The Instructor

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Sam Candelaria

Sam Candelaria is a nationally recognized expert and has instructed nationally and internationally with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Jetway Program and with the International Narcotics Interdiction Association (INIA). Read More

Sam Candelaria has also instructed State and Federal law enforcement officers throughout the country on consensual encounter techniques and domestic drug interdiction programs. Sam is the founder of Law Enforcement Training Techniques and Consulting .

He retired after serving 22 years with the Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has been instructing in the area of narcotics investigations since 1996 with various law enforcement training programs.

Drug Interdiction
Teaching Experience

Candelaria, a nationally recognized expert, has instructed nationally and internationally with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Jetway Program and with the International Narcotics Interdiction Association (INIA).  He has also instructed State and Federal law enforcement officers throughout the country on consensual encounter techniques and domestic drug interdiction programs.

Sam instructs for a number of DEA Field Divisions, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLTEC), the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training (MCTFT) and other law enforcement agencies.  He has instructed law enforcement officers throughout the country.

He worked narcotic investigations for 17 years, working in an undercover capacity for 6 years, and was assigned to the Albuquerque Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Interdiction Detail for 11 years.

The detail focused on all forms of public transportation, to include airport, bus, and train interdiction and also hotel and parcel interdiction.  The detail specialized in the Amtrak passenger train system.  During his career, Candelaria was selected the Albuquerque Police Department’s Detective of the year twice; once in 1989 and again in 2000.

He’s had a distinguished career, and was the recipient of the INIA’s Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for 2001.  The interdiction detail to which Candelaria was assigned was also selected the HIDTA Interdiction Detail of the Year for 2001 by Asa Hutchinson, Administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Samuel M. Candelaria holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters of Science in the Administration of Justice and Security.

Publications

Co-author of the book Drug Interdiction: Partnerships, Legal Principles and Investigative Technologies for Law Enforcement (CRC Press 2003). He has been published in several law enforcement publications to include Law and Order magazine and Police and Security News.

Memberships

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 1

New Mexico Narcotics Officers Association

Texas Narcotics Officers Association