A diversion investigator investigates the movement of money or products, often related to drug enforcement. To become a DEA Deviation Investigator, applicants need experience in data analysis, solution development, and knowledge of federal and state law. They must also pass a medical exam, drug test, and pre-investigation. DIs are subject to random relocations and undergo a 12-week training program. Other fields also employ diversion investigators, but titles may vary. Citizen investigators can also assist law enforcement agencies and businesses.
A diversion investigator (DI) is a professional who investigates the movement of money or product from its origin to its destination. In most cases, this work refers to drug enforcement professionals, tasked with investigating the illegal production, distribution or sale of drugs. In the United States, many diversion investigators work for the US Drug and Enforcement Administration (DEA), although other organizations also hire workers to investigate various product diversions.
If you are applying to become a DEA Deviation Investigator, you will need a resume that demonstrates solid experience in data analysis, solution development, and the ability to accurately learn and interpret federal and state law. These skill sets can often be acquired through experience in law enforcement or the military, but they can also be cultivated in other careers or a relevant university degree such as criminal justice.
The DEA will also inspect your physical merits with a medical exam. You will have to demonstrate good hearing and eyesight, although the use of glasses, contact lenses and hearing aids is allowed. Along with a medical exam, the DEA will administer a drug test and pre-investigation before allowing you to become a diversion investigator. In particular, they will look to see if you have a history of using narcotics or other dangerous drugs. In most cases, applicants will not be hired if the DEA finds any use of this drug.
During their entire service, DIs working for the DEA are subject to random relocations. Such a mobile life can be exhausting for some people, and candidates need to decide for themselves whether this lifestyle is suitable. If you still choose to become a diversion investigator, you will undergo a 12-week basic training program conducted by the DEA’s Diversion Operations Unit. Basic training will equip you with investigative skills, educate you about drugs and drug laws, and guide you through hands-on experience in the field.
Outside of tracking illegal drugs, there are numerous fields in which someone can become a diversion investigator, from detecting fraudulent bank transactions to preventing illegal electricity diversion through checking meters in residential neighborhoods. Before scouting, however, be aware that most of these jobs will not have the title of diversion investigator, which is used almost exclusively in reference to the DEA. Instead, you might be an internal auditor or perhaps a financial regulator.
You don’t necessarily have to make a career out of it to become a deviation investigator. Law enforcement agencies and businesses often rely on reports from citizen investigators to successfully resolve deviations. If this is a more viable route, seek the assistance of diversion investigators’ associations, which train members to assist and cooperate legally with professional agencies.
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