PolicingTV: Former DEA Agent Michael Brown: Exploring the Fentanyl Crisis & Lessons from the US for UK Policing

Jan 9, 2025

This interview first appeared on https://policing.tv/ 

Jason Harwin interviews Michael Brown, a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent and current global director for counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices.

They discuss the significant impact of fentanyl in the US, the operations of drug cartels, and the implications for the UK.

Michael shares insights on law enforcement strategies, the importance of international cooperation, and the challenges of harm reduction policies. The conversation emphasizes the need for proactive measures to address the growing threat of synthetic opioids and the role of prescription drugs in the addiction crisis.


Views expressed in this interview are opinions of the interviewer and interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rigaku Analytical Devices.

 

 

Michael W. Brown is the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices. He has a distinguished career spanning more than 32 years as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He served as the country attaché in India and Myanmar; During his tour in Myanmar, he provided foreign advisory support for counter narcotic enforcement that, to date, has resulted in the interdiction of over US$250 million in precursor chemicals and implementing the regions first use of Raman spectroscopy to degrade the supply chain for narcotics production. He was also part of a special specialized counter narcotics unit operating in the jungles of South America tasked with locating and destroying drug labs and narcotic supply chains. Most recently he was the DEA Headquarters staff coordinator for the Office of Foreign Operations for the Middle East-Europe-Afghanistan-India. Michael is a graduate of the United States Ranger Training Battalion and has a master’s degree in interdisciplinary technology and management from the University of Eastern Michigan. Contact him at michael.brown@rigaku.com

Contact Us

Whether you're interested in getting a quote, want a demo, need technical support, or simply have a question, we're here to help.