Added August 8, 2026

Cartel Traps

San Diego, CA · Sep 21–22, 2026 · 16 hours · $599.00

This event has passed. Browse upcoming dates for this class below.

Instructor

Jeremy Bedingfield

View instructor profiles and other upcoming classes.

Description

For the two-day version, I’d emphasize that Day 1 builds the knowledge base and Day 2 puts it into practice on actual vehicles.

### CARTEL TRAPS — TWO-DAY HANDS-ON HIDDEN COMPARTMENT TRAINING

**Cartel Traps Two-Day Hands-On Hidden Compartment Training** is an intensive, comprehensive course designed to take officers beyond the classroom and provide practical experience identifying and searching vehicles equipped with real hidden compartments.

**Day One** consists of the complete Cartel Traps classroom curriculum, giving students a systematic approach to vehicle searches and teaching them how to **identify and clear natural voids, recognize tooling and tampering, detect non-factory modifications, perform depth and dimensional checks, and identify indicators associated with hidden compartments.** Students are exposed to hundreds of real-world examples, photographs, videos, and case studies covering concealment methods throughout the entire vehicle.

**Day Two is dedicated to hands-on training.** Students work in teams and rotate through multiple practical stations where they search **actual trap cars equipped with hidden compartments.** Students must apply the techniques learned during the classroom portion to locate compartments concealed within floors, rocker panels, firewalls, dashboards, roofs, battery areas, tires, and other locations.

Additional practical exercises challenge students to systematically clear a vehicle's natural voids and locate simulated contraband concealed throughout the vehicle—reinforcing a complete, methodical search process rather than simply looking for known traps.

The goal of the two-day course is not simply to show officers hidden compartments. It is to teach them **how to find them.** Students leave with both the knowledge and practical experience necessary to recognize when something is not factory, identify concealment indicators, clear vehicle voids, and conduct more effective vehicle searches in the field.

**Clear the Voids. Know what factory looks like. Stop missing traps.**

*Training restricted to sworn law enforcement personnel.*

More training in San Diego, CA

Reviews for this course

4.9/5.0 (1619 reviews)
5★
1540
4★
62
3★
15
2★
1
1★
1
Mikel O.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

One of the best courses I’ve ever taken. Jeremy clearly knows his stuff and I’m grateful I was able to learn from him.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Rebecka L.
WY · Attended 6/10/2024

Sitting here thinking about all the traps I have missed. I am excited to get back to work and get in these cars.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Cole G.
NE · Attended 6/10/2024

Without seeing these examples in class I wouldn’t know what I’m looking at or what I’m looking for on the road.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Tristen J.
NE · Attended 6/10/2024

Extremely knowledgeable about voids, tampering, and traps. Does a fantastic job explaining the how and why behind searching a vehicle.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Patrick C.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Great class with focused information about hidden compartments.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Sanel L.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Amazing content. Very detailed and explained great.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Michael G.
NE · Attended 6/10/2024

Extremely knowledgeable and puts across the information in an easy way to understand and made it very simple to know where and what to look for. Would recommend

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Kristin B.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

This class was very helpful for beginning to advance levels of interdiction work. Jeremy did a great job at explaining parts of the vehicle where dope could be hidden to someone that isn’t privy of vehicle anatomy.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Dusty Q.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Was super helpful for a K9 officer to move past just the alert

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Alexander J.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Great class, definitely haven't searched these areas

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Brandon S.
NE · Attended 6/10/2024

Class was very informative and in depth.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jonathon W.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Great step by step

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Danielle D.
CO · Attended 6/10/2024

Engaging videos

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Sean K.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

This two day class was full of great information, obs techniques, and the instructors were clearly well versed and experienced with the material. Our group that attended this course all work at the southern border on Military Orders and came away with plenty of new insights that will help us on future missions. I would attend this class again and would recommend to any law enforcement agency.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jose A.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

Coming into this class I thought I knew how to look for hidden compartments or just where drugs were hidden. This class made me re think how I approach a vehicle. I learned to take a moment and just inspect the vehicle in and out and look for prior removal of parts by looking at tooling. It really makes your job easier because you’re taking the process one step at a time

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
GAVIN B.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

GREAT CLASS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! THE HANDS-ON PORTION PROVIDES IN VALUABLE INFORMATION, FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT CAR FOLKS, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE WHAT IS NORMAL AND WHAT IS NOT WHEN IT COMES TO NORMAL CARS VS TRAP CARS

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Michael S.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

Jeremy was awesome and very knowledgeable.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jeremy T.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

Test

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Elias L.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

The hands on portion of the class was extremely beneficial. The structure was great, being led through at the beginning and being shown how to search properly. And then given free reign to get familiar with the vehicles of your choosing.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Thomas B.
NH · Attended 5/6/2024

Good hands on experience.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Dustin L.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

This course undoubtedly increased my professional development in my law enforcement career and added a much-needed toolset for identifying signs of narcotics trafficking. I would highly recommend any officer interested in countering or interdicting the drug trade attend this course.

★★★☆☆ 3/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Kevin G.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

Very good class, very helpful if planning to do CBP.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Uriel F.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

The class was amazing. Both the classroom portion and hands on portion were great. Looking forward to attend more of your classes!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Ramon P.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

This two day class was amazing!! The first day, Jeremy broke down the vehicle into sections demonstrating the type of traps and natural voids one can encounter. The second day, we got to apply what we learned day one. Being able to touch and see the actual traps was a great opportunity. I can’t wait to take my newly learned skills and apply them on the road. Thanks for your help, Jeremy. Keep up the great work!!

★★★★☆ 4/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jose S.
CA · Attended 5/6/2024

The traps class was truly amazing so much material and information that are vital to what I do. I highly recommend any law-enforcement to take this class. You will not regret it.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5

More Options

More upcoming dates for this class

More from Cartel Traps

Related classes in CA