Episode
HC0061 - Michael Brown - DEA Special Agent (Ret.) - Rigaku Analytical Devices
- Podcast
- HAZARD CLASS
- Published
- Mar 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5414
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Michael W. Brown joins the Hazard Class Podcast to trace his path from retail security in Cincinnati to a 32-year DEA career spanning Detroit, Bolivia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, and Myanmar. He explains how overseas counter-narcotics work evolved from raiding labs and airstrips to targeting the chemical supply chains that keep global drug production running. The second half shifts to the modern drug landscape, where Brown breaks down fentanyl, cartel business models, border smuggling, and why precursor interdiction and field technology are central to the fight today. LinkedIn: Rigaku — linkedin.com/company/rigakucorp X: @rigaku — x.com/rigaku YouTube: @RigakuCorporation — youtube.com/@RigakuCorporation Instagram: @rigaku_corporation — instagram.com/rigaku_corporation Facebook: RigakuCorp — facebook.com/RigakuCorp 00:00 — Intro and Michael Brown’s background Brown is introduced along with his DEA career and current role at Rigaku. 01:18 — What inspired him to join DEA A 60 Minutes segment on DEA operations in South America pushes him away from law school and toward federal service. 03:35 — The recruiter, the suit, and getting accepted Brown tells the story of first showing up underdressed, getting sent back, and quickly landing a training slot. 08:49 — First assignment: Detroit He begins his career in Detroit and describes the pace and intensity of narcotics work there. 13:31 — Undercover buys and street-level enforcement The conversation moves into informants, cover stories, and what an actual buy-bust looked like. 26:29 — Bolivia and Operation Snowcap Brown describes deploying to Bolivia, working with UMAPAR, and targeting cocaine labs, airstrips, and precursor hubs. 35:50 — Why the drug war never stayed contained He reflects on early overseas operatio…