Vice Narcotics Bandit

If you have any information which may be of assistance to us in our drug enforcement efforts, please contact one of the unit supervisors.

For anyone wanting to provide vice or narcotics information please call:

 Narcotics  208-321-0588

DRUGS & OUR COMMUNITY

Boise Police Drug Recognition & Information Project

Task Force investigates gambling, prostitution and illegal drug use. The Task Force includes Detectives from the police departments of Boise, Meridian and Garden City, along with the Idaho National Guard, working as part of multi-jurisdictional task force called B.A.N.D.I.T. (Boise Area Narcotics and Drug Interdiction Task force), commissioned to protect the community from illegal drug activity.

Methamphetamine and marijuana continued to be the most-abused drugs in Boise during 1999. Heroin also increased in the area but not to the extent of Methamphetamine. Meth labs involve the use of toxic and explosive chemicals, posing a danger to citizens and Police Department officers. Disposal of the waste produced while making Methamphetamine also creates an environmental problem for the City. Although BANDIT members dress for exposure to hazardous chemicals when taking apart a Methamphetamine laboratory, the labs pose a dangerous risk to investigators, as well as a potential health hazard..

Pharmaceutical drug diversion is the practice of diverting legitimate controlled-substance medications to illegal use or distribution. BANDIT focuses primarily on diversion by healthcare providers who prescribe medications fraudulently and on the more prolific abusers. Each investigation typically involves hundreds of felony crimes averaging 30 to 40 investigative hours each. In 1999 a four-year investigation ended with the closure of one Boise-based pharmacy and distribution company, as well as the seizure of related businesses in Boise, Colorado, Utah and Texas.

In 1999 BANDIT obtained additional equipment to fight the growing Methamphetamine laboratory (clandestine or clan lab) problem. The equipment provides ways to investigate clan labs effectively and safely. Also, BANDIT gave educational classes to area law-enforcement agencies, the Idaho State Prosecutor's Association, Idaho Correctional Officers Association and civic and business groups throughout the Treasure Valley. Education increased the community's knowledge about Methamphetamine labs and the drug problem in general, and helped BANDIT combat illegal drugs and use.  

Another improvement for BANDIT during 1999 was training and qualifying a narcotics detective as a Certified Computer Forensic Investigator. Having a certified investigator increased our ability to investigate drug crimes where computer use has become common. Other units of the BPD use the investigator routinely because of the widespread use of computers in all kinds of criminal activity.

BANDIT worked effectively with the BPD's Community Oriented Policing Unit, Patrol Division and other sections of the Criminal Investigation Division to combat illegal drug activity in the greater Boise area., as well as in Garden City and Meridian. BANDIT also used its expertise with clan labs, covert electronics, computer forensics, drug K-9 and undercover operations to train and help other law-enforcement agencies throughout Idaho.

The Narcotics Unit is part of Strategic Enforcement for Crime-Free Housing in Urban and Rural Environments ( SECURE ), a community-oriented government community committee Mayor Brent Coles established to fight the rise in Methamphetamine labs. SECURE will provide and maintain safe housing in the Boise area by reducing the number of clan labs operating in the City. SECURE includes an educational section and an ordinance that will give the City a way to shut down residences used on a habitual basis for drug activity, providing additional tools to ensure the safety of all citizens.