St. Louis Community Drug Trends
Presented by Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist (IRS) ‘Melissa “Mel” Perkins-Fercha
Join us for a presentation on current drug trends impacting the St. Louis region, led by Melissa S. Perkins-Fercha, Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist with the Drug Enforcement Administration – St. Louis Field Division, Tactical Intelligence Group.
With years of experience in drug intelligence and enforcement strategies, Melissa will provide insight into the latest data, trafficking patterns, and substance use developments affecting our communities. This session is ideal for professionals working in prevention, healthcare, education, law enforcement, and anyone interested in understanding the evolving landscape of drug use and its impact on public health and safety.
The agenda of the presentation will be as follows:
- Introduction/Overview of DEA St. Louis Division
- Nationwide Drug Threats
- St. Louis Drug Trends
- Sources of Supply
- Community Impacted
- Prevention & Resources
This presentation’s purpose:
The DEA St. Louis Division will be discussing the nationwide drug threats and specific drug trends found in the St. Louis area. This will be an opportunity to understand what drugs are having the most impact to our community and what resources are available.
About Melissa
Melissa Perkins-Fercha was appointed to the position of DEA Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist for the Tactical Intelligence Group of the St. Louis Division Office in November of 2020. She currently manages both federal, state, and national guard Intelligence Analysts assigned to the St. Louis Intelligence Program throughout St. Louis, Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Illinois; and Carbondale, Illinois. She also continues to perform investigative in-depth research and analysis alongside her employees and with partners in law enforcement to ensure public and officer safety.
GS Perkins-Fercha joined DEA in 2010 and was assigned to the El Paso Field Division Office until being reassigned in 2018 to the Bogota Country Office in Bogota, Colombia. She specializes in the research and exploitation of high-level Transnational Criminal Organizations linking them through drug trafficking and money laundering networks within the United States and abroad. She is a 2017 HIDTA award recipient of the Outstanding Financial Investigative Efforts Award related to the dismantling of a criminal enterprise that dated back to 1983; the seizure of 37 kilograms of cocaine; 31 weapons; and a money judgement of $4.3 million dollars.
Prior to DEA, GS Perkins-Fercha proudly served as a Military Police (MP) Officer in the US Army for five years, where she earned two Army Commendation medals and the Army Good Conduct medal; the Joint Service Achievement Medal for humanitarian and drug interdiction operations in Honduras; the National Defense Service Medal for her service during the September 11th attacks; and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global Terrorism Service Medal for her service during the Iraq war in 2003-2004. After honorably serving her country as a soldier, she returned to Iraq as civilian contract manager in support of a counterintelligence mission with US Army. After being separated from the US Army for nearly two years, she was reactivated by the Army through the US Army Individual Ready Reserve program due to a shortage of MPs to combat the war on terrorism. At the end of 2008, she went on to work for the El Paso Police Department, but soon thereafter, resigned and joined the DEA’s mission.
This training will be hosted in a hybrid format with both in-person and Zoom options to attend. While the training is free to attend, we are asking all attendees to please register below.
