Outlook

The availability and abuse of powdered and crack cocaine will continue to pose the greatest drug threat to New Mexico. Barring any changes in supply or demand, price and purity will remain relatively stable. Mexican DTOs and Mexican criminal groups will continue to dominate powdered cocaine transportation and wholesale distribution. Cuban criminal groups in Albuquerque may expand to areas outside the city in an effort to increase their crack cocaine distribution base.

Methamphetamine-related activity will most likely continue to increase throughout New Mexico. As the demand for the drug increases, local methamphetamine production will expand to new areas of the state. An increase in local production will lead to additional social, economic, and environmental costs. As a result, state and local budgets will be strained in an effort to address these associated costs.

Mexican black tar will remain the predominant type of heroin available in New Mexico. Heroin-related overdose deaths will remain a problem due to the continuing availability of high-purity heroin. The state will continue to be used as a transshipment area for heroin that is destined for other locations in the United States.

Marijuana smuggled from Mexico and locally grown cannabis will continue to pose a threat to the state. Mexico-produced marijuana will remain the most prevalent type available, but higher quality, locally produced marijuana will become increasingly available. Indoor cannabis cultivation is likely to increase as growers attempt to improve the plants' yield and produce a more potent product. For the foreseeable future, Mexican DTOs and Mexican criminal groups will continue to dominate all facets of marijuana trafficking.

With the growing popularity of all-night dance parties, the use of club drugs--particularly MDMA--may become more of a problem throughout the urban areas and border towns of New Mexico. The potential for an increase in the number of overdoses exists as these drugs are mixed with alcohol, other drugs, or both. The perception by users that club drugs are not harmful will present a significant obstacle in the effort to reduce and prevent their use. The diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs will most likely continue to increase as drug users seek new drug alternatives. The ready availability of other dangerous drugs--particularly MDMA and diverted pharmaceuticals--in Mexico may led to an increase in the smuggling of these drugs across the New Mexico-Mexico border.

As legitimate trade between Mexico and the United States increases, drug traffickers will continue to exploit overburdened and understaffed ports of entry. New Mexico's transportation infrastructure--especially highways--will be used heavily by drug traffickers. Overnight express mail and parcel services will continue to be used to ship drugs into and out of the state. New Mexico will continue to be a major transshipment point for illegal drugs. Mexican DTOs and Mexican criminal groups will continue to move smaller shipments into and through the state to avoid large numbers of losses.

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