DEA Special Agent

The Job

Drug enforcement agents investigate major narcotics violators, enforce regulations governing the manufacture and dispensing of controlled substances, and perform other functions to prevent and control drug trafficking. Drug Enforcement Administration special agents are assigned to 21 domestic field divisions and 78 foreign offices.

The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.

Special agents conduct criminal investigations and prepare for the prosecution of major violators of the Controlled Substances Act. Typical duties include, but are not limited to: conducting complex criminal investigations; carrying out surveillance of criminals; infiltrating illicit drug channels; using undercover techniques; identifying and apprehending drug traffickers; executing search warrants; confiscating illegal drug supplies; arresting law violators engaged in criminal drug activities; working closely with and debriefing confidential sources of information; collecting and processing evidence; writing highly detailed technical reports; giving sworn testimony in court; developing evidence to seize financial assets gained from the proceeds of drug trafficking; establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with municipal, state, and other federal law enforcement organizations.

Working Conditions

These duties of drug enforcement agents are frequently hazardous. Special agents carry firearms and must work a considerable amount of overtime and are subject to irregular work hours. Drug enforcement agents may relocate a number of times over the course of their careers.

Police work can be very dangerous and stressful. In addition to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals, officers need to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately with a number of other threatening situations. Many law enforcement officers witness death and suffering resulting from accidents and criminal behavior. A career in law enforcement may take a toll on officers' private lives. According to the Department of Justice, from 1997-2001, there were a total of 47 assaults on drug enforcement officers involving injury or death, four of which were fatal.

Employment

In 2002, the Drug Enforcement Administration employed just over 4,000 officers with arrest and firearm authority. The major states of employment were Texas, California, Virginia, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Illinois.

Qualifications, Job Training, and Promotions

• Applicants must be US citizens, between 21 and 36 years of age at the time of appointment, must possess a valid driver's license, and be able to obtain a top-secret security clearance.
• The first step in the application process is attendance at a career orientation, which is held monthly at the field division for each state.
• Applicants for special agent jobs must have a college degree and either one year of experience conducting criminal investigations, one year of graduate school, or have had at least a 2.95 grade-point average in college.
• Applicants must successfully complete a written and oral assessment, physical task test, psychological assessment, and exhaustive background investigation.
• Medical examination, urinalysis drug screening, and polygraph examination will be given.
• Excellent physical condition is required, including uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 and corrected vision of 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. Normal color vision and hearing are required.
• Special agents undergo 14 weeks of specialized training at the agency's academy in Quantico, Virginia.
• Agents must accept assignment throughout their careers anywhere in the United States and in the administration's foreign offices.
• Additional consideration is given to applicants who have degrees in special skill areas: criminal justice/police science or related disciplines; finance; accounting; economics; foreign language (Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Nigerian, Chinese Or Japanese); computer science/information systems; telecommunications/electrical/mechanical engineering.
• Substantive professional/administrative or certain law enforcement experience may be qualifying.

Earnings

In 2004, Drug Enforcement Administration special agents earned from $30,000 to 65,000 per year. Salaries were slightly higher in selected areas where the local pay level was higher.