Concealed Drugs/Weapons

[BeachFive-0]

I am looking for info on some of the creative methods you have seen for hiding drugs and or weapons about a person or a person's possessions. I'm not so concerned with inside houses, but in vehicles and things like purses and clothing. My dept. hasn't approved requests for any advanced training classes which would cover this subject.

I've been working for two years now and it seems like sometimes when I just know that someone is hinding something from me, I come up empty handed. I'm just trying to stay on the up and up with new trends and innovative techniques to keep in mind when frisking or searching BGs and their vehicles, and I thing this forum is a great resource for such intel. Any info is greatly appreciated.

[Gene L]

Call in the dog, if you have one and have PC to use it.

There are hundreds of places to hide drugs in a car, and dozen of different cars with unique places to hide drugs, and lots of different kinds of drugs that lend themselves to hiding. You can hide acid in plain view, pretty much, unless the LEO knows what he's looking for. Luckily for us, there are only a few places to hide LOTS of drugs in cars, and that's the thing we want.

I couldn't begin to name all of them. Most of them for small amounts are easily accessible to the driver, though. And a surprisingly large number just put them in the console or the glove compartment, figuring they're not going to get caught.

Sorry if this is no help. Experience and talking to other cops is the best advice I can give.

[Group 29]

EPIC and other places put out books showing pictures of hiding places that have been found, and several agencies have databases where you can see where compartments have been found in similiar vehicles.

But, the more I look through those things, and the more hidden traps and compartments I see, the more I think that good old paying attention to details on a stop, and noticing things that are not right, is the the best indicator. It is for sure, the common denominator for all of the police I know who are good at finding traps and hidden compartments.

[psotyrone]

I have had training on hiddens, but not too much on catching any yet. the only thing i noticed is the bg body language and physological responses to certain questions. those are big for me. find yourself some training free for leo's, www.mctft.com. great training and free, it was cosponsered by our [b]big[b] drug group.

[Bssthound98]

I've done training through mctft.com - well worth the time... plus it adds to your credibility on the stand as having these courses geared towards drugs.

[rpsoapy]

Think of it this way, if it were me...where would I put a weapon and still be able to get to it if I needed it quickly? Look in those places! Remember...Always have your PC...without it the case is lost.

[1042 Trooper]

Border Patrol and ICE have some excellent materials on this - great photos too.

[BeachFive-0]

All good stuff. Thank you for your time and feedback. I will check out mctft to see what I can get from it. I've also found that youtube and similar video hosting sites can provide alot of good info. Thanks again and be safe out there.

[BeachFive-0]

Now that I've been to the mctft site, I recall that I spoke with an instructor from that organization about a year ago when I was on patrol. Said he was retired Tampa K-9. I looked at the site but I didn't realize that the oragnization and it's online courses had so much credibility, so I didn't get into it. I will definately start the online lessons asap. Thanks "psotyron" for the reccomendation.

[psotyrone]

np beachfive-o. i am one for training. the more training i get the better. i have taken coarses with them with guest speakers ranging from chief of police in major cities to local experts. great tools/resume lines for the future. you should be able to check with some of your larger local units and they should be able to recommend even some other local free training put on by local authorities.

[BeachFive-0]

Sweeeeet. Only problem is almost all of the local guys outside my dept. get sent to their classes at the community college. Classes are free for sworn personnel but my dept. doesn't have much room to take guys off the beat and into the classroom except for mandatories.

[Frank Sector]

All of those are good sources, they will have good pics to add to a Powerpoint.
Try some of the federal websites too,I remember seeing something on DEA somewhere that had some stash photos.

As for trends I see on the streets in my area;
Dope behind the glove box, usually in a plastic grocery bag. When I pull down the glove I can sometimes see the bag behind it.
On traffic stops crackheads often drop the crack on the floor and crush it,also put it in the slot where the shifter is on the console or the emergency brake slot.
The all too usual female stash,dealer lets the female carry because males do crappy searches.

I have found some meth in fuse boxes of cars by the drivers left leg.
If they have time or are carrying some decent weight try door panels.
I have done many searches where I pull on everything that is not tight to include consoles, door panels,back seats. If it is loose pull on it, if it is not even screwed in/on then rip it out.
I have yanked out many a console and door panel and found a nice stash.

[timmyturner]

One of the easiest things to start doing is looking at a vehicles natural voids as noted above. If you're going to search and have the time take a moment and sit in the drivers seat and evaluate the car from there. Ask where would something be handy? Kickplate, Tilt Steering, Console (under same) Shake the door...etc

[psotyrone]

also some of the courses you are provided with dvd's for tke, training knowledge and experience, for other officer's as well as refreshing your memory.

[cashton]

Look for screw heads that show wear or those plastic panel tabs that hold them in place, look for scratches and damage from being pried out of the panel. Sometimes missing screws because the bad guy lost them or just don't replace them because it is faster to get their stash. Other than that, just a thorough search and attention to detail. Intel always helps as does talking to other officers in the area to see what local trends are. As far as the huge loads, they can get pretty creative but there is only some many places you can hide 100's of kilos of dope. The hardest part is getting in to the vehicle to do the search. Once you get consent of PC, take your time. There is no law that limits your time to search once you have met criteria to be in the car in the first place. An remember, K9's are your friend.

[d0406]

My contribution to this thread is to learn a little about vehicles if you don't already. Talk to the mechanics at your shop about different cars. Also there are many new cars that have semi hidden compartments that you will miss if it's dark outside and you're rushing. I can't recall the model, but one of the new Lexus' have a compartment in the rear seat center arm rest. You have to flip the side up, it has a velcro strip to hold it down. It will fit any compact handgun in there. Also, there new Hyundai Tiburon’s have several compartments in the rear that are sealed on other cars. Good luck.

[hammer75]

the head rest are a good place to hide drugs and weapons. i have found small amounts of drugs hiding under the plastic cover of the seat track.

[d0406]

Get under the seat and look up. You can stuff alot in the springs.

[Unit453]

I found about a quarter ounce of pot inside the butt stock of an M16, normally used to keep the cleaning kit.

[napes]

If anyone on here wants to PM me with an official agency email address ill send you some EPIC stuff.

Im not being a D*ck, but i wont send it to an hotmail type account.

Mal

[Boyle176]

napes i pm'd you

[BPD_126]

If you stop a car/van with people in the back seats and you have reason to get them all out, don't just briefly peel back the cushions in the back seat, pull the cushion out/up! It'll expose a new world. LOL. Most common place I've found so far that I make a point to check VERY well is between the driver's seat and console next to the seatbelt buckle. Found many syringes shoved down there.

[suprtrpr]

a place that i am actually suprised not to hear yet. check their shoes and socks when you search them. i have gotten a plenty of bags of weed and other drugs inside their shoes and/or socks. the strangest place, which i was lucky to even think about was in an almost full canister of white tic tacs. they had about 2 or 3 crack rocks hidden within the mix.

[NE75]

Back in the 90s we found contraband concealed IN the steering wheel of several Jaguar sedans. The ones without airbags and with those automatic seatbelts.

The center part of the steering wheel with the badge on it pops off, the BGs would hide quite a bit of stuff in there, several ounces of Heroin comes to mind.

[Group 29]

Originally Posted by Big Mac Attack

Psotyrone your from MD have you ever taken the Mike Lewis class on drug interdiction? Best Class I have ever been to on the subject.

Beach five-0 if your anywhere near MD its well worth the drive to take his class. I know he has his own company that gives classes all over the country if your not close. I want to say its like Trapped Out Inc. Maybe you can get the collage you guys use for inservice to sponser a class by him. Ill see if I can find his card if you want his info

Some guys have a sixth sense for it, and Mike is definitely one of those guys.