The Investigations Division is comprised of the Special Investigations Bureau, which includes the Narcotics Gang and Asset Forfeiture units. The division focuses on investigating complex, high level narcotics organizations and seizing narcotics proceeds.
Assistant district attorneys in the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB) work with city, state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute sophisticated narcotics trafficking organizations importing and distributing large quantities of narcotics. The bureau, established in 1982, is known nationally for its expertise in electronic surveillance operations and handles more narcotics wiretap investigations than any other prosecutorial office in the country.
SIB assistants work jointly with federal and local enforcement agencies on investigations targeting national and international narcotics organizations, money laundering groups and entrenched narcotics gangs and prosecute resulting cases. These investigations have played a major role in controlling the flow of illegal drugs into the city and dismantling highly organized narcotics trafficking groups. Annually, SIB investigations result in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, and the incarceration of international traffickers and local kingpins.
OSNP created the Narcotics Gang Unit in 2000 to target and remove entrenched gangs involved in local narcotics trafficking and to focus on the most violent neighborhood organizations. The unit works closely with special units of NYPD's Narcotics Division and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, especially the REDRUM unit which targets narcotics-related homicides.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit was started in 1985 upon the enactment of statutes allowing the forfeiture of illegal narcotics proceeds. The unit works with OSNP assistants, investigators and law enforcement personnel from other agencies in identifying the assets of narcotics and other criminal enterprises and targeting these funds for civil forfeiture actions.