Southern California Drug Task Force

SCDTF seal

The **Southern California Drug Task Force** (SCDTF) is a joint task force pursuant to the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. It is federally funded and overseen by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The SCDTF is responsible for disrupting illicit drug trafficking by immobilizing targeted violators and trafficking organizations that use the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as a trans-shipment point for illicit drugs to other regions of the nation or as a money laundering hub.

## Participating Agencies

* Drug Enforcement Administration: (Principal Agency)
* Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
* Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Homeland Security Investigations)
* Customs and Border Protection
* United States Coast Guard
* IRS Criminal Investigation
* Los Angeles Police Department
* Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
* Orange County Sheriff's Department
* San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
* San Diego County Sheriff's Department
* San Diego Police Department
* Pasadena Police Department
* California Bureau of Investigation
* California Highway Patrol

## SCDTF Group 51 Members

Andrew NguyenEvan ZiernikNicola LevinAlyssa JamesSean MaherZach ShanahanMaggie MarksMarco ReyesLiam MoralesCarson FrostKristina FernandezMikayla TauschEric LaneAbasi ZahirJoseph KerrSonny Okada
### Group I

* **Andrew Nguyen**: Group Supervisor (DEA)
* **Evan Ziernik**: Member (HSI)
* **Nicola Levin**: Member (IRS-CI)
* **Alyssa James**: Member (LAPD)

### Group II

* **Sean Mahe**r: Member (DEA)
* **Zach Shanahan**: Deputy Group Supervisor (HSI)
* **Maggie Marks**: Member (HSI: TDY)
* **Marco Reyes**: Member (ICE)

### Group III

* **Liam Morales**: Member (ED OIG)
* **Carson Frost**: Member (DEA: TDY)
* **Kristina Fernandez**: Member (LAPD)
* **Mikayla Tausch**: Member (ATF)

### Group IV

* **Eric Lane**: Member (DEA)
* **Abasi Zahir**: Member (HSI)
* **Joseph Kerr**: Member (LAPD)
* **Sonny Okada**: Member (PPD)

### LAPD Support Personnel

* **Steven Ellis**: LAPD GHU/RHD liaison
* **Angela Ramos**: LAPD GHU/RHD liaison

## Information

The Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF) is overseen by the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, the current ASAC is Thomas Raines. The SCDTF is headquartered at the DEA Los Angeles Field Office within the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse at 255 E Temple St in the Civic Center neighborhood Los Angeles, California. The Central Los Angeles component of the SCDTF is known as HIDTA Group 51, the Riverside/San Bernardino component is known as HIDTA Group 50.

The SCDTF's Group 51 based in Los Angeles, California is comprised of four operational groups: Group I is a general investigative and financial crime/Illicit finance group. Group II is a made up of SWAT/SRT operators and is designated as a tactical surveillance and apprehension group. Group III is a scientific investigative group and has a forensic investigator, a cyber/financial crime specialist, and an ATF Bomb Tech/arson investigator. Group IV is a gang and criminal intelligence group; it is made up of gang intelligence and gang related crime specialists.

## Radio Codes

The Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF) uses the radio unit code 426, 426 coming from the letters of the alphabet, 4206 that corresponds to the letters DTF.

SCDTF radio codes

## Notes

TDY refers to a temporary duty assignment, temporary duty assignments can range from 2 weeks to several months and can be extended as needed. Temporary duty assignments are designed either to give a criminal investigator experience in a different field, or to augment the unit or task force with that investigators area of expertise. Sometimes task forces require certain personnel to function properly, such as drug task forces needing a representative from HSI due to their broad border search and seizure authority.

## Gallery

Edward R. Roybal Federal BuildingRoybal Federal Building and HSI Los Angeles