United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEWARK, N.J. – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division has a new leader. Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson recently took over for former SAC Valerie A. Nickerson. SAC Gibson reports to the New Jersey Division following a diverse career in New York City conducting narcotics investigations, investigating international corruption in the Office of Professional Responsibility, and overseeing DEA’s regulatory program. 

Gibson will oversee all of DEA’s operations in New Jersey, to include the New Jersey Division Office in Newark, Paterson Post of Duty, Monmouth/Ocean Post of Duty, Atlantic City Resident Office and Camden Resident Office. Her strong and diverse law enforcement background has afforded her successful working relationships with her state and local counterparts, extensive experience in international drug trafficking organizations and the illicit sale of pharmaceuticals. 

“I am honored to take over as the head of DEA’s New Jersey Division. The men and women of this Division have done amazing work investigating some of the most dangerous drug trafficking organizations in the world,” said SAC Gibson. “My first priority is protecting the citizens of New Jersey and to provide the necessary tools for the men and women of this office to pursue those who choose to violate the law.”

Gibson began her law enforcement career in 1993 as a police officer and narcotics detective with the Mount Pleasant Police Department, South Carolina. In 1997, she joined DEA as a special agent and was assigned to DEA’s New York City office where she gained invaluable experience conducting both domestic and international narcotics investigations. Ms. Gibson was promoted in 2005 to group supervisor of the New York City Drug Enforcement Task Force, the oldest and most successful task force in the country, supervising DEA agents, NYPD detectives, and investigators from the New York State Police.

Her career has taken her from New York City to her most recent assignment at DEA Headquarters where she was selected into the Senior Executive Service as the Deputy Assistant Administrator in DEA’s Diversion Control Division’s Regulatory Program with responsibility over 1.8 million DEA registrants. In this capacity she led the programs responsible for the regulation of all controlled substances within the United States. SAC Gibson also traveled to the Republic of China as a representative of DEA to work with the Ministry of Public Safety to advocate for the control of all fentanyl substances produced in their country, ultimately resulting in the control of 32 substances by the Republic of China. Gibson has also testified in front of the United States Congressional House and Energy Committee on the dangers of synthetic drugs in the United States.

SAC Gibson is a 1992 graduate from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Criminal Justice.

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