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State Facts   Population: 17,789,864   State Prison Population: 85,533   Probation Population: 281,170   Violent Crime Rate   National Ranking: 2

2007 Federal Drug Seizures   Cocaine: 5,660.4 kgs.   Heroin: 1,019.1 kgs.   Methamphetamine: 19.6 kgs./117 du   Marijuana: 7,068.5 kgs.   Hashish: 0.3 kgs.     MDMA: 0.0 kgs./81,197 du      Methamphetamine Laboratories: 100 (DEA, state, and local)

Drug Situation: The State of Florida is a primary area for international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, as well as a principal thoroughfare for cocaine and heroin transiting to the northeastern United States and Canada. Florida’s over 8,000 miles of coastline provides virtually unlimited access and opportunities for drug trafficking organizations to use maritime conveyances to smuggle drugs. The short distance between Florida and the Bahamas also serves as a smuggling corridor along the southeast coastline. Additionally, Florida’s numerous international airports and maritime ports provide traffickers with a means to smuggle drugs through the use of couriers and cargo facilities. South Florida, with its unique mix of nationalities and ties to Central and South America, is a primary domestic command and control center for Colombian narcotics traffickers and money laundering organizations. Recently, Mexican organizations have also made tremendous inroads, and are responsible for the smuggling and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine (i.e. crystal methamphetamine) and marijuana throughout large portions of the state – from the Panhandle to as far south as Palm Beach County. Smuggling into Florida occurs via various types of maritime conveyances and cargo freighters, as well as via commercial aircraft. Additionally, the shift to ground transportation (e.g. passenger vehicle, bus and rail) as a means of transporting narcotics throughout the state continues to increase.

Cocaine: Cocaine is the primary drug threat within Florida. Cocaine is smuggled via a variety of conveyances, to include commercial cargo vessel, private pleasure craft, cargo and passenger aircraft, and automobiles. Cocaine originates from South America and arrives in Florida directly from those sources, or via the U.S. Southwest Border with Mexico. Recently there has been a noted increase in Mexican organizations transporting and distributing large quantities of cocaine from Mexico to as far south as Palm Beach County. Cocaine originating directly from South American sources, as opposed to the U.S. Southwest Border, is destined for distribution to the eastern United States and Canada. The DEA Miami Field Division’s Nassau Country is in a pivotal position in that the Bahamas archipelago is a major transportation route used by trafficking organizations to smuggle cocaine across the Caribbean corridor via vessels, ranging from go fast to sports fishing types. Bimini is merely a short distance of 45 miles from the southeast Florida coastline and Freeport lies 60 miles from West Palm Beach.

After the cocaine is smuggled into Florida, some is consumed locally within Miami, but the majority is destined for distribution to other areas of the state and outside Florida. A local market exists for cocaine in the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach areas, but much is designated for conversion into crack. On the west coast of Florida, Miami sources account for a portion of the cocaine found from Naples to the Tampa Bay area. Recently, sources from Mexico are transporting cocaine overland from the Southwest Border states into the Tampa Bay area. Cocaine is available in northern Florida, primarily from Mexican sources, but demand is mainly for the conversion into crack. Cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) is available throughout Florida from the gram to kilogram level. According to the 2006 Interim (January–June) Report of the Florida Medical Examiners, Jacksonville had the highest reported incidents of cocaine-related deaths (119 total), followed by West Palm Beach (90) and Orlando (84).

Crack Cocaine: Miami remains the primary source of cocaine HCl procured by crack cocaine trafficking organizations for transport and conversion within their areas. Mexican organizations have especially made inroads in north and central Florida. Drug trafficking organizations dealing in crack cocaine have been identified in Orlando, Gainesville, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach, thus demonstrating the availability of crack throughout Florida. Each of these areas has organizations capable of conducting crack cocaine conversion operations. African American and Haitian traffickers, as well as street gang members, continue to dominate crack distribution throughout Florida. Distribution generally centers around public housing developments and inner city areas. Organizations typically employ minors as lookouts and runners, who re-supply the street dealers from stash locations.

Heroin: South Florida is a primary U.S. point of entry for South American heroin. Miami International Airport is the main importation venue for heroin, which is secreted by couriers or in air freight shipments. In many instances, heroin is commingled with cocaine shipments and smuggled through legitimate cargo, such as flowers originating from Colombia. Cruise ship passengers and crewmembers are also being utilized to smuggle heroin into South Florida and this is generally done via body carrying methods. The majority of the heroin entering Florida is destined for markets along the east coast of the U.S., as Florida does not have a significant heroin abuse problem. The highest concentration of heroin use in Florida is in the Orlando area. Heroin is a dominant threat there and the majority of the heroin in central Florida is South American in origin. Heroin in southwest Florida and the Tampa area originates from sources in Miami, Orlando and New York City. Most heroin distribution and transportation organizations have ties to Colombia and New York, and are active throughout Florida. Once the heroin enters Florida, it is transported out of state via automobiles, buses and trains to the northeast U.S. Although Florida does not have a high heroin abuse population, the 2006 Interim (January–June) Report of the Florida Medical Examiners reports that Fort Lauderdale had the highest reported incidents of heroin-related deaths (9 total), followed by Miami (5) and St. Petersburg (3).

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine has impacted the majority of Florida’s 67 counties and use is widespread. The 2006 Interim (January–June) Report of the Florida Medical Examiners reports there were 58 methamphetamine-related deaths throughout the state. Methamphetamine is transported into Florida in multi-pound increments by Mexican drug trafficking organizations based along the Southwest Border and California. Methamphetamine produced in super labs in Texas and California transits into Florida along the Interstate-10 corridor. A new trend has recently emerged which is the distribution of crystal methamphetamine from Atlanta area sources. Crystal methamphetamine, with high purity levels, is transported from Atlanta into northern Florida and then distributed throughout the state. There has been a significant increase in crystal methamphetamine use within the South Florida club scene.

Methamphetamine labs became a growing threat within Florida in the past five years. Methamphetamine labs inundated the state starting in FY 2002, when there were 129 labs to FY 2006, when there were 245 labs. The majority of the labs are small-scale, producing gram amounts up to a maximum of 1-2 ounces per cook. But the dangers lie not simply in the quantity produced so much as the number of labs and the consequences derived from them. Most labs are set up anywhere and are almost always portable. They have been found and seized in mobile homes, hotel rooms, outdoor areas and near schools. In the past, methamphetamine labs were concentrated in west central Florida, around Tampa. But in the preceding three years a shift to northern Florida and the Panhandle occurred. Most recently, the central part of the state is experiencing an increased threat, but whereas before it was mainly in the Tampa area, it now extends east towards Orlando, and specifically Brevard County.

MDMA and Club Drugs: MDMA is the most readily available dangerous drug throughout Florida. MDMA is found at clubs and rave parties in all parts of Florida, and is frequently used in conjunction with other illegal and/or prescription drugs. MDMA is also found in higher amounts in areas with large populations of university/college students and during “spring break” events. LSD remains available in Florida; however, seizures are rare. GHB is also available, especially in and around colleges and universities. GHB is commonly abused in Florida, as well as two precursors - GBL and Butanediol (BD).

Marijuana: Marijuana cultivation has become a lucrative business in Florida, especially indoor grow operations. These marijuana grows exist all over the state and are found in residential and rural areas in equal amounts. Numerous grow operations have been seized in South Florida and southwest Florida. Indoor cultivation has also risen in northern Florida. In the past several years, eradication efforts and weather patterns moved growers indoors. Additionally, within the state there are numerous supply stores that legally sell hydroponics agricultural equipment which is then utilized for marijuana cultivation. Domestically grown marijuana in Florida is coveted by users because the quality of the marijuana exceeds that of marijuana originating from Jamaica and Mexico. BC Bud marijuana from Canada is highly popular in the northeast section of the state, and organized groups in that area import it into Jacksonville for further distribution. Marijuana smuggled from the Bahamas is a significant problem as well. Caribbean polydrug transportation groups bring multi-pound quantities of marijuana into Florida from Caribbean locations via go fast vessels and other maritime conveyances. Marijuana is also imported into Florida from the Southwest Border. Tex/Mex marijuana is smuggled along Interstate-10 into the Panhandle.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: Unprecedented increases in levels of abuse pose a serious threat to the health and safety of Florida citizens. The Florida Medical Examiners report that five people die in Florida daily as a direct result of prescription drug overdoses. Current investigations indicate that diversion of hydrocodone (e.g. Vicodin®) and oxycodone (e.g. OxyContin®) products are a problem. Benzodiapezines (such as Xanax® and its generic alprazolam) and methadone are also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Florida. Primary methods of diversion include the Internet, illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, “doctor shopping,” forged prescriptions and employee theft. Florida has emerged as a center for Internet holding companies which organize (and sometimes control) websites, physicians, pharmacies, and even pharmaceutical wholesalers. The Tampa area has become “ground zero” for Internet diversion.

Money Laundering: South Florida, especially Miami, is considered the gateway to Latin America. As such, there are assorted banking industries and commercial businesses that specifically cater to Latin markets. These are prime facilitators for money laundering activities. Money laundering in the South Florida area can be as basic as sending money via money remitter businesses back to source countries, or as elaborate as setting up numerous bank accounts and other financial-type accounts to enable the transfer of funds into and outside the U.S. Organizations utilizing the Black Market Peso Exchange system to launder money continue to operate in Florida, particularly in South Florida. Organizations utilizing this system receive large sums of money from various individuals as payment for products they sell. The majority of the merchandise is then exported to Colombia, with portions sometimes sent to other countries. Some of the businesses involved in the sale of merchandise have been identified by law enforcement as being exporters of bulk currency to Colombia. Bulk currency shipments remain a common method of laundering narcotics proceeds from the United States back to source countries. On average, currency amounts range from $10,000 to $1 million, and are often delivered to businesses for shipment in legitimate exported cargo. Many bulk currency seizures are made at agriculture and weigh stations, especially in northern Florida, where bulk amounts are concealed and transported in trucks, trailers and car carriers. Another common method of money laundering remains the use of wire transfers. Drug proceeds are electronically moved from place to place or layered to obscure the origin of the funds and the currency is then reintroduced as "clean" for trafficker use.

Special Topics: In order to combat the growing problem of pharmaceutical drug diversion in Florida, the DEA Miami Field Division joined with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida Office of the Attorney General to establish Diversion Response Teams (DRT) throughout the state. The DRT is a task force-like interagency group of individuals working in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Pensacola. The DRTs are comprised of DEA diversion investigators and special agents, and sworn personnel from FDLE, the Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and local police agencies. Targets of mutual interest are identified based on intelligence from existing investigations, sources and databases. The DRT teams focus on significant pharmaceutical diverters and diversion via the Internet.

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. There have been 34 MET deployments in the State of Florida since the inception of the program: Ft. Pierce (3), Collier County, Opa Locka, Hendry County, Hardee County, Riviera Beach (2), Ft. Lauderdale, Highland County, Kissimmee, Lake Worth, Sumter County, Seminole County, Live Oak, Homestead, Sarasota, South Miami, Florida City, North Miami Beach, Franklin County, Key West (2), Fernandina Beach, Delray/Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Lee County, Lauderhill, Columbia County, Lake County/Clermont, Hallandale Beach, Orange County, and Ft. Meyers.

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 Florida.

More information about the Miami Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 1/2008

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