Narcotics Enforcement and Trafficking Investigations in Hotels/Motels and Parcel/Freight Carriers

Course Description:

This course focuses on hotel/motel and parcel/freight interdiction and provides an update on legal and constitutional issues related to each interdiction technique. Students will identify each of the seven exceptions to the search warrant rule with emphasis upon stop & frisk, search incident to arrest, probable cause, plain view, plain feel, inventory, and consent. The class will express a working knowledge of the parcel and freight carrier system and the labeling practices for each.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

List reasons why parcel carriers are used by the criminal element to ship narcotics and monies
List and identify some of the patron saints of the “drug underworld” and their impact on narcotics enforcement
Identify the test used by the courts to justify the length of an investigative detention
Identify how trash searches of abandoned property can be used
Identify how audio or video recordings can be used in hotel/motel interdiction
Identify how a post-eviction search of a hotel room can be an effective tool
Identify the method(s) for using a canine to sniff packages in a parcel or freight carrier facility that comply with Fourth Amendment standards
List each of the two different theories on how to start a hotel and motel interdiction unit
Express four steps on how to conduct an investigation related to hotel/motel interdiction
Identify indicators of narcotic activities that can be used by hotel/motel employees to determine if an individual may be engaged in suspicious activity related to drug trafficking behavior
List the techniques to establish a working relationship with parcel or freight carriers
Identify indicators that can be used by law enforcement personnel to determine if packages or parcels may contain narcotics
Identify each of the nine steps that should be conducted to ensure a successful and professional “controlled delivery” of the suspected package to its destination
Identify how to work alternate locations, such as mail boxes, U Box, We Ship, and The Box Place