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Drug Situation: The drug threat in Wisconsin varies by area. Of concern in eastern and central Wisconsin are the availability, distribution, and abuse of powder and crack cocaine; the increasing availability of high purity heroin; and the number of new users, particularly in the Milwaukee area. Marijuana remains the most readily available and most widely abused drug throughout Wisconsin. Methamphetamine production and use are present, but appears to be declining. Most of the methamphetamine found in Wisconsin continues to be in the western part of the state, near the border of Iowa and Minnesota. Three types of organizations are responsible for most of the transportation and wholesale distribution of drugs in Wisconsin: Mexican drug trafficking organizations that transport cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine; Nigerian criminal groups that distribute Southwest Asian heroin; and Dominican criminal groups that distribute South American heroin and cocaine. Loosely organized African American and Hispanic street gangs, particularly organized street gangs are involved in the street-level distribution of most drugs, particularly crack cocaine.
While cocaine prices reported in the first and second quarters of fiscal year (FY) 2008 remained relatively stable, ranging from $20,000 to $23,000 per kilogram, prices in the third and fourth quarters of FY 2008 have increased sharply to between $28,000 and $30,000.
Club Drugs: "Club drugs" and "designer drugs" are general terms for synthetic chemical drugs that have become popular with teenagers and young adults. These drugs include MDMA (ecstasy), Ketamine, GHB, GBL, and LSD. According to a recent drug price survey in Wisconsin, most of the law enforcement agencies that responded indicated that club drugs were available in their jurisdictions, albeit at low levels. The DEA has reported encounters with Ketamine in Milwaukee and Madison, and with GHB in Green Bay.
Other Drugs: The use of diverted controlled substances in Wisconsin continues to be a problem. The most commonly diverted controlled substances from the licit market are Ritalin®, Vicodin®, hydrocodone, and other hydrocodone products, OxyContin®, and other oxycodone products, and the benzodiazepines. Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current investigations indicate that diversion of hydrocodone products (such as Vicodin®), methadone and OxyContin® continues to be a problem in Wisconsin. Primary methods of diversion being reported are the 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), forged prescriptions, and the Internet. Benzodiazepines, Dilaudid®, and Percocet® were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Wisconsin. 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 four MET deployments in the State of Wisconsin since the inception of the program, in Racine, Beloit, and Milwaukee (2). 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 have been no RET deployments in the state of Wisconsin. Special Topics: The Chicago Field Division is committed to fostering cooperative efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies within Wisconsin. There are 15 Task Force Officers, representing eight law enforcement agencies, assigned to the DEA in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee District Office also participates in the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) on a variety of counter-narcotics missions. The HIDTA is comprised of representatives from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from around southeastern Wisconsin. More information about the Chicago Division Office. Factsheet last updated: 3/2008 |