The city of Birmingham, Alabama is the largest city in the state with a city population of 1,128,047, according to the United States Census Bureau. Since Birmingham is the largest city in the state, the city also has the highest concentration of Illegal drug activity. From offices in Birmingham, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) works to disrupt drug trafficking and selling in the area through strategic busts and search and seizure operations.
The main resident office for the region is located in Birmingham and operates under the supervision of the DEA district office, which is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What it takes to Land a DEA Job in Birmingham
When considering how to become a DEA agent in Birmingham, candidates must meet the agency’s basic requirements, which include satisfying one of the following sets of experience/education requirements:
- Must have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.95 GPA, or an LL. B., J.D. or master’s degree with no GPA requirement
- Must have extensive experience in drug operations, including surveillance, intelligence gathering and making arrests
- Must have at least 3 years experience in maritime/ pilot, mechanical/ technical, military, auditing/ accounting or language fluency, along with a bachelor’s degree (no minimum GPA requirement)
After meeting basic requirements for a position with the Birmingham DEA, candidates go through basic training at the DEA Academy in Quantico, VA, which includes extensive training in everything from firearms and defensive tactics to intelligence gathering and legal ethics.
DEA Activity in Birmingham, Alabama
The following is a list of some of the most significant drug bust and seizure operations as conducted by the DEA in Birmingham:
- March 2013: Three Birmingham, Alabama residents were arrested by the DEA in connection with a nationwide drug bust conducted by the administration. In total, more than 32 people were arrested as part of a sting operation that involved marijuana being smuggled and sold by Chinese immigrants. The suspects were also operating in an illegal cigarette trafficking operation at the same time. The marijuana was valued at more than $45 million, and the cigarettes accounted for more than $7 million in lost tax revenue.
- March 2013: A drug bust involving the trafficking and distribution of marijuana, cocaine and heroin also resulted in the uncovering of a large-scale identity theft ring. The Jefferson County drug bust ended up in the seizure of millions of dollars worth of drugs, surveillance equipment and illegal firearms, among many other things.