REFURB/UPDATE SURVELLIENCE VAN

Investigative and Enforcement Services (IES) staff roughly 140 employees throughout the country which provides investigative, enforcement and regulatory support services to our four APHIS programs- Animal Car (AC), Veterinary Services (VS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and Biotechnology Regulatory Services(BRS). We also provide services to Agricultural Quarantine Inspections (AQI) and Department of Homeland Security. Field investigators conduct investigations and evidence gathered during the investigation which supports a finding violation, so APHIS may pursue enforcement action against the person or entity. The purpose of the surveillance van is to ensure IES investigators have a safe, distinct, undercover means of investigating possible violations of the person or entities involved. Normally the use of the vehicle has been used during large investigations within our four programs. The equipment needed for the vehicle to be operational to IES, will be used to covertly determine if the person or business of interest will fall under the realm of an APHIS violation. The specification of time of when the vehicle should or how to be used is only to be deemed when necessary. IES routinely upgrades all equipment periodically to ensure the equipment is operational and up to date for all future investigations within the programs. REFURB AND UPDATE SRVELLIENCE VAN