# Limited Use Confidential Source **Entity class:** DEA source category **Domain:** Law enforcement / transportation interdiction ## Definition A **Limited Use confidential source** is a Drug Enforcement Administration category for a source established for payment purposes who supplies information or services independently rather than acting under DEA direction. DOJ OIG described the category as including professional business people and tipsters whose information arises from legitimate access rather than criminal association. DOJ OIG found that DEA established, used, or paid at least 33 Amtrak employees in this category during FY2011–FY2015. The audit also documented TSA, airline, bus, and parcel-industry source relationships and identified significant oversight and policy problems. ## Relationships - **agency:** [[wiki/Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]. - **occupational source layer:** [[wiki/Source of Information (Law Enforcement)|Source of Information]] and [[wiki/Occupational Collection Surface|Occupational Collection Surface]]. - **transportation entities:** [[wiki/Amtrak|Amtrak]] and [[wiki/Transportation Security Administration|TSA]]. - **broader category:** [[wiki/Nonemployee Operational Participant|Nonemployee Operational Participant]]. ## Sources / Provenance - [DOJ OIG — DEA Confidential Source Program, September 2016](https://oig.justice.gov/archives/reports/2016/a1633.pdf) - [DOJ OIG — DEA Higher-Risk Confidential Sources, July 2015](https://oig.justice.gov/archives/reports/2015/a1528.pdf)