Office of Criminal Investigations
| Law enforcement office overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1991 |
| Type | Federal law enforcement |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Status | Active |
| Employees | 180 Agents (approx.) |
| Law enforcement office executive |
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| Parent department | United States Food and Drug Administration |
| Key documents |
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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) provides the FDA with a specific office to conduct and coordinate its criminal investigations.
OCI special agents employ federal law enforcement methods and techniques in the investigation of suspected criminal violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Anti-Tampering Act, and other related federal statutes. OCI investigations concentrate on significant violations of these laws, with a priority on conduct that may present a large danger to the public health, The OCI is a relatively small agency, employing merely 180 Agents.
The FDA regulates approximately 25 cents of every dollar spent annually by Americans, the FDA is responsible for regulating products to ensure the safety of food, drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, radiation-emitting devices, and more. The law enforcement arm of the FDA, the Office of Criminal Investigations.
Pursuant to its investigative mission, OCI maintains liaison and cooperative investigative efforts with various federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies. OCI is designated as the Agency's point of contact with the U.S. intelligence community as it relates to the Agency's counter-terrorism mission. OCI has representation at the Interpol U.S. National Central Bureau in Washington, D.C.