Press Release -
November 15, 2006
For Immediate Release November 15, 2006
Printable Copy (pdf)
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Contact: Charles Miller
(202) 532-4037
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National Drug Intelligence
Center releases National Drug Threat Assessment 2007
The National Drug Intelligence Center, a component of
the Department of Justice, has released the
National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 detailing national drug trafficking and abuse trends
within the United States. The assessment identifies the primary drug
threats to the nation, tracks drug availability throughout the country,
and analyzes trafficking and distribution patterns of illicit drugs
within the United States. It evaluates the threat posed by illegal drugs
comparing availability, production and cultivation, transportation,
distribution, and demand.
The
National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 details these
emerging threats based on the most currently available law enforcement,
intelligence, and public health reporting and data.
Key findings of the report are as follows:
- Following a sharp decrease in methamphetamine
production within the United States, Mexican drug trafficking
organizations (DTO), who produce ice methamphetamine in Mexico, have
gained considerable strength and expanded their presence in drug
markets throughout the country, including smaller communities in
Midwestern and eastern states.
- The expanded presence of Mexican DTOs in drug markets
throughout the country have enabled some to introduce Mexican black
tar and brown powder heroin in southeastern and Midwestern states.
Although South American heroin is still the predominant heroin in most
eastern drug markets, Mexican DTOs' ability to sell Mexican heroin
beyond traditional western state heroin markets presents new
challenges to law enforcement.
- Although coca cultivation is higher than previously
estimated, cocaine availability and use in the United States have not
significantly changed.
- MDMA (ecstasy) availability and distribution have
increased significantly. Asian DTOs based in Canada have gained
control over most MDMA distribution in the United States and have
expanded distribution to a level similar to that of 2001.
- Asian criminal groups based in Canada have contributed
significantly to both the increase in potency of marijuana and its
distribution throughout the United States.
- While rates of pharmaceutical drug abuse exceed that
of all other drugs except marijuana, recent successes in reducing the
illegal diversion of pharmaceutical drugs, particularly pharmaceutical
narcotics such as OxyContin, have caused some individuals addicted to
such drugs to substitute other drugs, such as heroin for prescription
narcotics.
- Most Mexican and Colombian DTOs have resorted to
consolidating illicit drug proceeds into large bulk cash shipments and
smuggling them into Mexico primarily through south Texas. U.S.
regulatory and law enforcement efforts have made it increasingly
difficult for drug traffickers to launder illicit proceeds in U.S.
financial institutions.
The National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 was prepared in
partnership with federal, state, and local agencies. The assessment also
has incorporated information collected through the administration of the
National Drug Intelligence Center's national survey of more than 3,200
state and local law enforcement agencies and thousands of field
interviews with law enforcement and public health officials.
A copy of the
National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 can be found at our web site: www.usdoj.gov/ndic.
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