A narcotics investigator investigates criminal activities related to illegal drugs, gathering information, collecting evidence, and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies. They may also handle calls, initiate drug-related programs, and arrest offenders, obtaining search and arrest warrants and compiling written reports.
A narcotics investigator is a criminal justice official whose primary duties relate to the investigation of criminal activities related to the sale, use and distribution of illegal drugs. The duties of a narcotics investigator are comprised of several activities. One such activity is initiating and obtaining information related to the apprehension of suspected traffickers and users of illegal drugs. This requires the narcotics trafficker to develop and maintain contacts, interview witnesses, and also interview victims of drug abuse, with the aim of gathering relevant information that could lead to the apprehension of criminals.
Narcotics investigators cooperate with other law enforcement agencies, coordinating the exchange of information. This helps to increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The investigator collects and stores evidence from the crime scene, which must be properly labeled and dated. He or she may send samples of evidence to the lab and take photos at the crime scene, which must be representative of the crime under investigation. Evidence collection, photo taking, evidence labeling and laboratory diagnosis must be done in accordance with established rules and procedures in order to ensure your admissibility in a court of law.
Another role of a narcotics investigator is the prompt handling of calls from persons such as victims, witnesses and other citizens regarding drug-related matters. Depending on the jurisdiction, a narcotics investigator may be asked to initiate and coordinate some drug-related programs in order to create awareness of the dangers of drugs as well as drug-related laws. A narcotics investigator may also be expected to undertake and participate in some engagements related to public speaking and other mentoring programs geared toward youth. For example, a narcotics investigator might be invited into a school to address students, or he might mentor troubled teens through a mentoring program designed for that purpose.
It is the narcotics investigator’s duty to arrest offenders. Such an investigator may be required to obtain search warrants or arrest warrants from a judge or magistrate in connection with pending arrests or searches. The investigator may also need to obtain a warrant from a judge to conduct some types of covert surveillance activities, which may include wiretapping phones or placing electronic monitoring devices on a suspect. A narcotics investigator must compile written reports documenting the process of an investigation, including details such as the charges against suspects, facts relating to the charges, and admissible evidence relating to the crime.
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