Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control

History

In 1953, the Oklahoma Legislature created the agency specifically to enforce drug laws. Designated the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the agency operated under the Attorney General of Oklahoma for the next decade. Then in 1964, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement became a casualty of political conflict between the Attorney General and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Division was abolished and created under the name of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. This new Bureau was placed under the direct command of the Governor of Oklahoma. This new arrangement would last for four years.

Beginning in the late 1960s, narcotics operations and drug-related crimes accelerated at a frightening pace. Despite a merger into the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) in 1968, only one full-time narcotics agent was employed by the state. Recognizing this problem, the Legislature granted OSBI funds to establish a full-time narcotics unit, but by the early 1970s. the unit had been proven a failure. In response, the Legislature passed the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act of 1971. The Act established the Commissioner of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control under the direction of the Attorney General. The Commissioner was responsible for the state's general interest in controlled drugs but actual enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act was left to the OSBI.

It soon became apparent that this arrangement failed to actively respond to controlling the surging drug trade. Therefore, in 1975, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics was reconstituted, this time more adequately staffed and equipped, and given the necessary autonomy to operate as an effective weapon in the war on drugs. The Bureau has original jurisdiction statewide on all violations of the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act.

Responsibilities

The Bureau of Narcotics is charged with enforcing the State's criminal and administrative drug laws. In particular, the OBN's Agents have responsibility for enforcing the following laws:

OBN trains and assists local law enforcement agencies, and compile drug-related statistics. OBN provides a leadership role for law enforcement throughout the state for the investigative effort directed towards eliminating the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances.

The Bureau serves as the law enforcement arm of the State government's approach to combating drugs. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services serves as the prevention, education and treatment component. The two agencies work together to develop a comprehensive drugs control strategy for the State.

Leadership

The Bureau of Narcotcs is under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security. Under current Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin, Michael C. Thompson is serving as the Secretary.

OBNDD Commission

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) Commission is the governing body of the Bureau. The Commission sets Bureau policy, approves budget requests, appoints and removes the Director of the Bureau, and hears appeals on Bureau actions from adversely affected parties. The Commission is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve seven-year terms, with no more than any two members being from the same congressional districts. Four of the members must be lay citizens, one member must be a sitting district attorney, one must a sitting sheriff, and one must be a sitting chief of police.

OBNDD Director

OBN Commission is responsible for appointing a Director of the Bureau. The Director is the chief executive officer of the Bureau, the state's chief drug enforcement officer and serve serves at the pleasure of the OBN Commission. In order to be appointed Director, a person must have a bachelor's degree and have at least five years experience in drug law enforcement.

The director position is currently held by an interim director after R. Darrell Weaver retired in November 2015, having been appointed to that position in September 2006.

Administration Division

The Administration Division is responsible for providing overall executive direction and oversight for the activities of the Bureau.

Diversion Division

The Diversion Division of OBN investigates cases in which legally manufactured and distributed pharmaceutical controlled substances are diverted into an illegal market. Agents are trained to conduct complex investigations and audit professional handlers of controlled drugs. Because of the regulatory nature of these kinds of controlled substances, agents work on both criminal and administrative cases. In 2009, the Bureau received legislative authority to change the reporting requirement for scheduled drugs. This enabled OBN to track the prescribing of all scheduled drugs on a 24-hour basis. This also allows law enforcement and the medical community to look up individuals who are illegally obtaining prescriptions from multiple practitioners as well as identify the over-prescribing practitioners. The Bureau has established a data-sharing agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) to cross-check the state-issued identification cards with those maintained by DPS.

Human Trafficking/Money Laundering/Intelligence Division

The OBN Intelligence Division utilizes specialized techniques in conjunction with traditional enforcement investigative methods to address organized crime, drug trafficking organizations, money laundering operations, and human trafficking operations. Established in 1996, the division engages in electronic surveillance and wiretapping operations statewide to counteract covert drug operations. In 2012, the Oklahoma Legislature enacted legislation expanding the Intelligence Division's powers to include enforcing all relating to money laundering and human trafficking.

Enforcement Division

The Bureau's largest section contains Agents at each district office and at headquarters who primarily enforce Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and applicable federal statutes under Title 21 of the United States Code. The Agents not only conduct small undercover drug purchases, but also investigate multi-jurisdictional complex conspiracy cases, which require criminal investigative expertise. Marijuana eradication is also a primary responsibility of Special Agents. Agents also spend significant portions of time investigating the manufacturing and sale of domestically-produced methamphetamine.

The Division also houses the Bureau's Marijuana Eradication Unit and manages the state's Clandestine Laboratory Database, which tracks properties which have been used in drug activities.

The Enforcement Division is divided into six districts, each headed by an Agent-in-Charge, with twelve regional offices:

Additionally, the Enforcement Division houses the Interdiction Unit within OBNDD. The Interdiction Unit utilizes K-9 searches to stop drug trafficking on Oklahoma's major highways.

Staffing

The Bureau of Narcotics, with an annual budget of almost $14 million, employs several dozen employees. For fiscal year 2010, the Bureau was authozied 135 employees.

Pay Structure

As established by Oklahoma law, with the salary increases effective January 1, 2007, the annual salaries for OBN law enforcement agents are as follows:

Budget

The Bureau of Narcotics receices 45% ($6.3 million) of its budget from annual appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature. Fees generated by the Bureau make up another 41% ($5.7 million). The remaining 14% ($1.9 million) comes from various sources.

Employee benefits and salaries make up 76% ($10.6 million) of the budget, with operating expenses totalling 17% ($2.3 million) and other expenses accounting for 7% ($1 million).

For fiscal year 2011, each of the operating units of the Bureau had the following budgets:

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, 3 officers have died in the line of duty.