Drug abuse on college campuses is a national problem that claims many lives each year. Methamphetamines, Opioids, and psychotropic, violence-inducing drugs such as angel dust (PCP) are implicated in suicides, homicides, assaults, highway fatalities, rapes, and hospitalization for mental illness and brain damage. College administrators and local police are often fearful of injuring their college’s reputation, and of alienating students and faculty. Therefore they are unwilling or unable to take the most effective measures to combat campus drug commerce and abuse. The F.B.I. and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have been funded by Congress to assist colleges and local police to address the problem.
Undercover Operation.
The FBI and DEA propose to train college-age Special Agents to pose as college students who will enroll in colleges that request Federal assistance in fighting drug commerce. These young Special Agents will be actual students. They will enroll in classes and campus activities, they will be assigned to dormitories and dining halls, they will pledge for fraternities and sororities, and will generally get themselves into a good position to find out who is selling and distributing drugs on campus.
The Special Agent college students are volunteers serving an apprenticeship for a career with DEA. They must not be drug users, and will be drug-tested regularly. They will be supervised by Senior agents, who will supply them with recording equipment and “buy” money. They will not carry firearms, but will receive armed backup for dangerous situations, especially direct encounters with drug suppliers. The Special Agent’s tuition will be paid by the government and they will receive a modest stipend for living expenses. Upon graduation, the successful special agents can apply to become sworn agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Problem:
You are on the Review Board for the above undercover operation. The Board has three options:
A) Unconditional approval of the operation;
B) Disapproval;
C) Qualified Approval, subject to additional regulations, limitations and safeguards;
What is your position on the use of ordinary college students as Special Narcotics Agents? Do you approve, disapprove, or approve subject to further regulations and safeguards. What would those further regulations and safeguards be?
