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National Drug Intelligence
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Cocaine, particularly crack, poses the greatest drug threat to the Lake County HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs transport wholesale quantities of cocaine to the HIDTA region from Mexico, the Southwest Border, and Chicago. In addition, street gangs from Chicago supply gang members and independent dealers in the Lake County HIDTA region with large quantities of powder cocaine, most of which is converted to crack and distributed locally. In the fourth quarter of 2007 and first quarter of 2008, law enforcement officials in the HIDTA region reported decreased cocaine availability coupled with increased prices. Cocaine shortages were attributed, in part, to successful law enforcement operations in Mexico and large seizures of the drug by law enforcement. Street gangs in the HIDTA region, particularly those in northern tier cities, engage in violent criminal activity to protect their drug supplies, distribution territories, and illicit drug proceeds.
Heroin availability in the Lake County HIDTA region is increasing. Law enforcement officials in the region report that heroin is more available and more widely distributed by street gangs than in previous years. Mexican traffickers dominate the transportation and wholesale distribution of heroin in the HIDTA region. Most of the heroin available in the HIDTA region is South American (SA); however, other types, including Southeast Asian (SEA), Southwest Asian (SWA), and Mexican black tar and brown powder are also available. Heroin abusers, particularly young Caucasians from affluent suburban areas in the region and in neighboring Porter County, often travel to northern tier cities or Chicago to purchase heroin. For example, street gangs in Gary operate open-air heroin markets near off-ramps of exits along Interstate 80/94 to accommodate out-of-town heroin abusers who regularly purchase the drug.
Marijuana, particularly commercial-grade Mexican marijuana, is the most widely available and abused illicit drug in Lake County. Mexican DTOs typically transport marijuana to the region from locations along the Southwest Border and from Chicago, often in multiton quantities using private vehicles and tractor-trailers. Street gangs and independent dealers are the principal retail marijuana distributors in the region. High-potency marijuana is not commonly available; however, law enforcement officials in the region report that the demand for and availability of high-potency marijuana are increasing.
The availability and abuse of methamphetamine, MDMA, and diverted pharmaceutical drugs vary throughout the region. Methamphetamine availability and abuse occur at low levels in Lake County. Local powder methamphetamine production is limited; some ice methamphetamine is transported through the region by Mexican DTOs for distribution in midwestern markets. Law enforcement officials in the region report increased availability of MDMA. African American and Hispanic street gangs, typically supplied by Canada-based Asian traffickers, are the primary retail-level distributors of MDMA in Lake County. The availability of diverted pharmaceutical drugs such as hydrocodone, Xanax, and oxycodone remains stable at moderate levels; however, law enforcement officials report that the diversion of methadone is increasing in the Lake County HIDTA region. Investigators attribute increased methadone diversion primarily to the overprescribing of the drug by physicians for pain management; some patients sell the methadone and others have it stolen from them by family members or associates. Methadone is also diverted by patients who receive treatment at local methadone clinics.
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