By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Jack Riley, the head of the DEA’s Chicago division, is headed to a top post in Washington D.C., the Associated Press reports. The 56-year-old, who has shed light on the influence of Mexican cartels on the Midwest, has been named the DEA’s chief of operations. The No. 3 post at the…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A Colombian national pleaded guilty in the slaying of DEA Agent James “Terry” Watson, who was stabbed to death in Columbia, the Associated Press reports. Julio Estiven Garcia Ramiez, one of seven Colombians extradited to the U.S. for charges connected to the murder of the 43-year-old agent, pleaded guilty Wednesday to…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Sen. Chuck Grassley wants answers. The Republican from Iowa is demanding details of the treatment of Daniel Chong, who was detained and deprived of water and food for five days, the Hill reports. “The American people still do not know the full details about Mr. Chong’s mistreatment and abuse,” Grassley wrote….
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The federal government plans to significantly increase the amount of marijuana it manufactures for research. The U.S. News reports that the DEA increased production from 46.3 pounds to 1,433 pounds. Before making the decision, the DEA sought public comment and received one remark in favor of the production increase. “The DEA…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A threatening letter containing black powder prompted the evacuation of the DEA’s office in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood Thursday, the New York Daily News reports. The DEA evacuated a floor of its offices and quarantined three employees after the letter was opened at 9:15 a.m. Police, firefighters, medics and the FBI responded…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The DEA is cracking down on narcotic painkiller abuse by restricting how patients can receive the medication, the Wall Street Journal reports. The DEA plans to reclassify hydrocodone combination drugs like Vicodin, a move that will require people to receive a new prescription for painkillers every 90 days. Currently, painkiller users can…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A man accused of fatally shooting an Albuquerque man last year was an active DEA informant despite his criminal background, according to a lawsuit filed against the agency, the Associated Press reports. The lawsuit claims the DEA did not properly supervise Jason Estrada, who was killed when he confronted a man accused…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com The DEA forked over $854,460 to an Amtrak secretary for confidential information the agency should have gotten for free, according to an internal investigation. The DEA paid the employee to be an informant despite the agency’s right to obtain the information at no cost as part of a joint drug enforcement task…
