Identify and discuss the four major categories of drug buy operations.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Drug buy operations by undercover officers generally fall under one of four categories.

1. Buy-Walk: These types of buys are usually made as part of an ongoing investigation whereby investigators attempt to make cases against distributors by working up the ladder to the source or merely attempting to gain the confidence of the seller. In buy-walk cases, the undercover officer purchases drugs from the suspect but does not initiate an arrest after completion of the deal. The officer often makes multiple buys from the suspect. This method fosters a business relationship with the suspect and generates a number of investigative leads. Once the suspect feels comfortable with the officer, the officer may get an opportunity to identify places of residence and observe other associates. Small, multiple purchases may be chemically analyzed for purity and for signatures that can be traced back to distributors. Furthermore, with each drug purchase, larger quantities may be negotiated in order to pinpoint the source of the drugs. One successful technique is to work up to requesting a quantity that the dealer is incapable of providing without traveling to his or her supplier and then conducting vehicle surveillance to identify the supplier.
2. Buy-Bust: In the buy-bust, the undercover officer completes a drug buy, resulting in the immediate arrest of the seller. These operations generally take place only with small amounts of drugs or cash and are considered very dangerous to the undercover officer, owing to the proximity between the officer and the suspect when the arrest commences. Undercover officers should not be physically involved with the arrest and should in fact back away from the situation as much as possible once they have completed the transaction. This method is generally used in small cases, where conspiracies are not involved.
3. Buy (Flash)/Bust: This is the most commonly used technique in undercover drug enforcement operations. The "flash" is a large quantity of money that an undercover officer shows to a suspect without actually giving it to them. It serves as a guarantee that the undercover officer can pay for a large quantity of drugs upon delivery. This operation is very dangerous; undercover officers have been murdered for the flash money, which can range from $5,000 to $100,000. Following is a list of considerations essential to ensuring safe management of the buy (flash)/bust:

(1) Whenever possible, isolate the suspects and get them on neutral ground to do the transaction.
(2) Do not allow the suspects to isolate the undercover officer. The best way to avoid this is by staying on neutral ground. The undercover officer should dictate the time and the place to the suspects.
(3) Flash the money in an open location, isolating suspects from one another if possible. Do not flash the money twice in the same location.
(4) Minimize the vulnerability of the undercover officer during the bust.
(5) The undercover officer should always be armed.
Flash busts are very effective but must be carefully managed to ensure the safety and the integrity of the investigation. Informants should never be allowed to handle flash rolls, and if possible, two undercover officers should be used in these types of transactions. If one officer handles the money, he/she can leave as soon as the flash is completed, increasing the safety of both officers. Flash busts require extensive training and a consistent policy on the part of police departments, and should only be attempted by experienced undercover officers.
3. Reverse Operations: The final type of undercover operation is the reverse operation. Reverse undercover operations are those in which the officer acts as the seller of the drug, in an effort to obtain probable cause against drug buyers. This type of operation is more controversial than the buy/busts previously discussed, because of the element of entrapment bound to be brought up in defense claims. Investigators must take care to show other evidence that the buyer was predetermined to commit the crime, with or without the presence of the officer.
Undercover operations are far more complex than a few pages in a textbook can convey. Entire books have been written about the factors involved in such operations, and undercover officers receive careful and in-depth training to help them prepare for all levels of undercover work. Undercover work in narcotics investigation is a valuable tool but requires immense operational planning to be successful and safe.