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National Drug Intelligence Center |
Widespread and sustained methamphetamine abuse is the most critical drug abuse concern throughout the HIDTA. The drug's abuse and associated violence severely strain the resources of public health departments, treatment centers, and social services agencies in the Midwest HIDTA region. Methamphetamine-related domestic violence, child abuse, and child neglect have burdened local foster care systems and social services. Because of methamphetamine's highly addictive nature, longer treatment programs and high recidivism rates encumber treatment centers in the area.
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Missouri Children Endangered by Father's Methamphetamine Production On October 16, 2008, a St. Louis area man pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Missouri to multiple counts involving his conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine--including felony counts of manufacturing methamphetamine on premises where children were present and manufacturing in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine. From 2006 to 2008 the defendant produced methamphetamine at various locations in St. Charles and Franklin Counties. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine in a hotel room with his four children (5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds as well as a 5-month-old baby) present. Officers found various containers of chemicals under a desk, in the shower, and under the bed as well as a diaper bag that contained a syringe and spoon used for ingesting methamphetamine. In addition, the defendant had a prior arrest in December 2007 for the theft and fraudulent use of a stolen credit card. The St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit contributed to the man's apprehension and prosecution. Source: U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Missouri. |
Crack cocaine abuse continues to be a serious problem in many metropolitan areas of the Midwest HIDTA, and powder cocaine abuse increased8 in several HIDTA cities, including Salina and Bismarck, during 2008.
Marijuana abuse is pervasive throughout the Midwest HIDTA region and crosses racial/ethnic lines. However, marijuana abuse poses a lesser concern to public health and law enforcement officials than the abuse of methamphetamine and cocaine--drugs that are more addictive and have a greater potential for overdose. Commercial-grade and high-potency marijuana are available and abused in the region.9
While CPDs are typically abused to varying degrees throughout the HIDTA, several markets report a noticeable increase in such abuse during 2008; oxycodone is the most commonly diverted and abused controlled prescription narcotic.10
Heroin abuse is largely limited to the St. Louis metropolitan area (where white powder heroin and Mexican black tar heroin are readily available); however, abuse of Mexican black tar heroin and brown powder heroin as well as white powder heroin increased significantly in Springfield during 2008. In addition, several law enforcement agencies in the Kansas City, Kansas, metropolitan area report that Mexican black tar heroin availability and abuse rose significantly during the second half of 2008.
Mexican DTOs and criminal groups are the principal drug money launderers in the Midwest HIDTA region. They transport drug proceeds primarily in bulk to other destinations in the United States and Mexico for laundering. Illicit proceeds--including those generated in outlying markets--are consolidated by traffickers within the HIDTA's market areas for shipment to drug source cities, including El Paso and Houston, Texas, and Phoenix and Tucson, as well as to Mexico. Traffickers transport bulk cash primarily via private and commercial vehicles that are often equipped with hidden compartments. For example, in December 2008 the Iowa State Patrol seized over $1.4 million concealed in the walls of a trailer being pulled by a private vehicle on I-80 en route to Los Angeles from Alberta, Canada. Mexican DTOs and criminal groups also use money services businesses (MSBs) such as money remitters and check cashing firms to launder drug proceeds. Mexican traffickers in the Midwest HIDTA region also invest drug proceeds in real estate and businesses as well as expensive items, including jewelry and luxury vehicles. They frequently purchase cash-intensive businesses such as bars, jewelry stores, restaurants, and used car lots and commingle drug proceeds with profits generated at the business. In addition, federal law enforcement officials in Fargo, Kansas City, and St. Louis report that some wholesale-level traffickers are also using electronic commerce, such as digital currency, private automated teller machines (ATMs), mobile payments,11 and online payment systems, to launder illicit proceeds.
Retail-level traffickers also launder funds that they derive through illicit drug distribution, albeit to a lesser extent than higher-level traffickers. They often use small, cash-intensive front businesses to commingle illicit proceeds with legitimate funds and purchase real estate, vehicles, luxury items, and businesses with drug proceeds.
8.
During 2008, law enforcement officials in several cities (mostly in North Dakota
and South Dakota) reported methamphetamine abusers' switching to cocaine abuse;
the switch in drug of choice is most likely due to market availability fluctuations
as well as successful law enforcement and public safety campaigns that highlighted
the dangers of methamphetamine abuse.
9.
Illinois Treatment Episode Data Set data for 2007 were not available as of January
5, 2009.
10.
Many cities in the Eastern District of Missouri reported an increase in controlled
prescription drug (CPD) abuse during 2008. These cities fall within St. Louis's
sphere of influence, where heroin abuse is much more prevalent than in other areas
of the HIDTA region. This rise in CPD abuse may be due to heroin abusers seeking
alternatives.
11.
Mobile payments are any payments activated or confirmed by a mobile device, such
as a cellular telephone.
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