As reported by several sources, the CFTC's Division of Enforcement (DOE), which investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations, has created two specialized enforcement squads, the Swaps Squad and the Manipulation and Disruptive Trading Squad.

This is the first time that the CFTC has created specialized enforcement groups. According to the CFTC's 2013 Budget and Performance Plan released in February 2012, these squads will be staffed with trial attorneys and investigators from across the CFTC's regions. They are tasked with evaluating leads and serving as clearinghouses for related issues and policies.

The goal of the squads is to develop a focused expertise in their respective areas to accommodate the increase in swaps enforcement activities that will be necessitated by the Dodd-Frank Act. Matters before the DOE will still be addressed by both squad members and non-members at the CFTC.

For more information on the regulation of swaps and derivatives, see Practice Note, Summary of the Dodd-Frank Act: Swaps and Derivatives.