Jim Crotty

Global Thought Leader in Law Enforcement & Drug Policy

Jim Crotty is a recognized subject matter expert in law enforcement, intelligence, transnational organized crime, and drug policy. He currently serves as Law Enforcement Outreach Manager at Meta Platforms, Inc., where he develops and maintains strategic relationships with law enforcement agencies across North America to help combat online criminal activity and prevent real-world harm.

Before joining Meta, Jim led the Investigative Support Section at the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), managing a team of Criminal Research Specialists providing real-time intelligence on major crimes across the District of Columbia. He also served as Associate Vice President at The Cohen Group, a strategic advisory firm founded by former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, where he led client teams across defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, energy, and national security.

Jim’s distinguished public service career includes over 12 years with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), serving in strategic, tactical, and operational positions domestically and internationally. His final DEA assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the Administrator — the agency’s top leadership position.

He is an Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs, teaching courses on Drugs, Crime, and Public Policy. His commentary and analysis have been featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Hill, STAT News, The Guardian, and many other leading publications.

Selected Publications & Op-Eds

In the News

“We’re seeing this decrease in overdose deaths and everyone’s still trying to suss out exactly why. I don’t think now is the time that we want to stop any of those existing efforts because we know that at least some, or a combination of them, have been working.”The Guardian — “Trump policies could fuel illicit drug trade despite vow to curb fentanyl” · March 8, 2025 · By Hannah Harris Green. Crotty criticized Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China as ‘coercive,’ warning they could disrupt existing anti-drug efforts and undermine intelligence-sharing partnerships.

“If it were an athlete, people would call it ‘The G.O.A.T.’ It is in fact the most pernicious, the most devastating drug that we have ever seen.”Wall Street Journal — “How Two Mexican Drug Cartels Came to Dominate America’s Fentanyl Supply” · August 30, 2022 · By Jon Kamp, José de Córdoba & Julie Wernau

“The goal can’t simply be to keep people alive. If you believe, like me, that doing drugs is very destructive, then the goal has to be to stop doing drugs.”Associated Press — “A look inside the 1st official ‘safe injection sites’ in US” · March 9, 2022 · By Jennifer Peltz

“Potential exposure to these substances is still quite small, thank goodness. When you use hyperbole, you can actually lose the audience and the message.”STAT News — “Fentanyl busts saved 258 million lives? Experts say that’s implausible” · May 7, 2025 · By Lev Facher. Crotty pushed back on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s claim that Trump-era drug busts saved 258 million lives.