ABSTRACT
Law enforcement officers are professionally, ethically, and legally bound to work within the legal environment. Doing so ensures a fair investigation and safeguards against the case being thrown out of court because evidence was illegally obtained. Because drug investigations are proactive and often utilize undercover operatives and informants, three issues are of particular concern to the investigator: the covert monitoring of suspects, entrapment, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Understanding the legal implications of these issues will keep investigations fair, legal, and sufficiently strong for a conviction of the suspect in a court of law.
