FOLLOW-UP AUDIT OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION’S LABORATORY OPERATIONS

REDACTED VERSION FOLLOW-UP AUDIT OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION’S LABORATORY OPERATIONS U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Audit Division Audit Report 04-17 March 2004 REDACTED VERSION FOLLOW-UP AUDIT OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION’S LABORATORY OPERATIONS* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) forensic laboratories analyze evidence to support the investigation and prosecution of drug-related crimes and the development of intelligence related to drug trafficking. They also perform research pertaining to the analysis of controlled substances. The DEA’s Office of Forensic Sciences operates seven regional and two specialized laboratories. Three sub-regional laboratories, 1one of which is mobile, supplement the seven regional laboratories. Most exhibits received by DEA laboratories come from DEA investigations and joint investigations between the DEA and other agencies, but laboratory customers include other federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies. The DEA laboratories performed more than 240,000 analyses on evidence exhibits during fiscal years (FY) 2000 through 2002, with a staff ceiling of 422 laboratory positions for FY 2002. (The ceiling for FY 2003 is virtually the same.) The cost of operating the Office of Forensic Sciences and all the laboratories for FY 2002 was about $51 ...