What’s the best way to handle drug activity?

[Elijah VanDenBerg]

I was tipped off by one of my tenants that they have been noticing multiple vehicles stopping by my apartment building at all hours of the day and through the night. He also informed me that the tenant involved had been arrested for drug possession and is now jobless. Multiple ideas come to mind on how to handle it, but I would like to hear other thoughts or actions that have proven successful.

Thanks in advance!

[Jill F.]

I have a letter that I call my invitation to move letter that I send to drug dealers.
In that letter, I do not make ANY accusations, I enumerate my observations,
For example: on Mar 10 between 1-1:20 we saw 8 cars pull up and idle near your apartment, occupants exited the cars and spent 2-4 minutes each inside your apartment, then exited your apartment and drove off. We saw similar activities again on XXX date.
Then we note how this activity inconveniences other tenants, blocking mailboxes and driveways creating excess traffic or causing noise complaints whatever...
Then we list the section of the lease that prohibits conducting business in the apartment and say that these activities are consistent with some retail activity and as such are a violation of the lease noting the paragraph.
Then we congratulate the tenants on their entrepreneurial spirit but say that we think the best solution is for them to move and offer to waive penalties and fees and return the security deposit within 24 hours of move out if the apartment is left empty and clean (with clean fixtures and appliances), less any past due balances.
We say let us know by (about a week later) to give them time to find a new place and then let them know if they decide not to move and the activities continue, we'll share our observations with the local police department and encourage the neighbors to phone in police complaints as well.

We've now done this twice and both times the drug dealers moved, left our place reasonably clean, and expressed appreciation for the prompt deposit return. It's usually young girls that obtain the apartments and off-lease "boyfriends" conducting the business. Then they screw over the girls when they lose their apartments and don't help them move or clean or anything.