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National Drug Intelligence Center |
The dominance that Mexican DTOs exert over wholesale cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine distribution in the North Florida HIDTA region is quite unlikely to be challenged by other groups in the near term. As the Hispanic population in the region expands, Mexican traffickers will assimilate into these communities and easily mask their drug distribution operations.
Cocaine trafficking and abuse will remain the primary drug threat to the North Florida HIDTA region. Despite reported cocaine shortages in the North Florida HIDTA region, local distributors will be able to acquire adequate supplies to meet demand, albeit at higher prices. If cocaine shortages continue, local distributors may seek new sources of supply in the Caribbean, the Southwest Border area, Atlanta, or Florida cities outside the HIDTA region, including Miami and Tampa, in an effort to purchase sufficient supplies of cocaine at lower prices. If cocaine prices at midlevel and retail level ranges continue to increase, some abusers may switch to other, less expensive drugs such as methamphetamine or CPDs.
Established diversion networks in the North Florida HIDTA region 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 North 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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