National Drug Intelligence Center   Nevada High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009   April 2009

Drug Threat Overview

The distribution and abuse of ice methamphetamine pose the most significant drug threat to the Nevada HIDTA region. Most of the ice methamphetamine available in the region is supplied by Mexican DTOs that transport the drug to the region from sources of supply in Mexico, Arizona, and California. Ice methamphetamine availability varies throughout the Nevada HIDTA region; this variability is most likely associated with different domestic source areas that supply ice methamphetamine to markets in the region. For example, the principal domestic source of supply for methamphetamine available in Las Vegas is the Los Angeles area; Sacramento and San Francisco, California, are the primary source areas for methamphetamine available in Reno. Mexican DTOs typically have been able to fully meet demand for ice methamphetamine in the Nevada HIDTA region, particularly in Las Vegas, where availability remained stable during 2008 and where law enforcement officials continue to seize multipound quantities of the drug. However, decreased methamphetamine production in Mexico, resulting from government restrictions on precursor chemical imports and transportation difficulties caused by escalating violence among drug cartels in Mexico, resulted in decreased ice methamphetamine availability and increased prices in some markets in the HIDTA region in 2008. For example, the Reno Police Department reported a sharp decline in the availability of ice methamphetamine during the first half of 2008; by the end of the year, supplies had returned to 2007 levels. Ice methamphetamine prices also increased to as much as $1,600 per ounce in 2008; prices in 2007 had stabilized between $1,000 and $1,150 per ounce. The decreased availability of ice methamphetamine in the Reno area also impacted secondary markets supplied from Reno, such as Carson City, where law enforcement officials reported in early 2009 that some distributors were able to sell only eight-ball (one-eighth ounce) quantities of ice methamphetamine because of the difficulty in obtaining larger quantities. The decreased availability of ice methamphetamine in some markets in the region also resulted in lower purity levels at the midlevel and retail level, since distributors cut the drug to stretch supplies and maintain profit levels.

Marijuana is the most widely available and frequently abused drug in the Nevada HIDTA region. Most of the marijuana available in the region is produced in Mexico1 and transported overland to the region; however, locally produced and Canadian high-potency marijuana are also available. Demand for high-potency marijuana by area abusers is increasing, leading to an expansion in indoor hydroponic cannabis cultivation in the region. According to local law enforcement officials the number of cannabis plants eradicated from indoor grow sites, as well as the number of indoor sites seized, increased in 2008. Outdoor cannabis cultivation is limited in Nevada; however, Mexican DTOs are expanding their use of public lands and remote areas outside the HIDTA region, primarily in Esmeralda and Humboldt Counties, for outdoor cannabis grow operations.

Mexican DTOs transport cocaine into the region from Mexico through POEs in California and Arizona and use the Nevada HIDTA region as a distribution center, supplying wholesale quantities of cocaine to other traffickers in the region and to other drug markets throughout the country, particularly markets in midwestern and eastern states. Powder cocaine availability (much like methamphetamine availability) varies throughout the Nevada HIDTA region, largely because of the different source areas that supply cocaine to markets in the region. The principal domestic source of supply for cocaine available in Las Vegas is the Los Angeles area; Sacramento and San Francisco are the primary source areas for cocaine available in Reno. The Reno Police Department reported steady availability of cocaine in 2008 and increases in early 2009. However, Las Vegas experienced cocaine shortages in the fourth quarter of 2008 that were attributed to decreased availability of the drug from sources of supply in Los Angeles. Decreased cocaine availability in Las Vegas and Los Angeles resulted in increased prices for wholesale quantities of the drug in both markets during this same period. Mexican DTOs in the HIDTA region supply local African American and Hispanic street gangs, such as Gerson Park Kingsmen and Sureños, with powder cocaine for conversion into crack cocaine. Street gangs typically distribute crack in urban areas, primarily Las Vegas and Reno.

Mexican black tar heroin and, to a lesser extent, Mexican brown powder heroin are readily available and abused throughout the Nevada HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs are the principal suppliers of various quantities of heroin to distributors, mainly Hispanic street gangs, and local abusers in the area; however, they generally use the region as a transshipment center for heroin destined for drug markets throughout most of the country, primarily those in southwestern, midwestern, and eastern states. Mexican DTOs often recruit Mexican nationals, primarily illegal aliens who reside in urban areas of Nevada, to distribute retail quantities of heroin. During 2008 the Nevada HIDTA participated in several significant investigations targeting Mexican heroin trafficking organizations operating in both the northern and southern regions; these organizations also distributed other drugs and maintained familial and organizational ties with the Mexican state of Nayarit. Seizures of heroin in the region increased from 1 kilogram in 2007 to 6 kilograms in 2008.

The increasing distribution and abuse of CPDs pose a significant threat to the HIDTA region. CPD abuse contributed to more drug-related deaths in Clark County than any other substance of abuse. The most widely available and commonly abused CPDs are opioids, such as Vicodin and Lortab (hydrocodone products), methadone, and OxyContin (oxycodone), and central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam)--both benzodiazepines. CPDs are diverted by distributors and abusers in the region through prescription fraud, theft, illicit sale by patients, and illegal purchases over the Internet.

Other dangerous drugs (ODDs) are distributed by traffickers in the Nevada HIDTA region, including MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin mushrooms, PCP (phencyclidine), and ketamine; however, ODDs pose a relatively low threat to the region compared with other illicit drugs. Asian DTO members, mostly of Chinese descent, are the primary wholesale, midlevel, and retail distributors of MDMA in the region. Law enforcement officials in Reno and the surrounding area are reporting the availability of "Mollys"--an adulterated tablet that is often distributed as MDMA but is a combination of various drugs such as methamphetamine, MDMA, or BZP (N-benzylpiperazine).2 Traffickers typically transport Mollys to the Reno area from the Central Valley HIDTA region and Susanville, California, in 1,000-tablet quantities known as boats; prices range from $1,100 to $1,200 per boat and $10 to $25 per tablet. African American street gang members obtain PCP and ketamine from sources in California and distribute the drugs locally. Caucasian independent dealers are the primary retail distributors of LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.

To Top      To Contents

Drug Trafficking Organizations

Mexican DTOs and criminal groups present the greatest organizational threat to the Nevada HIDTA region. These DTOs are highly organized and deeply entrenched in many of the local Hispanic communities throughout the region, allowing them to operate with some degree of anonymity. Mexican DTOs control the wholesale and midlevel distribution of ice methamphetamine, Mexican marijuana, powder cocaine, and Mexican black tar heroin and brown powder heroin and regularly transport wholesale quantities of these drugs from Mexico into the area for subsequent regional- and national-level distribution.

Asian DTOs and criminal groups distribute MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the region. They generally obtain supplies of MDMA from sources in Los Angeles for distribution in Las Vegas and from sources in San Francisco for distribution in Reno. Asian DTOs and criminal groups also transport high-potency marijuana to the region from California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada; they supply the marijuana to retail-level distributors and abusers in the region, primarily to Washoe County in the north. Additionally, law enforcement officials report that Asian criminal groups engage in limited indoor cannabis cultivation in the HIDTA region.

Caucasian criminal groups and independent dealers also distribute MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the Nevada HIDTA region. Caucasian traffickers typically travel to California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada to obtain supplies of these drugs and then transport them back to their home areas for local distribution. Caucasian criminal groups and local independent dealers also cultivate cannabis within the region, primarily at indoor grow sites; they distribute the marijuana throughout Nevada.

Street gangs, primarily African American and Hispanic gangs, are actively engaged in retail-level drug distribution within the region. (See Table 1.) African American street gangs are the primary retail distributors of crack cocaine and PCP. African American street gangs produce most of their crack supplies locally but occasionally transport small quantities to the region that they obtain from gang associates in southern California. They often distribute crack cocaine from motel rooms and apartment buildings in Las Vegas and Reno. Hispanic street gangs are engaged in the retail distribution of ice methamphetamine, powder cocaine, Mexican marijuana, and heroin throughout the area. These gangs also distribute crack, but to a lesser extent. Additionally, law enforcement officials report that a number of "hybrid" street gangs are active in metropolitan areas of the region and engage in drug trafficking. The hybrid gangs emulate national gangs, such as Bloods and Crips, but have little or no affiliation with them other than adopting their names, symbols, and style. Hybrid gang members are much less likely to wear colors, display gang signs, or have tattoos, making it much harder for law enforcement officials to identify them.

Table 1. Significant African American and Hispanic Street Gangs Operating in the Las Vegas Area

Source: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Gangs Crime Bureau.

Footnotes

End of page.