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National Drug Intelligence Center |
The dominance that Mexican DTOs exert over wholesale cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and ice methamphetamine distribution in the Central Florida HIDTA region is unlikely to be challenged by other DTOs in the near term. As the Hispanic population in the region expands, Mexican traffickers will assimilate into those communities and will easily mask their drug distribution operations. In fact, Mexican DTOs may become more entrenched in the Central Florida HIDTA region and may continue to expand their distribution operations in Florida and other areas as they gain additional market exposure. These DTOs will increasingly exploit firearms in the United States for use in national and international drug-related activities.
The number and size of indoor cannabis grow sites will quite likely increase during the next year as Cuban DTOs and other local producers seek to profit from the rising demand for high-potency marijuana in the Central Florida HIDTA region. Cuban DTOs will continue to use illegal immigrants to work at indoor cannabis grow sites. Moreover, an abundance of low-cost real estate available in the region as a result of declining economic factors will quite likely provide marijuana producers with increased potential for expansion of their indoor grow operations.
Established CPD diversion networks in central Florida, particularly Tampa, will continue to supply CPDs to distributors and abusers throughout the eastern United States. Compounding this situation are illicit Internet pharmacies operating in Florida, including those in the Central Florida HIDTA region. However, the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 will most likely deter some Internet pharmacy operators. CPD-related deaths, particularly among youths, may increase as the average age of CPD abusers in the region decreases and these younger abusers increasingly use CPDs alone and in combination with other drugs.
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