Production

Methamphetamine production in the Ohio HIDTA region has decreased significantly over the last year as a result of aggressive law enforcement efforts, public awareness campaigns, and statewide precursor chemical control legislation, which was enacted in May 2006. National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System (NCLSS) data show a 24 percent decrease in the number of seized methamphetamine laboratories, dumpsites, and chemicals/glass/equipment in Ohio HIDTA counties from FY2005 (124) to FY2006 (94). Notably, Summit County reported the highest number of seizures in both FY2005 (72) and FY2006 (67); those numbers represent 58 percent and 71 percent, respectively, of all seizures in Ohio HIDTA counties during those years. Despite the apparent decrease in methamphetamine laboratories in the region, continued small-scale methamphetamine production by local independent dealers creates severe environmental and health concerns for law enforcement officers and those who live at or near production sites; such methamphetamine production also taxes the limited resources of the agencies that remediate these sites.

Large amounts of powder cocaine are converted to crack cocaine by African American criminal groups and street gangs at or near local distribution sites in the Ohio HIDTA region. Crack conversion is a particular threat in the Cleveland area, where a large number of street gangs that convert and distribute crack cocaine also frequently engage in drug-related criminal activity, including assault, homicide, and theft. However, law enforcement officials in Cleveland report recent decreases in the level of crack conversion occurring in the city, reportedly because the penalties associated with crack cocaine are harsher than those associated with powder cocaine.

Most of the marijuana available in the Ohio HIDTA region is transported to the area from Mexico; however, cannabis is cultivated locally at both indoor and outdoor grow sites. Indoor cannabis cultivation is more common than outdoor cultivation in the Ohio HIDTA region and is typically conducted by local Caucasian producers in private residences, particularly rental homes. Moreover, law enforcement reporting in 2006 indicates that Vietnamese criminal groups have purchased several residences in Medina and Lorain Counties (which border the Cleveland metropolitan area) for the sole purpose of producing high-potency marijuana. Twelve Vietnamese individuals connected to these grow operations have been arrested; one of these individuals is from Canada and another is from Georgia. Outdoor cannabis cultivation occasionally takes place in remote areas in the Ohio HIDTA region and throughout the state, particularly in southeastern Ohio.

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