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Drug Situation: The state of Georgia is both a final destination point for drug shipments and a smuggling corridor for drugs transported along the East Coast. Extensive interstate highway, rail, and bus transportation networks, as well as international, regional, and private air and marine ports of entry serve the state. Georgia is strategically located on the I-95 corridor between New York City and Miami, the key wholesale-level drug distribution centers on the East Coast, I-85 towards North and South Carolina and other major drug importation hubs. In addition, Interstate Highway 20 runs directly into Georgia from drug entry points along the southwest border and the Gulf Coast. The city of Atlanta has become an important strategic point for drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) as it is the largest city in the South and is a nexus for all East/West and North/South travel. The Mexico-U.S. Southwest Border area continues to be the primary source and staging area for cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin introduced into Georgia.

There are 9.3 million legal residents in the state of Georgia, half of which live in the Atlanta Metro area. Hispanics account for over 5 percent of the population. The Hispanic population growth has been aided by an influx of undocumented immigrants, mostly from Mexico. Intelligence currently indicates that as the Mexican immigrant community has grown so too has the presence of Mexican traffickers. With that growth, Mexican poly-drug organizations have been identified as the largest foreign threat in the state, predominantly trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin. Mexican traffickers have documented ability to supply kilogram quantities of cocaine hydrochloride (powder cocaine) directly to local crack cocaine dealers.

DEA intelligence continues to identify smuggling routes, concealment methods, and money-laundering operations employed by other foreign DTOs, such as Southeast Asian, West African, South American, and the Caribbean. Asian DTOs are now noted as the second most visible group of international traffickers exerting influence in the state.

Poly-Drug: Mexican traffickers and Mexican DTOs continue to play an increasingly dominant role in the importation and distribution of illegal drugs within Georgia. Mexican poly-drug organizations are the largest foreign threat in the state, predominantly trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin.

Marijuana: Marijuana, the most commonly abused drug in Georgia, is readily available throughout the state. Mexico and the Southwest Border are the usual sources of marijuana imported and distributed in Georgia. The primary wholesale suppliers of marijuana are Mexican nationals. Outdoor cannabis cultivation sites are increasing due to the normally ideal growing conditions in the region. The U.S. Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service report large marijuana grow sites in the state, with a recent seizure netting several thousand marijuana plants from outdoor camp sites in Eastern Georgia. Because of DEA's Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program and the recent drought in the Southeastern United States, some dealers have resorted to hydroponic cultivation of marijuana. Hydroponic marijuana distribution usually involves Asian- Canadian DTOs, but due to increasing consumer demand, another ethnic group is becoming involved. A recently culminated investigation targeted a Cuban trafficking group. The value of hydroponic marijuana seized from this organization exceeded $25,000,000 dollars (USC).

Cocaine: Cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) and crack cocaine continue to have the greatest negative impact throughout Georgia. DEA investigations and other source reporting indicate that cocaine trafficking organizations are experiencing difficulty receiving cocaine from their Mexican and Latin suppliers. The shortage of supply is attributed to the increased commitment and successes of domestic and international law enforcement and military personnel in their efforts to impede the flow of illicit drugs to and through the United States. Consequently, increased cocaine prices have been reported across the state. Historically, bulk quantities of powder cocaine are transported into the state most often from the Southwest Border. Often the powder cocaine is converted into crack by the local wholesaler or retailer. Primary source areas for cocaine are located in Texas. Although traffickers use several transportation modes, the predominant methods of smuggling are the use of private or rental vehicles and tractor-trailers with increasingly sophisticated hidden compartments, travel routes, and counter-surveillance techniques. There has been an increase in cover loads being used to secrete cocaine shipments. These loads are many times a legitimate load of fruits or vegetables with kilogram quantities of cocaine commingled throughout. Each day, law enforcement personnel uncover the new, creative and sophisticated methods used by traffickers to facilitate the movement of contraband.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine abuse continues to be a premier threat throughout the state. Since 2002, most of the significant methamphetamine seizures in the state were the result of stash/distribution site raids or state/local interdiction stops. Traditionally, the clandestine laboratory hot spots were in the northwestern counties; however, there have been recent slight shifts in laboratory activity near the extreme southwestern and eastern counties of the state. In 2005, legislation was enacted to restrict the sale of over-the-counter products containing pseudoephedrine, an essential chemical used in producing methamphetamine. Pivotally, there has also been a corresponding increase in the availability of Mexican manufactured crystallized methamphetamine, known as Ice, in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Heroin: Georgia is largely deemed a transit and to a lesser degree, a distribution point for heroin; however, heroin availability remains stable throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. Typically, South American, Southwest Asian and Mexican, have been the predominant types of heroin in the Atlanta area.

Club Drugs: Atlanta is a transit city for Ecstasy (MDMA) destined for other U.S. cities. MDMA, GHB, and Ketamine continue to be popular and remain readily available around populations of young people (gyms, college campuses and associated “hang outs”) throughout the state. LSD is usually encountered at school settings and is imported to Georgia mostly from the West Coast via U.S. Postal Service packages or commercial express mail. The wholesale cost of Ecstasy, depending on location and amount purchased, varies between $3 and $15 per pill and the retail price varies between $8 (Atlanta) and $25 (Savannah). Ecstasy is readily available in Atlanta’s nightclubs, “Rave” parties, and concerts that target the younger population.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: The diversion of hydrocodone and oxycodone products (such as Vicodin®) and OxyContin®) continues to be a problem in Georgia. Primary methods of diversion being reported are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, “doctor shopping” (going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical), and the Internet. Xanax® and Lorcet® were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Georgia. A new trend also indicates metha done is replacing oxycodone. This shift is due to physicians increasingly switching from oxycodone to methadone in the treatment of pain and the lower cost of methadone compared to oxycodone products.

Money Laundering: Bulk currency shipment is the preferred method of moving drug proceeds back to Mexico by Mexican drug traffickers. They and other international drug traffickers in the state are very creative in their attempts to launder illegal drug proceeds. Illicit proceeds are commonly laundered through money transfers, money orders, bank cards and through purchases of real estate, vehicles, jewelry and “cash and carry” businesses. The Atlanta metropolitan area is one of the most important staging points for consolidating and repatriating bulk currency across the U.S./Mexican border because it is a nexus for all East/West and North/South travel and its transportation infrastructure.

Other Enforcement Operations: The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) established the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 1995. The Atlanta HIDTA’s mission is two fold: It targets drugs and violence within Barrow, Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton and Forsyth Counties, as well as the city of Atlanta and the Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport. There are 20 agencies participating in the Atlanta HIDTA, five of which are federal agencies.

DEA State and Local Assistance: The DEA continues to support Georgia state and local efforts with specialized programs aimed at the availability of drugs.

More information about the Atlanta Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 02/2009

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