Should i report drug activity to the police?

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blaskoman

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I know someone who I consider an acquaintance, not a friend. I’ve known for years that he’s a small time marijuana dealer. I recently found out that he started dealing cocaine. Drugs areruining many lives. Do I have a moral obligation to report this guy to the authorities? After all, hard drugs do cause countless lives to go down the drain. There are some potential consequences to reporting him --perhaps my life could be in danger if I was found out as a snitch. I could be responsible for sending a small time dealer to jail, which would ultimately be negligible to society’s benefit. His customers could easily find a new dealer. Thoughts?
 
I just did a quick search online on how to report drug activity anonymously. It appears that police districts all over the place have online forms (and other avenues) to report such activity. Can you search for your local police website and see if they, too, have such a form? I would be quite nervous about putting my name to anything like this as well, and it appears that authorities understand that. I think in your heart you already know it’s the right thing to do. 👍 You may even save a life, possibly HIS life even. Bless you!
 
You can report anonymously. You will get a number and can even claim a reward, just using the number. You definitely should report illegal drug activity especially a drug dealer! You do not need to divulge this to any one. If you can keep your own secret, you will be safe. think of saving lives, especially that of the drug dealer. Once he’s in prison, perhaps he will have time to think about what he has done and repent.
 
No. If it bothers you that much first have a talk with him. Let him know you do not want it in your neighborhood. Have you ever been to jail? If he is small time, as you indicate, talk to him.
 
I don’t think you should deal with the police unless you absolutely have to. You are just as likely to get targeted by the police when communicating anything with them.

If he were selling drugs to children, then I guess you might have a justifiable reason, but other than that, you probably should get as far away from him as you can.
 
“acquaintance” is a vague term. How often do you see this person and in what type of circumstances?
 
I would write him off of my acquaintance list and let things slide.
 
rciadan said:
“acquaintance” is a vague term. How often do you see this person and in what type of circumstances?
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I’m friends with the dealer’s brother who occasionally fills me in with gossip about his drug dealing “loser” brother.
I recently saw a documentary about the Columbian drug linchpin Pablo Escobar. That guy was evil incarnate. It got me to thinking that low level dealers allow the big suppliers such as paplo to flourish. Everyone involved in the drug trade has some role to play in evil. So eradicating the small time dealers could have some effect in disrupting the drug trade
 
blaskoman said:
I’m friends with the dealer’s brother who occasionally fills me in with gossip about his drug dealing “loser” brother.
I recently saw a documentary about the Columbian drug linchpin Pablo Escobar. That guy was evil incarnate. It got me to thinking that low level dealers allow the big suppliers such as paplo to flourish. Everyone involved in the drug trade has some role to play in evil. So eradicating the small time dealers could have some effect in disrupting the drug trade
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Don’t have anything to do with the brother. I would tell your friend that if his brother is anywhere near him you will not be seeing him that day. I would also make an anonymous call to the police, giving them the address where the brother is dealing and if possible the license number of his car. After all, this brother of a friend may be selling drugs to a sister or brother of another friend! Which will you protect, the user or the dealer?
 
blaskoman said:
I know someone who I consider an acquaintance, not a friend. I’ve known for years that he’s a small time marijuana dealer. I recently found out that he started dealing cocaine. Drugs areruining many lives. Do I have a moral obligation to report this guy to the authorities? After all, hard drugs do cause countless lives to go down the drain. There are some potential consequences to reporting him --perhaps my life could be in danger if I was found out as a snitch. I could be responsible for sending a small time dealer to jail, which would ultimately be negligible to society’s benefit. His customers could easily find a new dealer. Thoughts?
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I submit the following for your prayerful consideration. Your knowledge comes by hearsay, which is not necessarily the truth. In this case, you may committing rash judgment.

The Catechism states in Paragraph 2477:
Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:
–of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
–of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
–of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
​
[Emphasis mine.]

I don’t think you have a sufficient foundation to report the alleged dealer. But to make sure, please discuss the matter with a priest.
 
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