How long do police investigate drug dealers before making drug busts?

Question

How long do police investigate drug dealers before making drug busts?

Answer 1

Usually, not that long.  In NY, there are busts based on long-term investigations, but many involve "Undercover Buy & Bust" cases in which an undercover will approach a suspect in a drug prone location and try to score some drugs.  This isn't entrapment since many of these guys are drug sellers (evidenced by the their possession of inventory) or other circumstantial factors like the fact that they're standing around at a corner doing nothing else.  In cases like this, the defendant is arrested soon afterward so that the undercover can identify the arrested perp within the shortest interval following the sale.

Some defendants are arrested in sales to other people - in that kind of case, the officers will try and wait until it looks like the dealer is "closing up shop".  In that interval, they will arrest every buyer once they leave the area.  This maximizes the charges (each sale is separate) and since a drug dealer tends to use the same packaging for his inventory, recovered drugs from many buyers will further link him to each sale.

Answer 2

It depends, but as soon as they think they have something they go for it--and they are likely to sit outside and pull over every car leaving your house looking for drugs before they run up in yours. If you live in a small town, forget the 'bigger fish' thing. I'm from a small town where weed is the predominant drug and they would hunt you down and watch you for the dime you had in your pocket.

When the cops are watching you, it's obvious. Your friends and/or customers will know. Unfortunately that kind of 'gossip' is usually right. Be careful!

Answer 3

Depends. They generally want to build a strong case with sufficient evidence so that it will hold up in court. Weeks...months, somewhere around that area.  

Answer 4

that is definitely a case to case question.  It all depends n how much evidence they get together.  They will investigate until they know they have a good case to bring to the DA.  I know of stings that have went on for  years.  Another factor is if they have a chance to go after a bigger fish, that can prolong a case.  

I've also heard of cases that were only several hours long, usually that involves stupid or careless criminals.

Answer 5

Depends might be until they have enough evidence or longer if they think that person will lead them to someone bigger.  

Answer 6

Usually they patrol the area where the drug dealer lives for awhile and check out who goes in and out.  They will even run your tags to see who you are if you pull in this person's driveway.  They usually get a narc to wear a wire in to buy drugs with marked money so that way they can prove that the drug dealer is selling.  Then they go in and bust once the narc or undercover agent makes the buy.