Volume 3, Issue 2	NDPIX  NEWS	April 1 , 2002

NPDIX - An Important Investigative Tool

The National Drug Pointer Index (NDPIX) has been in operation since October 1997 and has in its database over 160,000 investigative targets from 74 law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in 24 states and from DEA offices. During the last quarter, four additional states have upgraded their state message switches to be able to process NDPIX transactions for their local agencies. NDPIX has become an important investigative tool that complements other types of law enforcement information systems.

Law Enforcement Information Systems

Crime Record Systems

Crime record systems contain records on dispatches, arrests, detention, indictments, or other charges, dispositions, sentencing, correctional supervision, and release. The contents are factual, historical, and objective facts which comprise a "profile" of an individual's past and present involvement in the criminal justice system. An investigator, upon finding the suspect in such a system can be alerted to the need for immediate action, for example, if the suspect is listed as a fugitive, or as armed and dangerous. History records would not typically yield investigative information on any ongoing criminal activity.

Intelligence Systems

Intelligence systems receive and store information on individuals or organizations based on reasonable suspicion of their involvement in criminal activity. The intelligence system can contain both factual and conjectural data and, intended for law enforcement use only, can provide investigators with useful information on their targets.

Investigators use intelligence systems to store information uncovered during an investigation. A query of an intelligence system might be on the name of an associate of a target, an address, a vehicle, or a telephone number suspected to have been involved in criminal activity, or any other information uncovered during an investigation.

The variety of information that an intelligence system contains, the extent to which it is made available for interagency sharing, and the degree to which record content is current and up-to-date varies from one agency and jurisdiction to another.

Pointer Systems

Pointer systems contain personal, identifying information on an investigative target and point of contact data (name, organization and telephone number) on the agent/officer who entered the target into the database. Some pointer systems focus on event deconfliction while others, such as NDPIX, focus on target deconfliction.

Investigators brought together on a common target by a pointer system can exchange information that might never be shared in either a crime record or an intelligence system.

Information Sharing Systems

The sharing of crime records and intelligence information among law enforcement agencies has become essential to the successful combating of drug trafficking. New computer and communications technology now enables the sharing of a broad range of law enforcement data both at the state and national level. The willingness of law enforcement agencies to cooperate and share information has been equally as significant as technological advancement.

The most noteworthy examples of nationwide information sharing systems are the following:

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC), managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), contains crime records provided by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and offers access to this data to these same agencies. The NCIC database is comprised of 17 individual files of data covering such subjects as criminal histories, missing persons, stolen autos, etc. As a measure of its acceptance by the law enforcement community, the number of transactions handled by NCIC exceeds 3,000,000 per day.

The National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS)

NLETS is a message-switching network supported by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It does not maintain law enforcement databases of its own, but provides to its users access to databases of its participating agencies. The NLETS menu includes such choices as criminal history, driver history, vehicle registration, sex offender registration, NDPIX, etc.

Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS)

The RISS program, funded by the United States Department of Justice, has six regional information centers. The centers facilitate interagency sharing of criminal intelligence, and the coordination of law enforcement efforts against criminal networks that operate across jurisdictional lines. A RISS Net information system serves each of the six regional centers and all are linked together to facilitate data sharing nationwide. Typical targets of RISS activity are drug trafficking, violent crime, gang activity, and organized crime.

The National Drug Pointer Index (NDPIX)

NDPIX was developed under guidance of an Advisory Board representing federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. NDPIX receives records on targets of active drug investigations and provides point of contact information to officers/agents seemingly tracking the same individual. The database is not for querying.

Briefly, this is how NDPIX works: (1) An agent/officer enters an investigative target into the NDPIX database; (2) NDPIX matches the new entry to all previous entries; (3) When a match is found, NDPIX provides to both the entry maker and record owner the name, organization, and telephone number of the other; (4) When no match is found, the entry maker is so advised. There are data quality validations and security measures governing whose transactions can be accepted. Once the match notifications have been dispatched, the benefits of NDPIX are derived from officer-to-officer contact - but there has to be the telephone call.

Advantages of NDPIX?

NDPIX is unique in the advantages that it offers.

• National Coverage
  
  NDPIX provides the breadth of coverage that neither an agency system nor a regional system can offer. It provides POC notifications between agents/officers of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies participating in NDPIX.
  
  
• Officer-to-Officer Exchange
  
  Data content restrictions and/or extended delays in entering investigative reports into other types of systems can limit the yield of those systems. The officer-to-officer contact made possible by a pointer system can yield information that may not be shared in either a crime record or an intelligence system.

Participation

• Registration Fees - None
  To participate in NDPIX, an agency must sign a Participation Agreement with DEA. There are neither registration nor ongoing transaction charges to be paid.
  
  
• Preparation
  Some state agencies include NDPIX transactions with their basic NLETS operations and some provide entry via the use of formatted screens in place of the basic teletype entry. DEA has assisted many participants in preparing for their NDPIX operations.
  
  
• Transaction Data Entry
  Experience with entering NDPIX transactions using formatted screens indicates that a target can be entered in approximately thirty seconds. This timing could differ from agency to agency particularly where entry is made using the older teletype formatting. Some agencies extract NDPIX data from other data systems thereby eliminating data entry expenses.
  
  
• Telephone Contacts
  NDPIX hits are like any other - none is guaranteed. You must make the call to be sure.

A Brief History of NDPIX Successes

The benefits derived from NDPIX are often described in terms of arrests that directly result from NDPIX generated contacts. Of equal significance, however, are the leads that strengthen and broaden a case but do not result immediately in arrests or seizures. Examples of successes that did result in one or more arrests include:

• A DEA special agent received an NDPIX match notification listing the point of contact as a state police investigator. The ensuing telephone conversations revealed that both were tracking the same individual. Exchange of addresses and other personal information led to the arrest of the individual.
  
  
• A state police officer seized a quantity of marijuana from two suspects and entered their names into NDPIX. A short time later, a DEA agent, working in another state, entered one of these individuals into NDPIX. NDPIX provided both investigators with the name and phone number of the other. The subsequent exchange of information between the two investigators led to arrests and the seizure of over $100,000 in currency.
  
  
• The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (MDCI), Narcotics Investigation Bureau, developed information that an individual was in the process of obtaining a quantity of marijuana. A criminal history check revealed that the target had been arrested for importation of marijuana a year earlier. MDCI entered the target into NDPIX and received a match notification in return. The two investigators concluded that they were investigating the same target. As a result, MDCI was able to arrest several individuals and seize a quantity of marijuana.
  
  
• Members of the La Paz County Sheriff's Department and the La Paz County Task Force stopped an individual in Ehrenberg, Arizona for speeding. Subsequently, the individual was found to be in possession of a large quantity of U.S. currency. Investigators entered the individual into NDPIX and received a match notification. Discussions between the two investigators led to the uncovering of a smuggling ring resulting in the seizure of approximately $45,000 in currency and identified two additional suspects in the smuggling ring.
  
  
• DEA investigated a marijuana distribution organization with ties to Illinois and Wisconsin. The organization, based in Phoenix, Arizona, had delivered multi-ton quantities of marijuana since 1991. In December 2000 the Missouri Highway Patrol stopped a 2000 Cadillac in which was concealed 100 pounds of marijuana. The Missouri Highway Patrol entered the driver into NDPIX and received a match. Discussions between the investigators ensued and DEA Phoenix was notified of an additional delivery that would have gone undetected. Based on the above, the vehicle was seized and additional prosecution charges were brought.
  
  
• A DEA special agent in Texas received a notification on a match to a Michigan State Police record. Investigators discussed the match, determined that it was based on an alias, and established that it was a target of interest. The investigation continues.
  
  
• DEA New Mexico received a match on a target entered by a law enforcement agency in Arizona. Discussions between the investigators led to the arrest of the individual who was determined to be a cell head, high level distributor of crack cocaine. One pound of the drug was seized under federal charges and 11 grams under local charges. The target entered a plea agreement and a guilty plea is pending.
  
  
• DEA Detroit initiated an investigation of a suspected marijuana trafficking organization and identified several members of the organization who were responsible for having distributed several tons of marijuana in the Detroit metropolitan area. Several undercover meetings took place with the organization to negotiate the purchase, delivery, and distribution of 3,000 pounds of marijuana from an Arizona source of supply. During one meeting, it was learned that one of the marijuana recipients had been arrested earlier for selling cocaine. The DEA agent entered the suspected cocaine target into NDPIX and received a positive match with the Michigan State Police (MSP). The investigators contacted each other and shared information. To date, one person has pled guilty and over two tons of marijuana and approximately $467,173 in assets have been seized. Additional assets have been identified to include three homes. Seizure of these assets is expected.

Choices of Targets to Submit to NDPIX

A number of inquiries have been received from participants on the types of targets that should be entered into NDPIX. Choices will differ from agency to agency, just as violators vary in the severity of their criminality and in their numbers. Although each contributes to the overall national drug problem, each has unique relationships and investigative value to local, state, and federal criminal investigators. Consequently, all active investigative targets, including those arrested, should be entered into the NDPIX. One never knows if a target is also operating outside of your jurisdiction. Drug traffickers have no town, county, city, state, or country boundaries. Do not assume the target only operates locally.

State Message Switch Systems Capable of Processing NDPIX Transactions

NDPIX Support

NDPIX Support Staff
Intelligence Division
Special Agent H. Blue Richards, Unit Chief
Drug Enforcement Administration
Washington, DC 20537
(202) 307-8430 or 1 800 276-5558

Contacts for State/ Local Agencies:

Team 1.
Mina Hunter (202) 307-3648
mhunter@dialup.usdoj.gov

Team 2.
Patricia Gosby (202) 307-3604
pgosby@dialup.usdoj.gov

Team 3.
Jennifer Gabriel (202) 353-1064
jgabriel@dialup.usdoj.gov