A bomb threat — later determined to be unfounded — led to a temporary disruption at the Pentagon City headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this morning (Monday).
The building, located at 600 Army Navy Drive, underwent a “comprehensive sweep” shortly after the threat was reported, a DEA spokesperson told ARLnow. It is unclear when or how the threat was made.
Around 10:20 a.m., a tipster said that the building had been evacuated “and no one is being let in.”
“DEA takes all threats to its facilities seriously and acted immediately upon receiving a potential threat this morning,” the agency’s spokesperson said. “Following a comprehensive sweep, the building has been cleared and normal operations have resumed. We remain committed to the safety and security of our workforce and the public.”
Neither the Arlington County Police Department nor the Arlington County Fire Department received any calls for service related to the incident, ACPD spokesperson Alli Shorb told ARLnow.
The federal government’s arm for investigating domestic drug-related crimes, the DEA has been located at the facility since 1989. The agency’s presence consists of two buildings: the headquarters and a neighboring structure that houses the DEA Museum & Visitors Center.
The agency announced plans to depart the facility following the end of its lease in 2018, but an “incentive grant” approved by the Arlington County Board the following year is expected to keep the DEA through at least 2034.
In 2019, county officials said that the DEA’s presence was expected to generate more than $31 million in local tax revenue through 2034, while its staffers contribute roughly $450,000 annually in indirect revenue, such as meals, sales and occupancy taxes.
Photo via Google Maps
