Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics

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**Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics**

Secretary:	Kevin Ward
Directoir:	R. Darrell Weaver

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) is an agency of the Government of Oklahoma responsible for minimizing the abuse of controlled substances through law enforcement measures directed primarily at drug trafficking, illicit drug manufacturing, and major suppliers of illicit drugs.

1 History
2 Mission
3 Leadership
4 Divisions
5 See also
6 Links

[edit] 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 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 responce, 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 arangement failed to actively respond to controlling the 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. With original jurisdiction statewide on all violations of the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act, OBN’s performance under these new and unfettered conditions has been a tremendous success.

[edit] Mission

The Buraeu of Narcotics is designed to enforce the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act as outlined in the Oklahoma Statute Title 63, train and assist 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 toward the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances.

[edit] Leadership

The Department is administered by the Director of the Bureau of Narcotics and is overseen by the Secretary of Safety and Security. Under Governor Brad Henry, Kevin Ward is serving as the Secretary and R. Darrell Weaver as the Director.

[edit] Divisions

[edit] 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.

[edit] Intelligence Division

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Intelligence Division utilizes specialized techniques in conjunction with traditional drug enforcement investigative methods to address prioritized significant drug trafficking organizations.

[edit] 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 a primary of Enforcement Agents. However, because of new, simpler methamphetamine recipes surfacing, these Agents are spending greater amounts of time investigating the manufacturing and sale of domestically-produced methamphetamine.