Investigative Support Center

The W/B HIDTA’s Investigative Center serves as a hub for collection, analysis and dissemination of law enforcement intelligence information. Through its four branches - the Watch Center, Strategic Analysis Section, Investigative Intelligence Unit and Mapping and Evaluation Unit - the Center assists the region's law enforcement agencies in targeting, investigating and prosecuting individuals and organizations involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons trafficking.

WATCH Center

The Watch Center provides tactical intelligence support services to the HIDTA region's law enforcement officers. These services include "one-stop" access to numerous federal, state and local law enforcement databases and an event deconfliction service.

Strategic Intelligence Section

The Strategic Intelligence Section provides intelligence analysis services and strategic intelligence reports to HIDTA initiatives and area law enforcement agencies investigating drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons trafficking cases. Its intelligence analysts collect intelligence data on drug traffickers and criminal organizations; study changes and emerging trends in drug trafficking and drug-related crime; investigate money laundering and currency movement in the Washington/Baltimore area; and provide case development assistance and post seizure analysis services to law enforcement agencies throughout the HIDTA region. In addition, the Strategic Analysis section prepares the W/B HIDTA’s annual Threat Assessment and Strategy, as well as special reports on topics of interest to this region’s law enforcement and criminal justice communities.

Crime Mapping Unit

The Crime Mapping Unit offers state of the art crime mapping services and assistance in evaluating the effectiveness of law enforcement operations to both HIDTA initiatives and law enforcement agencies throughout the region. The Unit’s staff uses the latest in mapping software and geographic analysis techniques to develop maps tailored to the needs of the agency or initiative requesting them.

Investigative Intelligence Unit

The Investigative Intelligence Unit provides case support services to HITDA law enforcement initiatives and HIDTA participating agencies. A great deal of the Unit's work is focused on the areas of communications and financial analysis. The Unit's intelligence analysts use automated law enforcement databases and specialized intelligence analysis software (Visual Analytics, Penlink and I2 Analyst Notebook) to assist investigators and prosecutors with complex conspiracy cases. The analysts also provide time sensitive analysis of DNR and pager data, Title III information, seized documents and financial data.