The FBI Charlotte Field Office is offering cash rewards for tips that help agents intercept drug trafficking shipments through Charlotte. With multiple interstates running directly through the Queen City, the route is appealing to traffickers who deliver their products and transfer the cash proceeds up and down the East Coast. While law enforcement agencies are effective at intercepting many of the shipments, the FBI recognizes the value the public can offer to our investigations.

If a drug/cash shipment is successfully seized, the tipster could receive up to 25% of the seized money. FBI Charlotte will use the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program to pay tipsters. Currently, the new program is only active in the Charlotte metro area with plans to expand across North Carolina in the future.

Typically, the FBI accepts tips via our website or 24/7 call center. Due to the fast-moving and mobile nature of this crime, agents set up a text tip-line using the ReportIt app. Tipsters can text DRUGTIP to 63975 and be connected to a series of screens asking for specific information related to the tip. For Spanish, text DROGAS.

“FBI cases are complicated, but every violation we investigate has one thing in common. The public is one of the most important investigative partners we have. When we ask for help, the community always answers our call whether we need to identify a child predator, locate a dangerous fugitive, or find a missing child. Although, this is a different type of request, we are confident the community will help. If we keep even one shipment of drugs off the streets, I will consider this campaign a success,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells.

The new campaign will be advertised on various social media sites in English and Spanish. Examples of the graphics are shown below.