The Advanced Narcotics Investigations Course is designed for law enforcement professionals who possess a working knowledge of basic narcotics investigations and are prepared to advance their ability to investigate complex drug trafficking organizations.

The course moves beyond individual or street-level narcotics cases and focuses on developing comprehensive investigations designed to identify trafficking networks, organizational structures, sources of supply, financial activity, distribution methods, criminal associates, and other investigative targets.

Students will examine the integration of intelligence, surveillance, confidential sources, undercover operations, financial investigation, electronic and digital evidence, search warrants, operational planning, interagency coordination, evidence management, and prosecution strategies.

A central component of the course is a Complex Narcotics Investigation Practical Exercise that develops throughout the training. Students work in investigative teams and receive evolving information requiring them to analyze intelligence, establish investigative priorities, develop lawful investigative strategies, prepare operational plans, assess risk, and present a comprehensive case strategy.

The practical exercise is designed to transform classroom concepts into realistic investigative decision-making.

Target Audience

This course is intended for:

• Narcotics investigators
• Criminal investigators and detectives
• Drug task-force officers
• Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement personnel
• Investigators assigned to organized crime or trafficking investigations
• Experienced patrol officers transitioning into narcotics or investigative assignments
• Supervisors responsible for narcotics investigations

Participants should possess previous investigative experience or have completed a basic narcotics investigations course.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, participants should be able to:

1. Develop an investigative strategy for a complex narcotics trafficking investigation.
2. Analyze intelligence to identify investigative targets, associates, trafficking patterns, and evidentiary gaps.
3. Distinguish between street-level enforcement and investigations designed to identify and disrupt larger criminal organizations.
4. Integrate confidential sources and other lawful investigative techniques into an overall case strategy consistent with agency policy and applicable law.
5. Incorporate surveillance information into investigative decision-making.
6. Recognize the importance of financial investigation in identifying proceeds, assets, facilitators, and organizational relationships.
7. Identify opportunities for obtaining and preserving digital and electronic evidence through appropriate legal processes.
8. Develop probable cause and recognize appropriate applications of search warrants and other judicial processes.
9. Coordinate investigative activities with prosecutors and partner agencies.
10. Develop operational plans that incorporate personnel assignments, communication, deconfliction, evidence responsibilities, contingencies, and officer safety.
11. Organize investigative documentation and evidence for successful case presentation.
12. Evaluate investigative decisions through a comprehensive practical exercise.