How do officials bust people in international drug “stings” and other crimes?

Question by netownie204: How do officials bust people in international drug “stings” and other crimes?
What does a “sting” mean in this context and how is it conducted? Sometimes its also referred to as a “snare”?
I don’t understand the process- how is the investigation conducted?
what do they use? the internet? phone taps? how??

Best answer:

Answer by Kam’s mommy
It usually starts when someone on the bottom of the chain is caught- like someone caught with a few pounds of weed. They are of course arrested but often times the state or the feds will work out a deal with the offender, like less jail time or sometimes no jail time, for giving up information (snitching).
Depending on how large the crime ring is, it can take weeks to years to gather all of the information they need, watch people, etc.. but it usually starts with 1 tip or a snitch.
Then they plan a sting by zeroing in on say, a location that they know is where the dope is stored. For a sting operation, the people committing the crimes are found out about and watched looonnng before they are busted.

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