Section
The SUPPORT SERVICES SECTION is comprised of four Units: the Audit/Special Investigation Unit, the Administrative Unit, the Training/Projects Unit, and the Logistics Unit.
The Audit/Special Investigation Unit conducts audits of the operational procedures and protocols of Narcotics Division entities to ensure compliance with appropriate Department rules and regulations. The Audit/Special Investigation Unit also conducts confidential investigations at the discretion of the Narcotics Division Commanding Officer.
The Administrative Unit is responsible for personnel related matters of Narcotics Division, keeping of employees’ time to ensure proper compensation, and maintaining statistical data concerning narcotics arrests and seizures. The Administrative Unit is responsible for ensuring that all personnel coming into Narcotics undergo a thorough background screening, including polygraph testing.
The Training/Projects Unit is responsible for ensuring that all Narcotics Division personnel undergo Department mandated training. The Training/Projects Unit also conducts research and completes projects in response to inquiries form internal and external sources.
The Logistics Unit coordinates, maintains, issues, and procures the specialized equipment employed by Narcotics Division personnel. In addition, the Logistics Unit manages the fleet of vehicles used by Narcotics Division.
The MAJOR ENFORCEMENT SECTION A is composed of five squads: the K-9 Squad, the Parcel Squad, the 9Y440 Squad, the Asset Forfeiture Investigative Unit, and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Squad.
The K-9 Squad trains and supervises the use of narcotics detection dogs for the Department. The primary responsibility of the K-9 Squad is to assist in the search and recovery of narcotics. These dogs are trained to detect the odors of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They are also used to locate narcotics and drug tainted money in a variety of field situations and have provided assistance in detecting narcotics being transported at airports, through the mail, at bus terminals, and other transportation facilities.
The Parcel Squad is responsible for the investigation of narcotics sent through parcel delivery services and operates in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on cases involving the federal postal system. The Parcel Squad interdicts packages containing narcotics and currency, makes controlled deliveries, often in concert with other law enforcement agencies, and arrests suspects who use the public and private mail system to distribute narcotics and its proceeds.
The 9Y440 Squad conducts major long-term narcotics investigations, often involving the use of wiretaps and other means of covert surveillance.
The Asset Forfeiture Investigative Unit (AFIU) conducts complex investigations and seizures of money obtained through nefarious narcotics or other criminal activities. The AFIU also tracks the Department’s share of forfeited assets and subsequent disbursements.
The LAX Squad conducts investigations concerning the importation and transportation of narcotics and narcotics tainted currency through the Los Angeles International Airport and the surrounding area.
The MAJOR ENFORCEMENT SECTION B conducts buy/bust operations in targeted narcotics trafficking locations. The primary responsibility of the Major Enforcement Section B is the elimination of blatant street sales and use of narcotics through the utilization of Buy Teams and the Narcotics Abatement Unit.
The Narcotics Abatement Unit (NAU) also operates from Major Enforcement Section B. The NAU works in concert with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and other community organizations. The principal objective of the NAU is the revitalization of neighborhoods impacted by narcotics. The NAU achieves these goals through the voluntary abatement of targeted locations by operating in a cooperative effort with property owners, City prosecutors, and other regulatory inspectors.
The DRUG TASK FORCES SECTION is comprised of six squads operating under the auspices of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension (L.A. IMPACT) operates in Los Angeles County. The squad conducts investigations of medium to high-level drug trafficking enterprises and is comprised of officers from 38 federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. The L.A. IMPACT provides reimbursement for overtime, salary expense, training, and equipment.
The Covert Operation and Informant Network (COIN), operates under the umbrella of L.A. IMPACT. Personnel assigned to COIN are charged with the development of narcotics cases originating from informant information. The COIN squad also monitors the use of informants during covert operations.
The California Methamphetamine Strategy Task Force is another L.A. IMPACT squad. THE CALMS squad conducts investigation of major methamphetamine trafficking organization chemical companies, manufacturers, and distributors.
The Allied Laboratory Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) also operates under L.A. IMPACT. The ALERT Squad responds to the site of clandestine laboratory seizures within the southern area of the L.A. IMPACT service area.
Narcotics Division currently has two operational squads operating under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Enforcement Initiatives. These squads conduct long term, complex investigations, targeting major narcotics trafficking organizations.
The INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT SECTION has two operational sub-components, the Complaint Detail and the Narcotics Information Network.
The Complaint Detail evaluates all Citywide narcotic arrests for presentation to the District or City Attorney’s Office for criminal filing. Additionally, the Complaint Detail duties encompass arrestee processing of all adult felony and misdemeanor narcotics arrestees, preparation of case packages for presentation for criminal filings, follow up responsibility on narcotics arrests, and maintaining records and files of narcotic arrests. It also reviews and coordinates requests for pretrial destruction of excessive quantities of controlled substances, the disposal of property, responding to subpoenas duces tecum and legal processes directed to ND, and arranging for prisoner transportation and release.
The Narcotics Information Network (NIN) is responsible for the collection and analysis of sensitive narcotics information and promoting the exchange of confidential information not obtainable through regular law enforcement channels. The NIN also maintains the anti-drug hotline. The NIN also maintains a liaison with the Los Angeles Joint Drug Intelligence Group (LAJDIG), which provides long term and strategic intelligence to all law enforcement agencies operating with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area alliance.
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