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DEA
Offices & Telephone Nos.
Minneapolis/St. Paul 612-348-1700 |
State Facts
Population: 5,132,799
State Prison Population: 8,758
Probation Population: 114,226
Violent Crime Rate
National Ranking: 38 |
2006
Federal Drug Seizures
Cocaine: 17.7 kgs.
Heroin: 0.2 kgs.
Methamphetamine: 21.6 kgs.
Marijuana: 265.7 kgs.
Hashish: 0.2 kgs
MDMA: 0.0 kgs/108,099 du
Meth
Lab Incidents: 33
(DEA, state, and local) |
Drug
Situation: In Minnesota, Mexican traffickers control
the transportation, distribution, and bulk sales of cocaine, marijuana,
methamphetamine, and small amounts of black-tar heroin. Numerous
Mexican groups and street gangs such as the Latin Kings are operating
in the state. As a general rule, the upper echelon Mexican distributors
in Minnesota transport the majority of their proceeds back to
family members residing in Mexico. At the retail level, independent
African American traffickers, African American street gangs, Native
American gangs, and independent Caucasian groups purchase cocaine,
black-tar heroin, and marijuana from Mexican traffickers. In outlying
areas of the state, independent Caucasian groups and outlaw motorcycle
gangs distribute methamphetamine in small quantities. Street gang
activity in Minnesota has increased dramatically over the past
few years. African American gangs appear to be primarily involved
in the distribution of crack cocaine.
Cocaine:
The majority of cocaine available in Minnesota is purchased from sources
of supply in California, Chicago, and Detroit. Some traffickers obtain
cocaine directly from sources of supply along the southwest border
and transport the cocaine to Minnesota themselves. Mexican traffickers
control the transportation, distribution, and bulk sales of cocaine.
At the retail level, independent African American traffickers, African
American street gangs (specifically the Gangster Disciples, the Vice
Lords, and Crips), Hispanic street gangs (specifically the Latin
Kings), Native American groups, and independent Caucasian groups
purchase cocaine from Mexican traffickers and distribute it throughout
Minnesota. In the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, crack cocaine
is controlled by independent African American traffickers and African
American street gangs.
Heroin:Heroin
distribution and use have not been significant problems in Minnesota,
but recent reports indicate there has been an increase in heroin use,
especially in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. At the wholesale level,
sources of supply include Nigerian/West African traffickers operating
from Chicago and New York, African American street gangs with ties
to Chicago, and Mexican traffickers operating from the southwest border
and from Chicago. At the retail level, heroin is distributed primarily
by Hispanic and African American street gangs.
![Methamphetamine Lab Incidents: 2002=242, 2003=301, 2004=96, 2005=88, 2006=30](minnesota_meth2007.gif) Methamphetamine:
The methamphetamine threat in Minnesota is a two-pronged problem. First,
large quantities of methamphetamine produced by Mexican organizations
based in California or Washington are transported into and distributed
throughout the state. These traffickers typically send methamphetamine
from California through the U.S. mail, via Federal Express, and by
courier. Second, methamphetamine is being produced in small laboratories,
capable of producing only a few ounces at a time.
Club
Drugs: Club drugs, including MDMA (ecstasy),
Ketamine, GHB, GBL, Rohypnol, LSD, PCP, and, to a lesser extent,
psilocybin mushrooms, have been reported in Minnesota. Club
drugs are most prevalent in Minneapolis' gay population, and
to a lesser extent, among young people at raves and nightclubs
in suburban areas. Prior to its placement in Schedule I in February
2000, Minnesota placed state controls on the possession of GHB.
Ketamine ("Special K") use first appeared in Minnesota
in 1997 among adolescents and young adults.
Marijuana:
Marijuana remains the most readily available and commonly used drug in
Minnesota, according to public health officials. The importation
of bulk marijuana shipments into the state is controlled by Mexican
drug trafficking organizations. Hispanic street gangs are the major
distributors of marijuana at the retail level. Marijuana is readily
available from local cultivators in addition to the supplies emanating
from the southwest border.
![DEA logo](dea_circlelogo.jpg) Other
Drugs: The
use of diverted controlled substances in Minnesota continues to
be a problem. The most commonly diverted controlled
substances from the licit market are Nubain®, Dilaudid®,
Ritalin®, Vicodin® (hydrocodone), OxyContin®, codeine
combination products, the benzodiazepines, and the anorectic drugs
phentermine and phendimetrazie. Nubain is a prescription narcotic
that has recently emerged in the Minneapolis area. This narcotic
is being used by body builders who mistakenly believe it acts as
a steroid. Four deaths have occurred in the Minneapolis area as
a result of Nubain® being taken with MDMA and OxyContin® being
mixed with cocaine. According to local addicts, Klonopin® is
more readily available than in the past from illegal sources and
prescriptions are easily obtained from some doctors. In rural Minnesota
Klonopin® has also appeared under its international, non-United
States trade name, "Rivotril®," which suggests its
importation from foreign sources. Flunitrazepam, trade name "Rohypnol®," is
a long-acting benzodiapine that is typically combined with alcohol
or other drugs to produce incapacitation and memory loss similar
to an alcohol-induced blackout. Minnesota law enforcement agencies
encountered only small amounts of the drug. Its use as a "date
rape" drug is not widespread in Minnesota.
Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current
investigations indicate that diversion of OxyContin® and Vicodin® continues
to be a problem in Minnesota. Primary methods of diversion being reported
are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and
workers, and “doctor shopping” (going to a number of doctors
to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical). Benzodiazepines,
methylphenidate, and Ritalin® were also identified as being among
the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Minnesota.
DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This
cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts
was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related
violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. Since the inception
of the MET Program, 473 deployments have been completed nationwide,
resulting in 19,643 arrests. Since the inception of the program, there
has been one MET deployment in the State of Minnesota, in Minneapolis.
DEA
Regional Enforcement Teams: This program was designed
to augment existing DEA division resources by targeting drug organizations
operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient
local drug law enforcement. This program was conceived in 1999 in
response to the threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that
have established networks of cells to conduct drug trafficking operations
in smaller, non-traditional trafficking locations in the United
States. As of January 31, 2005, there have been 27 deployments nationwide,
and one deployment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, resulting in 671
arrests. There have been no RET deployments in the state of Minnesota.
Special
Topics: The DEA Chicago Field Division is committed
to fostering cooperative efforts among federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies within Minnesota. A task force consisting
of two groups and funded by DEA's State and Local Program is located
in Minneapolis. There are four Task Force Officers, representing
four law enforcement agencies, assigned to DEA in Minnesota. There
are 23 funded task forces throughout Minnesota receiving U.S.
Department of Justice Byrne Grant money. The DEA participates
in the Minneapolis Gang Strike Force (MGSF), which was created
in 1997 to combat escalating gang violence in the state and it
operates six regional offices. Currently, there are over 5,000
confirmed gang members entered into the Minnesota Gang Strike
Force Intelligence System and 160 organized gangs.
More information
about the Chicago Division Office.
Sources
Factsheet
last updated:
6/2007
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