Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

The DEA is one of 16 elements of the intelligence community (IC). The DEA’s Office of National Security Intelligence (ONSI) became a member of the IC in 2006. Located at DEA headquarters in Arlington, ONSI facilitates full and appropriate intelligence coordination and information sharing with other members of the U.S. IC and homeland security elements. ONSI leverages the global law enforcement drug intelligence assets of the DEA to report on matters relating to national security. Its goal is to enhance U.S. efforts to protect national security, and combat global terrorism, as well as facilitate IC support to the DEA’s law enforcement mission.

The DEA has 21 U.S. field divisions. At its outset, the DEA had 1,470 special agents and a budget of less than $75 million. Furthermore, in 1974, the DEA had 43 foreign offices in 31 countries. Today, the DEA has 5,235 special agents, a budget of more than $2.3 billion and 87 foreign offices in 63 countries. The DEA maintains communication with the United Nations, Interpol and other organizations on matters relating to international narcotics control programs.