WATCH

THE PROPOSED MERGER OF DEA INTO THE FBI

The proposed merger of the DEA into the FBI has been studied, at length, for the last 16 years. Each time, it has been rejected by both Democratic and Republican administrations.

I. An Attempted Merger Will Cause Massive Disruption to US Drug Control Efforts.

- Massive disruption will result from an attempted merger that will last at least 2-3 years. - Low morale resulting from the perceived negative impact on the careers of DEA personnel raise a serious question whether positive momentum will ever be regained.

II. The Elimination of a Single Mission Agency Will Erode the Effectiveness of US Counternarcotics Efforts.

- Single mission agency provides singularity of purpose. - Single mission agency precludes diversion of appropriated funds to other programs. - Single mission agency produces a specialized, expert work force. - Single mission agency precludes multi-mission conflicts of interest. - Single mission agency demonstrates our national resolve. Its elimination will be a foreign policy embarrassment.

III. The Elimination of DEA Will End Its Successful Foreign Program.

- DEA's overseas network is qualitatively different from the FBI's Legal Attache Program. - The FBI's counterintelligence mandate would jeopardize current cooperation with DEA counterparts in many countries.

IV. Multiple Jurisdictions Are Unnecessary to Effectively Dismantle Drug Enterprises.

- DEA attacks the full range of drug-related crimes, e.g., money laundering, communications violations, chemical shipments and smuggling. - Despite the FBI's broader jurisdiction, DEA obtains as broad a range of criminal convictions as the FBI. - DEA productivity in complex cases exceeds the FBI. (DOJ 1991-1992 OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force) conviction statistics: CCE - DEA 96 vs FBI 37; RICO - DEA 35 vs FBI 15). - DEA success depends on cooperative drug law enforcement philosophy; the FBI adheres to "self-reliance" and the lack of sharing valuable drug intelligence. - Almost every major Colombian cartel leader is indicted in DEA cases.

V. Merger Would Not Result in Cost Savings or Greater Efficiencies.

- DEA's superior productivity dwarfs other productivity concerns. Comparing productivity on and agent-to-agent basis, DEA (2,812 domestic Special Agents) is more productive than the FBI drug program (1,619 Special Agents).

* Arrest per agent in FY 1992 (DEA 8.6 vs FBI 2.1) 4:1 ratio. * Drug convictions per agent FY 1992 (DEA 6.2 vs FBI .09) 6:1 ratio. * Assets seized per agent in FY 1992 (DEA $305,000 vs FBI $97,000).

Comparing productivity on an agency-to-agency basis, DEA is more productive.

* Deposits to DOJ Asset Forfeiture Fund in FY 1992 (DEA $279 million vs FBI $82 million) 3:1 ratio. * Wiretap orders for Title 21 offenses in FY 1991 (DEA 256 vs FBI 59) 4:1 ratio; in FY 1992 (DEA 291 vs FBI 64) 4:1 ratio. * OCDETF money laundering convictions in FY 1991-1992 (DEA 137 vs FBI 68) 2:1 ratio.

VI. Other Important DEA Programs Would Be Jeopardized

- DEA has positive record on diversity and EEO.

*DEA has superior diversity of personnel, 1,380 DEA Special Agents are fluent in 38 foreign languages. This diversity is needed for effective drug enforcement. * DEA has a positive record in EEO matters. DEA has a court- validated Special Agent Promotion Plan (SAAP), and excellent minority representation at all levels including management. A merger would jeopardize these accomplishments. *Consolidation endangers civil service status of DEA employees in favor of FBI excepted service.

* DEA's Diversion Control Program is unique and unlike any current FBI function.

- Regulatory responsibility controlling 885,000 firms and individuals authorized to handle controlled substances. - Responsible for implementation of the Chemical Diversion Trafficking Act. - Regulatory function cannot be removed from law enforcement function without loss of effectiveness in both functions.

* DEA's Intelligence Program is better suited to support drug investigations.

- DEA's philosophy of sharing drug intelligence fosters cooperation and operational coordination. - DEA has a centralized, automated filing system for investigative information. - DEA's NADDIS (Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Information System) is an automated central index system, accessible worldwide.

VII. DEA Consolidation Proposal

* Most effective and efficient way to better focus Federal drug enforcement resources is to transfer all FBI drug program resources obtained since 1982 to DEA. These resources were obtained so that the FBI could better support DEA. Now unnecessary duplication and competition can be eliminated by their consolidation within DEA's centralized, focussed drug program.

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