The saying goes ”what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” but that is not true at all when it comes to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA.) The city of Las Vegas is the largest city, and the largest metropolitan area, in the state of Nevada with a metropolitan population of more than 1.9 million, according to the 2010 United States Census. The very fact that most tourists come to the city to let loose and have fun makes it an attractive place for drug dealers. There is also a large local population, which is always an attractive prospect for drug dealers.
The Nevada DEA district office is located in Las Vegas, but is under the supervision of the larger office located in Los Angeles, California. The largest drug problems in Las Vegas are crystal meth, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.
Prescription drug abuse is nearing epidemic proportions in the outskirts of Las Vegas and in the suburbs, according to the DEA. It is the responsibility of DEA agents in Las Vegas to deter drug trafficking and distribution in the area.
Recent DEA Drug Busts in Las Vegas
The DEA in Las Vegas regularly conducts investigations into drug rings in the area and deter drug smuggling along popular drug corridors that run from the Texas- Mexico border to Los Angeles and points beyond. Here is a list of some of the most recent and most significant drug busts conducted by the Las Vegas DEA:
- March 2013: Twelve drug dealers throughout Las Vegas were arrested in five different locations around the city during an investigation into a suspected drug ring. The arrests lead to the seizure of 21.1 pounds of methamphetamine, 25.3 grams of cocaine and 5.6 ounces of marijuana.
- March 2013: The Las Vegas DEA, in coordination with local police, seized more than $10 million worth of cocaine. The drug bust was done when police pulled over a semi-truck that contained an estimated 284 pounds of cocaine inside of it. The drug bust was conducted on the I-15, and the suspect driving the truck has ties to a Mexican drug cartel working out of the Tijuana area.
Careers and Jobs with the Las Vegas DEA
When considering how to become a DEA agent in Las Vegas through training, there are a series of requirements an applicant must meet first. When it comes to how to become a DEA agent in Las Vegas by meeting requirements, one of the following categories of experience is included:
- Must have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.95 GPA, or a LL.B. or J.D. Degree
- Must have specialized experience in narcotics investigations, including surveillance, arrests and testifying in court, among other things
- Must have three years experience in maritime, piloting, accounting, auditing, mechanical or technical ability, military or foreign language fluency – plus a bachelor’s degree, however, no GPA requirement