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★
1540
4★
62
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15
2★
1
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1
Matthew G.
AR · Attended 8/21/2023

Although I may never deal with the tier of smuggling that would use the sophistication of the traps shown, the I feel confident in being able to identify them should I happen across one. This is all due to Jeremy's class based off his experience and knowledge of traps and the detailed presentation he put together. If you've ever felt like you "just missed it", or don't really know where or what to look for, them you need to take this class and up your search game!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Kolton H.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Awesome course! Lots of information!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Levi J.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

The class is very well balanced between videos, pictures and lecture. Jeremy is very knowledgeable and I appreciated that his information was up to date and not videos from 20 years ago.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Zack H.
AR · Attended 8/21/2023

Great class

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Alex C.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

A wonderful class that shows you and gives a better understanding of traps and hidden compartments. Also a good instruction of where to look and how to locate traps

★★★★☆ 4/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Andrew E.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

This is a fantastic class! An entire day jam packed full information about trap cars and some interdiction tactic and technique.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Chris W.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Awesome class. Explained the material well!

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

The class is very informative and gives all kinds good information to take back and use while working.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Cansas P.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Great class with a lot of information.

★★★★☆ 4/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Richard M.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

I learned how to better search a vehicle.

★★★★☆ 4/5 · Instructor: ★★★★☆ 4/5
Steven E.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Great instructor and very well put together slides. Definitely recommend this class.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Login L.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Great class to attend and will definitely boost your confidence when searching a vehicle.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Deante H.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Class was very helpful and informative

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
David M.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Awesome guy with Awesome information!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Brian S.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

This class was very informative. I highly recommend this class to every LEO

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
JUSTIN M.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Very High Speed Information & Tactics for Searching & Clearing Vehicles for Contraband.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Josiah S.
AR · Attended 8/21/2023

A lot of useful info. Well worth the time and money.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Kaleb K.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

This class taught me to look over everything and to be thorough with my searches.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Cody P.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

I would definitely recommend this class. Has opened my eyes to personal vehicles

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Galen I.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Great class. Super informative!!

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Lauren H.
AR · Attended 8/21/2023
1

Very informative class on vehicle hides.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Nathan P.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Very great course! Showed real life experiences and videos about past experiences.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jacob P.
OK · Attended 8/21/2023

Any law enforcement professional at any level can benefit from this class.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Clifton S.
AL · Attended 7/17/2023

First class actually learning how to effectively search a vehicle! So much information that’s invaluable to anyone searching vehicles. Jeremy has so much energy teaching this information as he is genuinely passionate about his work and wants you the student to be successful. Jeremy’s breaks down each compartment and how to effectively locate each. A very complex topic is presented in such a way that you should never be intimidated on how to locate the hides.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5
Casey S.
AL · Attended 7/17/2023

Jeremy goes into detail and dissects cars/suvs/trucks piece by piece, part by part. He explains where natural voids in vehicles are as well as how compartments can be built in them. If you’ve every wondered if you’ve missed something when searching a car, then you need to take this class. He will teach you what to look for and where to look. You can tell that he’s passionate about searching cars and not missing anything and proves that he has the experience and knowledge with the ins and outs of vehicles.

★★★★★ 5/5 · Instructor: ★★★★★ 5/5

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