Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the strategies and operations of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the 1990s, focusing on: (1) what major enforcement strategies, programs, initiatives, and approaches DEA has implemented in the 1990s to carry out its mission, including its efforts to: (a) target and investigate national and international drug traffickers; and (b) help state and local law enforcement agencies combat drug offenders and drug-related violence in their communities; (2) whether DEA's goals and objectives, programs and initiatives, and performance measures are consistent with the National Drug Control Strategy; and (3) how DEA determined its fiscal year 1998 staffing needs and allocated the additional staff.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | The Attorney General should direct the Administrator, DEA, to work closely with DOJ and ONDCP to develop measurable DEA performance targets for disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations consistent with the performance targets in the National Drug Control Strategy. |
Since this report was issued, DEA, working with DOJ and ONDCP, has taken a series of actions to implement the recommendation. In June 2000, the then DEA Administrator approved DEA's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2000-2005, which was generally in line with DOJ's and ONDCP's strategic plans. According to DEA, on March 5, 2001, it finalized a management approach to identify and establish quantifiable performance targets. This approach includes using DEA Field Management Plans (FMPs) to help measure program effectiveness and provide organizational accountability, as well as identify resource requirements. On May 30, 2001, DEA headquarters finalized the FMPs submitted by the field divisions, identifying their priority targets. On July 30, 2001, DEA established performance targets for disrupting and dismantling international and domestic drug trafficking organizations in its annual performance plan based upon preliminary data completed by the field divisions for the second quarter of FY 2001. These targets are to be monitored quarterly and assessed at the end of the fiscal year. As of September 2001, DEA was developing an automated system to capture, verify, and validate data on all priority targets.
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