Welcome to the Special Investigations Bureau’s web site. The Bureau was created to handle complex multi-jurisdictional investigations and intelligence gathering on suspected drug dealers, vice operations and acts of terrorism.   

The Special Investigations Bureau consists of the Multi Agency Drug Enforcement Taskforce (M.A.D.E.T), the North Florida High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (NFHIDTA) Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), the Terrorist Intelligence Unit, and the Crime Analysis Unit.  These units combine agents from local, state and federal agencies that work in various undercover capacities.  The Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team and North Florida High Intensity Drug Traffic Area Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team units work closely together to facilitate an efficient exchange of information and focus of the arrest of individuals involved in illegal narcotics and vice activities. The Terrorist Intelligence Unit investigates both international and domestic acts of terrorism. The Special Investigation Bureau works closely with the State of Florida in combating acts of terrorism through the seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces (RDSTF) that were created after the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001. Each of the seven regions of the RDSTF’s is co-chaired by a local Sheriff, a Special Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a Supervising Attorney for the Department of Justice. Sheriff Ed Dean Co-Chairs Region Three of the RDSTF with SAC Dominic Pape of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Supervising Attorney Brian Kane of the Department of Justice.   

The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (U.D.E.S.T.) is administered by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and is an initiative that is part of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (H.I.D.T.A). This initiative is comprised of agents from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Ocala Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It is the only HIDTA program nationwide that is administered by a local law enforcement agency.  The main goal of this unit is to reduce distribution and importation of narcotics in Marion County.  The agents work long-term investigations focusing on upper level trafficking operations and money laundering organizations.

The Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team (MADET) is comprised of agents from the Marion County Sheriff's Office Drug Enforcement Unit and the Ocala Police Department’s Targeted Crimes Unit.  Their focus is on mid-level and street-level drug transactions including prostitution and gambling complaints. The Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team uses multiple tools in the suppression and apprehension of individuals violating these laws. The Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team conducts search warrants, controlled narcotics transaction, marijuana eradication missions, buy busts operations by buying drugs and immediately arresting the seller, drug reverse operations by  buying drugs and arresting the individual later, drug sting operations by selling drugs and immediately arresting the individual purchasing it, prostitution reverses by arresting prostitutes that solicit undercover agents, john reverses by arresting individuals who solicit undercover agents posing as prostitutes and illegal drug zero tolerances in targeted high crime areas.

If you have any information or tips concerning illegal drug activity ocurring in your area, you can place an anonymous tip with Drug Stoppers at (352) 368-STOP.