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Narcotics

Detectives assigned to the Narcotics Unit are responsible for both long and short term investigations into narcotics trafficking and sales organizations. Since Sheriff Gerald T. McFaul took office in January 1977, one of his major concerns has been the steady increase of drug related crimes. As a result of these problems, Sheriff McFaul has modernized the Narcotics Unit and has personnel assigned 24 hours a day. The unit has five highly trained drug dogs available for use by the department and are also utilized by other agencies.

The Narcotics Unit contains a number of detectives assigned to specialty task forces, which were designed to provide both operational and investigative support to overall enforcement efforts. Some of these task forces are the DEA Task Force, Caribbean Drug Task Force, and Narcotics Gang Task Force. The vast majority of the assets seized and placed into the Law Enforcement Trust Fund are attributable to the hard work from this unit. These assets help the Sheriff's Department by deferring taxpayer costs.

The Narcotics Unit's mission is to identify, arrest, and eliminate drug organizations and individuals who control drug operations. The unit is also responsible for the timely investigation of citizen complaints regarding narcotics violations.

Additionally, the Sheriff's Department works closely with the Cleveland Police Department. Officers from the Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit are assigned with the Cleveland Police Narcotics Unit to streamline effectiveness and help the flow of inter-agency information.

The Narcotics Unit's mission is to identify, arrest and eliminate drug organizations and individuals who control drug operations. The unit is also responsible for the timely investigation of citizen complaints regarding narcotics violations.

Responsibilities of the Narcotics Unit:

• Investigating and arresting drug dealers and buyers who engage in illegal drug transactions
• Investigating and interdicting the importation of illegal drugs into Cuyahoga County
• Preparing narcotics related civil and criminal forfeiture cases involving illegal profits derived from drug transactions
• Maintaining chain of evidence, confiscating and destroying narcotics
• Assisting prosecuting agencies in preparing successful narcotics cases for court