SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from Law & Order: SVU ‘s Oct. 9 episode.

It was revealed in May that Octavio Pisano would not be returning as a series regular to Season 27 of Law & Order: SVU . His Det. Joe Velasco has now left the Special Victims Unit for good.

In Thursday night’s episode, we learned that Velasco was leaving SVU to accept an undercover assignment for the DEA in San Diego, targeting drug runs.

In the season opener on Sept. 25, Velasco confidentially told Capt. Olivia Benson ( Mariska Hargitay ) that he’d been recruited by DEA, while he continued working at the precinct. In Thursday night’s episode, Velasco decided to accept the position.

As TVLine reported , Velasco explained to Benson that he had been chasing a vicious drug lord and fe

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