News Release
November 19, 2004

DEA Promotes Investigations Involving Bulk
Money Seizures and Financial Crimes

NOV 19--Recently, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Office presented a seminar on “Bulk Currency Investigation.” As drug trafficking organizations have become more sophisticated, it has become more vital than ever for law enforcement to attack their financial structures as well as the traditional narcotics side of their illegal empires. The DEA has taken the lead role in this arena and in an effort to combine federal and local resources; we have promoted training and intelligence seminars to enhance coordination with our state and local counterparts regarding bulk currency seizures and financial investigations.

The DEA has committed an unprecedented amount of resources to expanding and developing financial investigations against drug trafficking organizations that operate regionally and nationally affecting Michigan. DEA has established a Financial Investigation Team (FIT) in each of its twenty-one field divisions solely for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting members of drug trafficking groups that facilitate the financial crimes of these organizations.

The Detroit Division Office hosted a class for law enforcement representatives from throughout Southeastern Michigan on new methods for tracking, investigating and prosecuting bulk currency seizures. Topics included; Prosecuting Currency Smuggling Investigations, Coordinating Financial Investigations, Utilizing the El Paso Intelligence Center and Communications Exploitation.

SAC Gilbride addressing Bulk Currency Seminar