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National Drug Intelligence
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The distribution and abuse of ice methamphetamine pose the most significant drug threat to the Nevada HIDTA region. Most of the ice methamphetamine available in the region is supplied by Mexican DTOs that produce the drug in large-scale clandestine laboratories in Mexico. Mexican DTOs typically have been able to fully meet demand for the drug in the Nevada HIDTA region; however, in 2007 local officials reported fluctuations in ice methamphetamine availability and wide variances in price and purity. This situation is most likely the result of decreased methamphetamine production in Mexico following government of Mexico operations and administrative regulations designed to restrict access to precursor chemicals. Local, small-scale methamphetamine production also has declined significantly over the past few years.
Marijuana is the most widely available and frequently abused drug in the Nevada HIDTA region. Most of the marijuana available in the region is produced in Mexico1 and transported overland to the region; however, locally produced and Canadian high-potency marijuana are also available. Demand for high-potency marijuana by area abusers is increasing, leading to an expansion in indoor hydroponic cannabis cultivation in the region. Law enforcement officials report that the number of cannabis plants eradicated from indoor grow sites, as well as the number of indoor sites seized, increased significantly in 2007.
Powder cocaine is readily available throughout Nevada. Mexican DTOs transport the drug into the region from Mexico through POEs in California and Arizona. Mexican DTOs use the HIDTA region as a distribution center for cocaine. These DTOs supply wholesale quantities to other traffickers in the region and to traffickers operating in drug markets throughout the country, particularly markets in midwestern and eastern states. They also supply local African American and Hispanic street gangs with powder cocaine for conversion into crack cocaine. Street gangs typically distribute crack in urban areas, primarily Las Vegas and Reno.
Mexican black tar heroin and, to a lesser extent, brown powder heroin are also abused throughout the Nevada HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs supply various quantities of heroin to distributors, mainly Hispanic street gangs, and abusers in the area; however, they generally use the region as a transshipment center for heroin destined for drug markets throughout most of the country, primarily those in southwestern, midwestern, and eastern states. Retail-level heroin distributors in the region are attempting to expand their customer base by targeting high school students, particularly students at more affluent high schools in the Las Vegas area.
The distribution and abuse of diverted pharmaceutical drugs pose an increasing threat to the HIDTA region. The most widely available and commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs are prescription narcotics, such as Vicodin and Lortab (hydrocodone products), methadone, and OxyContin (oxycodone), and central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam)--both benzodiazepines. Pharmaceuticals are diverted by distributors and abusers in the region through prescription fraud, theft, illicit sale by patients, and illegal purchases over the Internet.
Various other dangerous drugs (ODDs) are distributed by traffickers in the Nevada HIDTA region, including MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin mushrooms, PCP (phencyclidine), and ketamine; however, ODDs pose a relatively low threat to the region compared with other illicit drugs. Asian DTO members, mostly of Chinese descent, are the primary wholesale, midlevel, and retail distributors of MDMA in the region. African American street gang members obtain PCP and ketamine from sources in California and distribute the drugs locally. Caucasian independent dealers are the primary retail distributors of LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups present the greatest organizational threat to the Nevada HIDTA region. These DTOs generally are well organized, extensively networked, and deeply entrenched in many local communities throughout the region. They control the wholesale and midlevel distribution of ice methamphetamine, powder cocaine, Mexican marijuana, and Mexican black tar and brown powder heroin, typically obtaining supplies from Mexican traffickers in Mexico and southwestern states.
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Drug Trafficking Organizations, Criminal Groups, and Gangs Drug trafficking organizations are complex organizations with highly defined command-and-control structures that produce, transport, and/or distribute large quantities of one or more illicit drugs. Criminal groups operating in the United States are numerous and range from small to moderately sized, loosely knit groups that distribute one or more drugs at the retail level and midlevel. Gangs are defined by the National Alliance of Gang Investigators' Associations as groups or associations of three or more persons with a common identifying sign, symbol, or name, the members of which individually or collectively engage in criminal activity that creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. |
Asian DTOs and criminal groups are the primary suppliers and distributors of MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the region. They generally obtain supplies of MDMA from sources in southern California for distribution in Las Vegas and from sources in San Francisco for distribution in Reno. Asian DTOs and criminal groups also transport high-potency marijuana to the region from California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada; they supply the marijuana to retail-level distributors and abusers in the area, primarily to Washoe County in the north. Additionally, law enforcement officials report that Asian criminal groups engage in limited indoor cannabis cultivation in the HIDTA region.
Caucasian criminal groups and independent dealers also distribute MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the Nevada HIDTA region. Caucasian traffickers typically travel to California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada to obtain supplies of these drugs and then transport them back to their home areas for local distribution. Caucasian criminal groups and local independent dealers also cultivate cannabis within the region, primarily at indoor grow sites; they distribute the marijuana throughout Nevada.
Street gangs, primarily African American and Hispanic gangs, are actively engaged in retail-level drug distribution within the region. African American street gangs are the primary retail distributors of crack cocaine and PCP (phencyclidine). They produce most of their crack cocaine supplies locally, but occasionally transport small quantities to the region that they obtain from gang contacts in southern California. Hispanic street gangs are engaged in the retail distribution of ice methamphetamine, powder cocaine, Mexican marijuana, and heroin throughout the area. These gangs also distribute crack cocaine, but to a lesser extent. Additionally, law enforcement officials report that a number of "hybrid" street gangs are forming in metropolitan areas of the region and engaging in drug trafficking. The hybrid gangs emulate national gangs, such as Bloods and Crips, but have little or no affiliation with them other than adopting their names, symbolism, and representing style. Hybrid gang members are much less likely to wear colors, display gang signs, or have tattoos, making it much harder for law enforcement officials to identify them.
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