DEA Now Taking Drug Trafficking Tips Via Text

"I just saw a guy selling drugs on Main Street in my town."

That's the kind of message the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hopes to get via text from community members throughout New England. 

The DEA's regional office announced Wednesday that it is utilizing software by Citizen Observer to create a new, easy and totally anonymous channel for people to send them tips — via text.

Tip411, as it is called, "allows anyone with a cell phone to quickly and easily report drug trafficking, money laundering or related suspicious activity directly to a DEA agent," according to a press release. 

How it Works

To use the service, type 847411 (Tip411) into the “To” field on your cell and the keyword “DEADRUGS” in the text field followed by the tip.

"Citizen Observer’s technology removes the identifying information of the sender before the tip is forwarded to DEA," the release states. "The service allows the agent to follow up with the sender in a response text, but the citizen remains completely anonymous throughout the conversation." 

“This program enables citizens, who otherwise might be reluctant to provide information, to communicate directly and anonymously with a DEA agent via text message," said John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's New England Field Division. "Through the Tip411 service we are strengthening our partnership with the community, whose members want to rid their neighborhoods of drug traffickers.” 

The system currently is utilized by other law enforcement agencies around the country, including several in Massachusetts.