Overview

• A DOJ Inspector General report found the DEA failed to follow its own policies during consensual searches at airports and transit facilities.
• The report highlighted systemic issues, including racial profiling concerns, inadequate documentation, and suspended training programs since 2023.
• Investigators revealed that an airline employee was paid a percentage of seized cash to flag passengers, raising legal and ethical concerns.
• One widely publicized incident involved a traveler whose belongings were searched without consent, resulting in no contraband found and a missed flight.
• Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco ordered the suspension of DEA searches unless tied to ongoing investigations or approved under special circumstances.