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Drug Situation: In central and western Iowa, methamphetamine remains the principal drug of concern, while cocaine is the principal drug of concern in eastern Iowa. Interstates 29 and 35 provide a critical north-south transportation avenue for drug traffickers. Iowa also serves as a transshipment point for drugs being transported to the eastern United States via Interstate 80. Hispanic trafficking organizations import large quantities of methamphetamine into Iowa, sometimes with their shipments of cocaine and marijuana.

Cocaine: Cocaine HCl is readily available throughout Iowa. In metropolitan areas of eastern Iowa, cocaine is the number two drug of choice, behind marijuana. Chicago and California are primary source areas for cocaine coming into eastern Iowa. Most of the crack cocaine in eastern Iowa is sold by African-American traffickers, supplied by street gangs out of Chicago. Defendant and witness interviews indicate that m any Chicago residents have been displaced as a result of low income housing projects being torn down, and have now settled in Iowa. This population shift has provided Chicago-based gang members cover and protection for their gang activities, including the trafficking of controlled substances. Cocaine availability in the Des Moines area remains stable after past increases. The Sioux City Resident Office has also seen a significant increase in crack cocaine. The abuse is no longer limited to certain ethnic groups. The crack cocaine is often arriving from the Chicago and Arkansas areas. Numerous subjects with ties to Kansas City have been arrested in Sioux City, but the void left by the arrests of those subjects has been quickly and easily filled by subjects from Chicago and Arkansas.

Heroin: Most of the heroin in Iowa can be found in the eastern part of the state. While heroin availability is limited in Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Resident Office reports that when encountered, it is usually of the white heroin type. Chicago-based street gangs are responsible for the majority of heroin available in eastern Iowa. These gang members often shed their gang affiliations while in Iowa to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Methamphetamine: The methamphetamine abused in Iowa comes from two distinct sources. Hispanic trafficking organizations import large quantities of methamphetamine into Iowa, primarily via motor vehicles and mail delivery services. This methamphetamine is usually in crystallized form and is known as “Ice.” There are large Mexican communities throughout Iowa and a significant illegal immigrant problem, primarily with Mexican nationals. These communities afford Mexican traffickers a ready-made pipeline and infrastructure to distribute methamphetamine.

A decrease in the purity of the Mexican-produced “ice” has led many users in the state of Iowa to return to using higher-purity methamphetamine produced locally in small toxic laboratories. Local manufacturers bypass laws limiting the sale of pseudoephedrine by using friends and family to purchase large quantities of pseudoephedrine pills from retail stores (known as “smurfing”), and thefts of anhydrous ammonia have increased.

Predatory Drugs: The state of Iowa continues to see the abuse of MDMA (ecstasy). Most of the MDMA in eastern Iowa is said to come from sources in California, New York, Spain, and the Netherlands. The organizations are believed to transport the MDMA via package services. Bulk quantities of MDMA are readily available within central Iowa, primarily in tablet form. Package services are frequently used, as well as common land transport methods. Most of the MDMA in central Iowa is believed to be primarily produced in Canada and smuggled across the northern border of the United States. There is intelligence indicating the trafficking of MDMA by Asian organizations in the state.

Marijuana:Marijuana is readily available throughout Iowa. Cedar Rapids continues to report that marijuana in eastern Iowa primarily originates from sources along the southwest border. Wholesale marijuana in northwest Iowa is primarily distributed by the large Hispanic community in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The majority of the marijuana throughout Iowa is imported from the southwest border in motor vehicles and mail delivery services. Domestically produced marijuana is also available in Iowa. Small indoor and outdoor grow operations have been found in eastern and central Iowa. High grade marijuana is also readily available in Iowa from sources in Canada and the West Coast of the United States. Low-quality “ditchweed” marijuana also continues to be available.

Other Drugs:Law enforcement in Sioux City report the availability of phencyclidine (PCP). Law enforcement in Des Moines continues to report the availability of LSD in central Iowa.

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

Special Topics: Interstates 80 and 35 cross Iowa, providing a ready smuggling route for many drug trafficking organizations. Commercial and private motor vehicles are the primary method that drug traffickers use to transport drug shipments into the state, as well as to send bulk currency proceeds back to Mexico. Highway interdictions have led to the seizure of large amounts of drugs and currency found in hidden compartments, natural voids, luggage, and often in plain sight. A cooperative agreement between DEA, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa State Patrol ensures DEA's presence in all significant Operation Pipeline interdictions.

More information about the St. Louis Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 3/2009

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