DEA to Send Agents to Help Combat Gang Violence

LAW ENFORCEMENT December 1994

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced plans to assign 100 to 150 agents to mobile task forces to aid city law enforcement agencies in curbing gang violence ("DEA Plans to Provide Teams To Help Control Gang Crime," Drug Enforcement Report, Nov. 23, 1994, p. 1).

Beginning in spring of 1995, units of 10 to 15 agents will be assigned to cities that have major gang problems. The units will move from city to city as needs change. Agents will work with local law enforcement to investigate gang crime and gang-related homicides.

"You try to deliver the services that people want," said DEA Administrator Thomas Constantine. "People don't rank drugs alone as important as the combination of drugs and violent crime."