Ever wonder what happens to contraband seized by cops, DEA, and other law enforcement? Turns out they burn a lot of it. And all that burning can be a tough job. That’s why the DEA is reportedly looking for contractors who can burn through huge amounts of seized property and other evidence. And one of the key requirements for the job is being able to completely incinerate at least 1,000 pounds of cannabis per hour.
DEA Needs a Contractor to Burn Seized Property
News of the DEA’s hunt for a burning contractor first surfaced today from sources in Houston, Texas.
Local news outlet KHOU11 reported earlier today that the DEA is looking for contractors in the Houston area. Specifically, the agency is on the hunt for contractors who can burn through huge volumes of seized property and contraband used as evidence.
This includes anything from stacks of papers to cassette tapes, pharmaceuticals to illicit drugs. And it also includes burning through tons of seized marijuana.
In fact, marijuana-burning is apparently one of the most important components of the job. So much so, in fact, that the DEA explicitly stipulates that officials will only hire a contractor who can burn at least 1,000 pounds of marijuana per hour.
And on top of that, the contractor must be able to maintain that pace for at least eight hours straight.
While this seems to be one of the biggest requirements for the job, the DEA has a few other key stipulations. These include:
- The contractor must do their own background checks on everyone who will be involved with incinerating evidence. The DEA may also conduct its own additional background checks.
- Contractors applying for the job must have their own closed-circuit camera systems. These cameras should be set to conduct nonstop surveillance of all activity. And the DEA reserves the right to review film at any point.
The job will reportedly stretch from now until sometime around the end of September. It will require contractors to burn evidence and seized property coming from facilities throughout Texas.
Finally, the DEA said it will provide armed personnel at all burns. These armed guards will also presumably oversee the process of transporting property to burn facilities.
People Are Interested in the Job
In a somewhat humorous twist, the DEA said earlier today that it started receiving a lot of interest from people wanting the job. But from the sounds of things, it was mostly the wrong kinds of applicants.
Shortly after KHOU11 reported the job opening, the DEA contacted the station and said that a large number of individuals in the Houston area were calling DEA offices asking about the job.
“Although we appreciate local citizens’ willingness to offer their help, this is a complicated, large-scale government contract we’re required by law to bid every few years,” the DEA said in a statement it sent to KHOU11.
The statement explained: “There are usually only a handful of companies with the necessary facilities and resources to help us dispose of this material.”
So if you’re ready to hop in the applicant pool, better hold off. The DEA is only looking for large-scale, industrial-grade burners.
