Outlook

Milwaukee will continue to serve as a focal point for the transportation and distribution of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin throughout Wisconsin, thereby serving as a crucial link between sources of supply and retail distribution operations within the state. Sophisticated Mexican DTOs as well as Chicago-based street gangs operate primarily in the Milwaukee area. Investigations have revealed that Nigerian and Dominican heroin wholesale operations also are centered predominantly in Milwaukee. Moreover, a large portion of all federal, state, and local narcotics investigations, arrests, and seizures in Wisconsin are in the Milwaukee area, and most law enforcement investigations outside the state that have a Wisconsin nexus involve Milwaukee.

Gang-controlled cocaine and crack retail operations located primarily in Wisconsin's larger cities will begin to spread to smaller communities to the north and west, resulting in increased violence in those areas. Gangs are migrating to smaller communities in Wisconsin, where the price of crack and powdered cocaine is much higher, to increase profits and to escape law enforcement scrutiny.

The cultivation of cannabis in indoor and hydroponic grow operations will continue to increase--supporting rising demand. Law enforcement officials report that indoor and hydroponic grow operations account for approximately 20 percent of the state's marijuana, and seizures of marijuana plants from indoor grow operations increased 30 percent from 1997 to 1999. New growing techniques, easily obtained on the Internet or in magazines, can produce marijuana with THC contents well above 10 percent, increasing marijuana's popularity and thus increasing the number of growers lured by potential profits. Cannabis cultivators also use the more discreet growing methods, indoor or hydroponic, to prevent detection and foil law enforcement eradication efforts.

Mexican methamphetamine transporters and distributors, currently concentrated in western Wisconsin, will continue to move eastward in search of new markets. Methamphetamine abuse is at high levels in both Minnesota and Iowa, and the problem is spreading to Wisconsin. Furthermore, Wisconsin has large national forests and wilderness areas, and limited law enforcement presence in these areas creates ideal conditions for setting up methamphetamine laboratories. Other factors contributing to the high potential for methamphetamine production in Wisconsin include an increase in demand within the state and stricter penalties for production in other states such as California, Missouri, and Iowa, a situation that may compel producers to relocate to Wisconsin. The precursor chemical anhydrous ammonia is easily obtained from local farms, and other chemicals such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and P2P can be acquired cheaply in Canada, which has less stringent regulations of precursors.

Another potential threat related to methamphetamine distribution is the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Milwaukee. The club maintains strong ties among its chapters as well as with other motorcycle clubs across the country known for methamphetamine distribution. Although the Outlaws Motorcycle Club is not currently involved in methamphetamine distribution, such participation would be a natural progression in operations. As methamphetamine use gains in popularity and abuse spreads, production of the drug will present a lucrative opportunity for the club.

Expect Nigerian and Dominican drug trafficking groups currently established in Milwaukee to expand their heroin operations into smaller cities such as Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau. A recent report from the Dane County Narcotics Enforcement Task Force stated that heroin overdose deaths increased in 1999--a possible indication of an increasing availability of the higher-purity SA heroin normally distributed by Dominicans. Furthermore, the number of investigations targeting Nigerian and Dominican-related heroin operations based in Milwaukee or with a Milwaukee nexus increased significantly in 1999. The Milwaukee HIDTA indicated that both Nigerian and Dominican trafficking organizations were increasing their narcotics role in the area.

The increasing availability in Wisconsin of traditional drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin and increased MDMA and rave activity nationwide indicate an increase in MDMA use in the state is likely.

To Top      To Contents     To Previous Page     To Sources

To Publication Page     To Home Page