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Drug Situation:The use of methamphetamine continues to affect the rural areas, as well as the urban areas, throughout the state of South Dakota. This increased use and demand for methamphetamine has continued to rise over the past year. Methamphetamine has come to the attention of the public through an increasingly aware media, informed public officials from the local to national level, and concerned citizens. Public efforts are underway by law enforcement, politicians, social service agencies and the media to further educate the public as to the dangers of methamphetamine use and abuse. In addition, marijuana is readily available in all areas of South Dakota. It continues as the most abused of the illegal controlled substances. Also, the controversial issue of "hemp" remains a high profile topic. Interstate 90, which runs east to west through South Dakota, is increasingly being used for the transportation of drugs and currency by trafficking organizations.

Cocaine: Cocaine HCl is readily available throughout all parts of South Dakota. While the availability of crack cocaine is increasing in eastern South Dakota, abuse is still limited in western sections of the state. Cocaine is obtained from Mexican sources in Sioux City, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri, and California. Some distributors in Rapid City, South Dakota obtain cocaine from sources in the Denver area.

Heroin: Heroin is typically available only in personal use quantities in South Dakota.

Methamphetamine: The availability of Mexican methamphetamine continues to increase throughout South Dakota. Methamphetamine in eastern South Dakota is obtained from sources in Sioux City, Iowa, and from sources in the western states of Texas, Arizona, and California. Methamphetamine is distributed locally by either long-time Caucasian residents or Hispanic males who have recently moved to South Dakota. Mexican methamphetamine in western South Dakota is primarily shipped directly from cities such as Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, and San Diego using FedEx or UPS. Small toxic labs have steadily increased over the last few years. Local lab operators are obtaining chemicals at local hardware stores, truck stops, and department stores. Production capabilities of these small labs are usually less than one ounce. The stealing of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer from farm supply stores and farmers has also emerged as a serious problem in this agricultural state.

Predatory Drugs: MDMA (Ecstasy) in eastern South Dakota is limited but appears to be increasing. MDMA is more readily available in western portions of South Dakota; however, the number of rave parties remains stable. Law enforcement in South Dakota reports limited availability of LSD.

Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available throughout South Dakota. Multi-hundred pound quantities are transported into the state from the southwest border of the United States. Smaller quantities are also shipped via express mail services or purchased from Hispanic males in the Sioux City area and driven back to Sioux Falls. Higher purity marijuana is produced in indoor grow operations in the Sioux Falls area, which typically contain less than 100 plants. Larger indoor operations have been found in the Rapid City area in western South Dakota, ranging from a few plants to several hundred. During the past few years, members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe have attempted to plant fields of “hemp” on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Intelligence reports indicate that high purity “BC Bud” marijuana may now be available in South Dakota.

Other Drugs: OxyContin is a growing problem throughout South Dakota, and has been found at methamphetamine laboratory sites. According to the South Dakota Department of Health, hydrocodone products, codeine, and Darvocet-N are the most popular abused pharmaceutical substances in the state. They are obtained by forged prescriptions and by phony call-ins.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: Diversion of OxyContin® and hydrocodone products continues to be a problem throughout South Dakota. Primary methods of diversion being reported are “doctor shopping” (going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical), and forged prescriptions. Alprazolam and lorazepam were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in South Dakota.

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. Since the inception of the program, there has been one MET deployment in the State of South Dakota, in Yankton Sioux.

Special Topics: Interstate 90 runs east to west through the state of South Dakota and has become a more significant transportation route for drug trafficking organizations. During 2004, highway interdictions in South Dakota led to seizures including approximately 3.2 kilograms of heroin, 725 pounds of marijuana, and $100,000.

More information about the St. Louis Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 2/2007