The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) resident office in the southwestern corner of Tennessee is located in the state’s largest city: Memphis. Known as the hub of the Mid-South, Memphis is a strategic regional and national transportation and distribution point and as part of Shelby County, it is designated a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area” by the federal government.
The Job of A DEA Agent in Memphis, TN
Memphis DEA special agent jobs involve investigating the trafficking of narcotics throughout the Mid-South area that may arrive over interstate highways and by commercial airlines. Teamwork is a cornerstone of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Memphis Task Force made up of law enforcement professionals from federal, state, and local departments from areas throughout western Tennessee.
While investigations focus on trafficking drugs such as cocaine and heroin, medical professionals frequently come under the scrutiny of the DEA as well. One such investigation resulted in the conviction of a local Memphis pharmacist who illegally dispensed oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam. In another case, a physician operating a family medical center in Tiptonville, Tennessee was targeted for illegally distributing controlled substances such as Loritab, Loracet Plus, and Percocet.
DEA investigations can be long-running, such as one successful endeavor conducted by the Memphis DEA office that focused on a medical practice located on Hwy 64 that dispensed prescriptions for Oxycodone, Lortab, and Alprazolam (Xanax).
Memphis DEA Careers: How to Become a DEA Agent in Memphis, TN
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division is responsible for the recruiting, testing and hiring of special agents for the Memphis DEA office. A good source of information about the specifics of becoming a DEA special agent comes from attending one of the Special Agent Applicant Orientation Sessions held periodically at the DEA Atlanta Division office.
In additional to medical and psychological examinations and assessments, candidates must meet the exacting physical standards required of DEA agents. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Physical Task Training booklet is an informative resource for the physical training and conditioning that DEA recruits undergo.
As for education requirements, the majority of highly qualified applicants possess a bachelor’s degree. Applicants should meet one of the following education requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.95; a Master’s degree; or a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree; or a LL.B degree.
- Bachelor’s degree or above (no minimum GPA required) with three years or more work experience in fields such as accounting, auditing, military, information systems; or special skills such as a pilot or maritime license; or fluency in foreign languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Farsi, and others.
- Previous law enforcement experience conducting drug investigations
Those who are offered employment will undergo the Basic Agent Training (BAT) for a period of 18 weeks at the DEA Office of Training in Quantico, Virginia. Physical fitness, defensive tactics, firearms training, as well as coursework in leadership, ethics, law and report writing will be thoroughly covered.