2-Hour Tiers of a Drug Smuggler
What You’ll Learn
Know Who You’re Dealing With—From Mule to Mastermind
Not all smugglers look the same. Not all smugglers act the same. And if you’re treating them the same during an interdiction stop, you’re missing the mark.
This 2-hour session breaks down the hierarchy of drug smugglers, offering law enforcement officers a practical framework for identifying, assessing, and interrogating suspects based on their tier within a criminal network. Whether they’re a nervous courier or a smooth-talking regional coordinator, each tier behaves differently, and that difference matters.
Course Overview
Drawing from firsthand experience working at every level of the smuggling ladder, Richard Laferriere walks officers through the traits, behaviors, and patterns of traffickers at five distinct tiers.
This isn’t theory, it’s what you actually see out on the road.
You’ll learn:
- How to identify low-level mules during stops and interviews
- Common tells and nervous behaviors at the entry-level
- How mid-tier smugglers hide in plain sight with more polish and planning
- What makes high-level traffickers so hard to catch
- Behavioral cues, travel patterns, and concealment strategies by tier
What Sets This Course Apart
Unlike traditional smuggling training, this course focuses on behavioral patterns and psychology, not just concealment methods. It’s ideal for officers who want to build sharper instincts during traffic stops, interviews, and interdiction efforts, without needing fancy equipment or software.
Wondering Why You Should Trust Us?
Who is Rich Laferriere?
Richard ‘Rich’ Laferriere isn’t your typical law enforcement instructor. For more than 20 years, he operated at the highest levels of drug smuggling, moving over 10 tons of marijuana, 1,200 pounds of cocaine, and millions in cash without detection. After being apprehended, he spent more than a decade as a DEA informant, helping federal agents dismantle major trafficking networks. Rich has authored books on his experiences and has trained thousands of law enforcement officers across the country, sharing the rare firsthand knowledge needed to understand, identify, and dismantle criminal operations. His perspective offers the kind of insight no textbook or traditional instructor can provide.
Topics Covered
- Tier 1 – Mules/Couriers: Nervous, inconsistent, easily rattled
- Tier 2 – Low-Level Dealers: Know just enough to get in trouble
- Tier 3 – Mid-Tier Operators: Vehicle traps, clean records, quiet profiles
- Tier 4 – Coordinators: Handle logistics, stay one step removed
- Tier 5 – Top-Level Smugglers: Calm, composed, insulated, experienced
- Detecting lies without tech
- Effective on-the-spot questioning
- Identifying who’s bluffing, and who’s dangerous
- Layered interview strategies for deeper intelligence gathering
Who Should Attend
- Patrol officers and interdiction units
- Narcotics detectives
- Criminal analysts
- Supervisors and trainers looking for new frameworks to teach
Format & Delivery
- 2-hour virtual or in-person session
- Fast, practical, and packed with real-world insight
- Ideal as an intro to deeper smuggling or interdiction courses
Ready to Book This Course?
If your team needs a better understanding of how traffickers are structured and how to spot the difference between a kid with a kilo and a player with a pipeline—this is the place to start.
Call or Text: 860-338-0667
Email: Rich@coadstraining.com
“Sometimes it’s not about what they’re carrying. It’s about who they are to the ones above them.”