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Drug Situation: Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations control a large majority of the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin in Missouri. Various organizations with ties to Texas, Arizona and California continue to traffic in methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. In addition, small toxic methamphetamine laboratories are still found throughout Missouri.

Cocaine: Cocaine and crack cocaine remain readily available in both the St. Louis and Kansas City areas and are abused by all social and ethnic groups. There have been sporadic reports of a shortage of cocaine in Missouri, but there is no indication of a sustained shortage. Cocaine typically comes from sources of supply in Texas, Arizona, and California that are associated with Mexican international distribution organizations. The cocaine is brought to Missouri primarily in vehicles on the interstate highway system. Much of the cocaine is then converted to crack and sold in the inner-city areas. While Hispanic trafficking organizations control the wholesale distribution of cocaine, local distribution of crack is mostly controlled by small independent dealers or by street gangs, some with loose affiliations to national gangs.

Heroin: Since late 2002, heroin markets in eastern Missouri have seen a shift from low purity Mexican black tar heroin to white heroin, which originates in either South America or southwest Asia. The purity of the white heroin varies from levels as low as 10-15% (similar to the Mexican heroin), to samples which have been tested at above 40% in purity. The emergence of the white heroin is believed to have led to an expansion of the heroin markets to more suburban and rural areas of eastern Missouri. The ability to snort the white heroin makes it more attractive to young, suburban and rural users.

The availability of heroin in western Missouri remains very limited and the market continues to be dominated by Mexican black tar and powdered heroin. Some highway interdictions of larger quantities of South American white heroin have occurred in the past year. In each instance, the heroin was believed to be enroute to Chicago, Illinois.

Methamphetamine: As with heroin, the methamphetamine market in Missouri differs greatly between the eastern and western halves of the state. The western half of the state is dominated by crystal “ice” methamphetamine, supplied by organizations based out of Mexico, California, and the southwest United States, and transported to the area by the traditional highway transportation organizations. Although “ice” is generally perceived to be higher in purity, lower purity levels have been found in many exhibits. Although, small toxic laboratories are still found in western Missouri, the number of laboratory seizures in the western half of the state dropped 74% from 516 in 2004 to 136 in 2007.

Although most of the methamphetamine used in eastern Missouri is also believed to be supplied by the Mexican DTOs, the issue of local methamphetamine laboratories remains a top priority with local officials. Some law enforcement agencies have even reported a resurgence in laboratory seizures in late 2007. In the past several years, the number of methamphetamine laboratories seized in eastern Missouri has declined, but at a lower level than seen in western Missouri. The number of laboratory seizures in eastern Missouri declined 54% from its peak of 601 in 2004 to 278 in 2007, a full twenty percent less than the decline in western Missouri. The state legislation limiting the sale of pseudoephedrine products is believed to have hindered local production throughout the state. However, local laboratory operators continue to obtain the necessary ingredients through “smurfing” (going from store to store, purchasing the maximum allowable amounts), and through theft of ingredients such as anhydrous ammonia.

Predatory Drugs: MDMA (ecstasy) continues to be available in all regions of Missouri. Drugs such as MDMA and GHB are widely available in all types of dance clubs in the major cities, and around college campuses throughout Missouri. MDMA is obtained by local distributors from sources of supply in California, New York, Florida, Texas and Washington State.

Marijuana: Marijuana is prevalent throughout the state of Missouri. Mexican marijuana is imported into the state primarily on interstate highways in automobiles, commercial trucks, vans, horse trailers, rental trucks, and motor homes from the southwest border. There has also been an increasing availability of higher purity “BC Bud” marijuana from Canada and the northwest United States.

Indoor marijuana grow operations are found in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Outdoor grow operations are found in the rural parts of the state.

Other Drugs: PCP is still found in both the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. The availability is greater in the Kansas City area, but St. Louis law enforcement occasionally reports a spike in the availability of the drug in the St. Louis area.

Although LSD is found in Missouri, its abuse is not believed to be widespread.

Khat is abused primarily by immigrants from eastern African countries such as Somalia. It has been encountered by law enforcement in highway interdictions.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current investigations indicate that diversion of hydrocodone products such as Vicodin®, and oxycodone products such as OxyContin® continues to be a problem in Missouri. Alprazolam, methadone, codeine, Adderall® and Ritalin® were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Missouri. Primary methods of diversion being reported are forged prescriptions, employee theft, pharmacy theft, illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, “doctor shopping” (going to multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions for controlled pharmaceuticals), and via Internet purchases.

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 11 MET deployments in the State of Missouri since the inception of the program: Sikeston, Fountain Park, St. Charles County, Audrain County, Crystal City, Berkeley, Hannibal, Franklin County (2), Joplin, and Springfield.

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 has been one RET deployment in the state of Missouri since the inception of the program, in Springfield/Joplin.

Special Topics:

Transportation: Missouri’s central location in the United States makes it a critical transportation center for drug trafficking organizations. Missouri is served by two International Airports (St. Louis and Kansas City) and is crossed by three major east-west interstate highways used by transportation organizations moving drugs from the southwest border to the eastern United States and drug proceeds returning west. Interstates 44, 64, and 70 pass through the state from east to west, and Interstates 29, 35, and 55 pass through the state in a north south direction.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state conduct interdiction programs seizing large amounts of drugs and currency. These seizures rarely originate in or are destined for the state of Missouri. The St. Louis Division maintains an aggressive program to facilitate controlled deliveries to other divisions, and to pass investigative leads based on intelligence gathered during the highway interdictions. The controlled deliveries and leads have provided evidence and information to ongoing investigations in other divisions, often targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking.

Financial/Money Laundering:

Most of the drug trafficking organizations within the state of Missouri transport drug proceeds back to source countries/regions through bulk currency shipments, often using the same vehicles utilized to transport the drugs to the state. Organizations also utilize other money laundering methods such as micro structuring through traditional financial institutions, the use of money remitters, and casinos, but most of the financial operations appear to be less sophisticated.

More information about the St. Louis Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 1/2008

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