AUGUSTA, Maine — Drug investigations often start with a tip from the public. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has introduced a new way for citizens to forward tips anonymously.
MDEA Director Roy McKinney said the agency gets an average of two dozen tips a month from concerned Maine citizens about suspected drug activity, and many of those tips results in seizures of drugs and arrests.
Developed by tip411, the Maine DEA app is available for download free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the MDEA’s website at www.maine.gov/dps/mdea.
“Someone dies every day in Maine from a drug overdose and all communities are affected by drug use and abuse,” McKinney said. “Our partnering with tip411 brings a new investigative tool to forward information to us.”
The app enables the public to share an anonymous tip with members of MDEA and allows agents to respond back for more information, all as an anonymous two-way conversation.
The Maine DEA app and tip411 texts utilize technology that removes all identifying information before agents see the tip. There is no way to identify the sender.
Maine residents without a smartphone can send an anonymous text tip to the MDEA via their cell phone by texting keyword MDEA and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411).
Citizens can also send anonymous tips through the agency’s website or call the MDEA tip hotline at (800) 452-6457. Anyone with urgent tips may notify the Maine Department of Public Safety’s communications center in Augusta at (800) 452-4664.
