Added August 8, 2026

Cartel Traps

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

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Instructor

Jeremy Bedingfield

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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.*

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Reviews for this course

4.9/5.0 (1619 reviews)
5★
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62
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15
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Eric P.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great class! Learned a lot about different types of traps and tools that can be used out in the field.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Michael C.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

This class gave the best comprehensive approach to locating deep concealment compartments. I have a new more effective approach to searching vehicles. I highly recommend this class.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Desiree D.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Informative! A lot of info for Officers to apply at the basic patrol level. While some material is advanced, the course provides a general understanding of what to look for in vehicles suspected of being load cars.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Sam N.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

This course was incredibly informative and had a lot of great information regarding searching techniques and criminal techniques for hiding narcotics and weapons within vehicles. The instructor showed a lot of great case studies from traffic stops he had which help show how the hides are put into vehicles.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jenifer B.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great info. Broken down so it’s easy to follow. I appreciate the videos comparing market vs altered.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Isidro M.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great material. We’ll presented. Instructor is extremely knowledgeable.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Matt S.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great information. Learned a ton about the kilos I’ve been missing.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Aloysius P.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great class for traps and how to locate them. The videos of current and updated cases and explained are extremely informational that I haven’t seen from similar classes

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Velia H.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

This course was extremely informative and the instructor covered a large array of different compartments and topics.The course covers good places to search and check to avoid missing things

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Alex R.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Very knowledgeable instructor with great videos, case studies, and examples!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Sarah Z.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great class. Enjoyed it and learned so much!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jose S.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great informative information. Now i will look at vehicles in a very totally different way. Step by step instructions of how to search and what to look for.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Juan G.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Excellent class with current information relevant to anyone working narcotics units. Highly recommend the class to all!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jake B.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Jeremy did a great job showing, in laymen’s terms, what to look for in a vehicle when smuggling is suspected. Very informative, and interesting subject matter.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Matthew D.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Jeremy did a great job of using videos as demonstrations for this class. Using real videos and situations is very helpful. I strongly recommend this class!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Edwin O.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great class presented by Jeremy! Very educational and informative on what to look for in vehicles.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Tony M.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great class for law enforcement especially those that want to be proactive

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jonathan M.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Excellent class

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Michael R.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

I wish I had this kind of training at the beginning of my career! Solid training, great instruction.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Travis K.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Lots of great information. Took a lot away from this class

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Chris B.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Great presenter! Great training and content!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Danielle B.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

I thought the class was very informative & the instructor is very knowledgeable. There is so much more than a basic search that is very often overlooked. I’m looking forward to putting these new learned skills into action.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Kevin S.
CA · Attended 8/31/2023

Course is a great to enhance vehicles searches.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Tyler R.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

I’ve impatiently waited for this course since it was posted. My expectations of this class was very high.

I can honestly say that Jeremy’s knowledge and ability to teach tactics/techniques in order to identify and access traps exceeded my expectations substantially.

This course was very informative and is highly recommended for not only proactive cops working major highways, but as well as those being proactive in their towns/counties.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Billy A.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Great class highly recommended

★★★☆☆ 3/5 · Instructor: ★★★★☆ 4/5

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