Heroin

Heroin is a significant drug threat to the United States. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies indicates that the availability of heroin is widespread and that it is increasing, particularly in New England and in areas of the Mid-Atlantic. South American heroin is most prevalent in the eastern half of the country, while Mexican heroin is dominant in the western United States.

Despite reports of increasing availability, overall demand for heroin appears to be relatively stable and possibly declining among adolescents. Worldwide heroin production decreased significantly between 2000 and 2001; however, production in the principal sources of heroin to U.S. markets, Mexico and Colombia, may have increased. Heroin is smuggled into the country by private vehicle across the U.S.-Mexico border, by couriers on commercial flights, and by maritime conveyances, including cruise ships. Heroin generally is distributed in metropolitan areas; nonetheless, distribution of the drug has spread to smaller communities, largely facilitated by independent distributors who travel to large cities to purchase midlevel quantities for distribution in their home communities. The primary heroin market areas are Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.

NDTS data show that 7.9 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide identify heroin as their greatest drug threat. Regionally, more state and local law enforcement agencies in the northeastern part of the country identify heroin as the greatest threat than do those in other parts of the country. According to NDTS data, heroin was identified as the greatest drug threat by 36.1 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in New England, 26.3 percent of those in the Mid-Atlantic, and 19.1 percent of those in the New York/New Jersey region. In sharp contrast are the percentages for the six remaining OCDETF regions: Florida/Caribbean (3.4%), Great Lakes (3.3%), Southwest (2.4%), Pacific (1.7%), West Central (0.5%), and Southeast (0.0%).

Use of heroin, particularly chronic use, can be very physically damaging. NIDA reports that heroin users experience a range of physical effects that include excessive drowsiness, clouded mental functioning, slowed cardiac function, and depressed breathing. In addition, chronic heroin users may develop infection of the heart lining and valves, liver and kidney disease, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Intravenous heroin users often develop scarred or collapsed veins, suffer from wound botulism, and are at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other diseases transferred through needle sharing.

Heroin users typically are not violent. While heroin users do sometimes participate in criminal activity to facilitate their use of the drug, they most often commit nonviolent crimes to fund their drug use. Violence sometimes is associated with heroin trafficking and distribution because of the criminal groups or gangs involved.

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Availability

Heroin availability has increased over the past year. Availability is reported as widespread in some areas, primarily metropolitan areas, and increasing in others, particularly in New England and in areas of the Mid-Atlantic. While the amount of heroin seized has increased, heroin-related investigations and indictments have remained relatively stable over the past few years.

NDTS data show that 33.0 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide report heroin availability is high or medium, while 52.3 percent indicate availability is low. Agencies in the New England (75.1%) and New York/New Jersey regions (60.3%) account for the greatest proportions reporting high or medium availability. Agencies in the West Central (14.1%) and Southeast regions (6.0%) account for the smallest proportions reporting high or medium availability; in fact, 21.2 percent of West Central agencies and 25.3 percent of Southeast agencies report that heroin is not available in their jurisdictions.

DEA and HIDTA reporting indicates that the type of heroin available varies regionally. In the western United States, Mexican black tar heroin is predominant. Other heroin types are present, however. Mexican brown powder heroin is available in many western states, although by no means to the extent of black tar, and Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin are available in some larger cities in the Pacific region. The availability of South American heroin in the western half of the country is very limited.

In the eastern United States, South American heroin is predominant. Nonetheless, heroin from Southeast and Southwest Asia is available, although to a lesser extent, in many East Coast markets such as Baltimore, Boston, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Mexican black tar heroin is available in limited quantities in the eastern half of the country.

South America remains the predominant source area for heroin analyzed under DEA's Heroin Signature Program. Data show that of the heroin samples analyzed in 2001 most were South American (56%), followed by Mexican (30%), Southwest Asian (7%), and Southeast Asian (7%).¹⁷ A comparison of 2000 data reveals that South American heroin accounted for a similar percentage (59%) of the heroin analyzed in that year, while Mexican, Southwest Asian, and Southeast Asian heroin accounted for 17, 16, and 8 percent, respectively.

Increased heroin availability is reflected in seizure data that show the amount of heroin seized by federal agencies has increased over the past 3 years. According to FDSS data, the amount of heroin reported seized increased from 1,152 kilograms in 1999, to 1,674 kilograms in 2000, to 2,492 kilograms in 2001. New York, Florida, and California accounted for more than 70 percent of the heroin seized in 2001.

While the amount of heroin seized has increased, OCDETF data indicate that heroin-related investigations and indictments are relatively stable. OCDETF investigations involving heroin accounted for 22.3 percent of all OCDETF investigations in FY2001, up slightly from 20.2 percent in FY2000. OCDETF indictments for heroin-related offenses accounted for 7.2 percent of all OCDETF indictments in FY2001, down slightly from 8.0 percent in FY2000. Indictments in the New York/New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida/Caribbean regions accounted for 65 percent of OCDETF indictments involving heroin in 2001.

The purity of retail-level heroin overall increased from 35.7 percent in 1999 to 36.8 percent in 2000, according to DEA's Domestic Monitor Program. The average purity of retail heroin purchased in 2000, by type, was 48.1 percent for South American, 34.6 percent for Southwest Asian, 26.7 percent for Southeast Asian, and 20.8 percent for Mexican heroin.¹⁸

According to DEA price information for 2001, wholesale quantities of South American heroin ranged from $50,000 to $250,000 per kilogram nationwide, Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin ranged from $35,000 to $120,000 per kilogram, and Mexican heroin ranged from $15,000 to $65,000 per kilogram. Street-level heroin typically sells for $10 per dose, although prices vary throughout the country.

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Demand

The overall demand for heroin appears to be dependent on age group: among adults rates of use are relatively stable, while among adolescents rates of use are stable or decreasing. NHSDA data show that in 2000 and 2001 past year heroin use was reported by 0.4 and 0.5 percent, respectively, of young adults aged 18-25 and by 0.1 and 0.2 percent of those 26 and older.

MTF data show that past year heroin use among college students (19-22) was relatively stable between 2000 and 2001 (0.5% to 0.4%). During the same period past year heroin use among young adults aged 19-28 was also stable at approximately the same level (0.4% to 0.5%). Among MTF respondents aged 35 and 40 past year heroin use was 0.1 percent in both 2000 and 2001.

National-level prevalence studies such as the NHSDA, MTF, and PRIDE indicate that among adolescents heroin use appears to be stable to decreasing. According to the NHSDA, the rate of past year heroin use for those aged 12-17 held steady at 0.2 percent in 2000 and 2001.

Results of the MTF study show no significant changes in past year heroin use among students between 2001 and 2002. In those years, according to MTF data, past year heroin use was reported by 1.0 and 0.9 percent, respectively, of eighth graders, 0.9 and 1.1 percent of tenth graders, and 0.9 and 1.0 percent of twelfth graders.

PRIDE data show sharp reductions in the rate of heroin use among adolescents. According to PRIDE, past year heroin use declined between the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 school years for junior high students (1.6% to 1.5%) and decreased significantly for senior high students (3.2% to 2.9%) and twelfth graders (4.4% to 3.7%).

Adolescents' perceptions of the risks associated with heroin use are relatively strong but have shown signs of weakening. PATS reports that 79 percent of teens in 2001 agreed that "heroin is a dangerously addictive drug," down slightly from 81 percent in 2000. According to NHSDA, the percentage of those aged 12-17 indicating they believe there is great risk in trying heroin once or twice dropped slightly between 1999 and 2000, from 62.3 to 61.2 percent. Further, the percentage who believe there is great risk in using heroin once or twice a week decreased from 84.1 to 83.1 percent. More recent data from MTF show that the percentage of twelfth graders who believe there is great risk in using heroin once or twice rose--although not significantly--between 2001 and 2002 (55.6% to 56.0%) as did the percentage who disapprove of trying heroin once or twice (93.1% to 94.1%).

Data from national-level studies gauging the consequences of heroin use are mixed, possibly because of differing reporting periods. DAWN data show a decline in the number of ED heroin mentions between 2000 (94,804) and 2001 (93,064). Declines occurred in each age group except among those 35 and older. DAWN data show that ED heroin mentions among those aged 35 and older trended upward from 51,698 in 2000 to 51,827 in 2001.

TEDS data show that the number of admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities for which heroin was identified as the primary substance of abuse increased from 229,500 in 1998 to 235,668 in 1999. The average age of those admitted for treatment for heroin abuse was 35.8. TEDS data further indicate that of the 235,668 heroin users seeking treatment in 1999, most (66.4%) reported injection as the primary route of administration.

ADAM data show that 5.4 percent of adult male arrestees reported past year use of opiates (usually heroin) at ADAM sites in 2001. ADAM data further show that these past year users reported an average frequency of use of 10.5 days in the past month. Past year heroin data for 2000 are unavailable.

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Production

Worldwide opium cultivation and heroin production decreased significantly between 2000 and 2001, primarily because of declines in cultivation in Asian source areas, particularly Afghanistan. Intelligence Community reporting indicates that worldwide potential opium cultivation dropped from 5,082 metric tons in 2000 to 1,255 metric tons in 2001, leading to a decrease in estimated worldwide potential heroin production over that period from 482.2 metric tons to 109.3 metric tons. Despite this overall decrease, production in Mexico and Colombia--the principal sources of heroin to U.S. markets--may have increased.

Transportation

Heroin is smuggled into the United States from the four primary foreign source areas via many transportation methods and routes. Reporting from law enforcement and intelligence agencies indicates that heroin typically is smuggled into the country hidden in commercial and private vehicles driven from Mexico and Canada and carried by couriers traveling on commercial flights from source and transit countries. Maritime transport and mail services are used as well.

Mexican Heroin

Heroin produced in Mexico is transported in multikilogram quantities via private vehicles from production areas in western and southern Mexico to the U.S.-Mexico border. Before being smuggled across the border, the shipments usually are broken down into much smaller quantities; smugglers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in private vehicles typically carry 1 to 7 kilograms of heroin per trip. Couriers walking across the U.S.-Mexico border smuggle heroin into the country as well. These couriers--often illegal aliens--typically carry small quantities (1 kg to 2 kg) hidden in handbags and backpacks or on their body. Methods used less frequently to smuggle heroin across the U.S.-Mexico border include couriers on commercial buses and flights, rail traffic, and mail services.

Mexican heroin is smuggled into the United States via various points along the U.S.-Mexico border. EPIC seizure data indicate that more heroin was seized at the San Ysidro (129 kg), Del Rio (42 kg), Otay Mesa (34 kg), and Calexico (33 kg) POEs in 2001 than at any others along the U.S.-Mexico border. The amount seized at Del Rio represents one large seizure, however. Heroin produced in Mexico is smuggled through and between Southwest Border POEs and transported to midlevel distributors in the Pacific, Southwest, West Central, Great Lakes, and Southeast regions. Although DEA reports that some Mexican heroin is transported to cities in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, New York/New Jersey, and Florida/Caribbean regions, the quantities generally are limited. The primary market area for heroin produced in Mexico is Los Angeles.

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South American Heroin

South American heroin usually is transported from Colombia to the United States via commercial flights directly to New York or Miami, overland through the Mexico-Central America corridor and, occasionally, via maritime transport. To disguise the true destination and origin of the heroin, couriers on commercial flights sometimes fly to other U.S. cities, such as Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth, or take indirect flights through Caribbean or Central American countries, such as the Netherlands Antilles or Panama. Law enforcement reporting also suggests that heroin couriers are flying through South American countries such as Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela with more frequency. These couriers, typically Colombian nationals, swallow as much as 1 kilogram of heroin in latex-wrapped pellets.

Although most South American heroin is smuggled through the POEs at New York and Miami, some is smuggled through Southwest Border POEs as well. South American heroin transported through Mexico is smuggled into the United States at various points along the border primarily via private vehicles and couriers who swallow heroin pellets. From the Southwest Border area Dominican and, to a lesser extent, Mexican, Colombian, and Haitian traffickers transport South American heroin typically by private vehicle to the eastern United States, most often New York. South American heroin smuggled through Southwest Border POEs also is supplied to the primary market areas of Chicago and New York as well as to markets in Atlanta, Detroit, and New Orleans.

Southeast Asian Heroin

Southeast Asian heroin is transported from production areas, primarily in Burma, to North America via containerized maritime cargo, couriers on commercial flights, and mail services. Transportation from Burma to the United States typically follows four principal routes: through Hong Kong, through Hong Kong via Bangkok, through Tokyo via Bangkok, and through Fuzhou (China).

U.S.- and Canada-based Chinese criminal groups typically control the transport of Southeast Asian heroin via containerized cargo. Shipments usually are destined for major POEs on the west coast of North America, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. Most seizures of Southeast Asian heroin from containerized maritime cargo have occurred in Canada in recent years. In many instances some of the heroin smuggled into Vancouver is transported across Canada to Toronto. A small percentage of the heroin smuggled into Canada is transported across the U.S.-Canada border through the POEs at Blaine, Buffalo, and Detroit. Once in the United States, Southeast Asian heroin is transported primarily in private vehicles to markets in the central and eastern United States, including Chicago, Detroit, and New York.

Southeast Asian heroin also is trafficked by Nigerian criminal groups who use couriers to transport the drug from Southeast Asia via commercial flights. Couriers fly primarily to Chicago but also to Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Newark, New York, and Washington, D.C. Nigerian criminal groups also transport Southeast Asian heroin from East Coast POEs to Chicago via commercial buses, trains, and mail services.

Southwest Asian Heroin 

Southwest Asian heroin is transported from production areas, primarily Afghanistan, to the United States through Europe as well as through Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The primary method of transportation to the United States is by couriers (swallowers) traveling on commercial flights, although mail services are used frequently as well. Most Southwest Asian heroin is transported to the United States by Southwest Asian, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian criminal groups, particularly those of Afghan, Indian, Lebanese, and Turkish origin. West African criminal groups--typically Nigerians--are prominent transporters of Southwest Asian heroin to the United States, and they sometimes intermingle shipments of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin. Nigerians employ couriers and coordinate shipments from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Others associated with the transportation of Southwest Asian heroin to the United States include those of East European and Russian origin.

Most of the Southwest Asian heroin smuggled into the United States is transported through POEs at New York, Detroit, Chicago and, occasionally, Los Angeles. Southwest Asian heroin transported through the Los Angeles POE typically is shipped to the eastern half of the country, including the primary market areas of Chicago and New York as well as Detroit.

Unlike South American and Southeast Asian heroin, Southwest Asian heroin does not appear to be transported via maritime conveyances with any frequency or in any notable quantity. There were no significant seizures of Southwest Asian heroin from maritime containerized cargo in 2001.

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Distribution

Law enforcement reporting indicates that heroin distribution is expanding in several regions of the country. Over the past 2 years, no DEA Field Division or HIDTA has reported a decline in heroin distribution in its area, and several report significant expansion of heroin distribution to new markets. Since 2000 heroin distribution has spread particularly in the New England region, and markets have emerged in many rural communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In other regions heroin distribution has expanded most notably in suburbs of, and other communities near, large cities with well-established, inner-city heroin markets such as Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Facilitating the expansion of heroin distribution, particularly in eastern states, are a growing number of local independent distributors. Independent heroin distributors--who often distribute several other illicit drugs--travel to nearby cities as often as once a week to purchase wholesale and midlevel quantities of heroin, transport the drug back to their distribution areas, and repackage it for retail sales. Previously, distribution in new market areas was conducted primarily by inner-city wholesale distribution groups that would establish and supply a distributor in a new area but maintain control over all aspects of distribution in that new market. While this practice still occurs, today these inner-city distribution groups more often serve as wholesale and midlevel suppliers to several independent distributors.

DEA and HIDTA reporting indicates that Mexican, Colombian, Nigerian, and Dominican criminal groups control most wholesale heroin distribution in the United States. Mexican wholesale distributors are predominant in the Pacific, Southwest, and West Central regions, while Colombian and Dominican criminal groups control most wholesale distribution of heroin in the Florida/Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic, New England, New York/New Jersey, and Southeast regions. Colombian, Nigerian, and Dominican criminal groups are all active in the Great Lakes region, where Mexican wholesalers serve in a minor capacity in Chicago and Detroit--the largest heroin markets within the region.

Puerto Rican wholesale heroin distributors are also prominent in several significant heroin markets in the eastern half of the country, including Boston, Chicago, Miami, Newark, New York, and Philadelphia. Southeast Asian criminal groups are most active in the New England and New York/New Jersey regions; however, DEA reports that Southeast and Southwest Asian criminal groups transport wholesale quantities of heroin through Los Angeles en route to heroin markets primarily in eastern states. West African, particularly Nigerian, wholesale distributors are prominent in several large heroin markets, including Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Different groups control retail heroin distribution depending primarily on the type of heroin distributed and the location of the market. According to DEA and HIDTA reporting, Mexican criminal groups and Hispanic gangs that distribute black tar and, occasionally, brown powdered heroin control most retail distribution in the Pacific, Southwest, and West Central regions. Asian gangs distribute some Southeast Asian heroin at the retail level in the Pacific region. African American gangs and independent dealers distributing Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin are prominent in the Great Lakes region, although Dominican retail distributors of South American heroin and Mexican retail distributors are also common in the Great Lakes.

In the Mid-Atlantic, New England, New York/New Jersey, and Southeast regions, numerous retail heroin distributors are active and no single group dominates. African American distributors, however, appear to be the most commonly identified retail distributors in all four regions, selling South American, Southeast Asian, and Southwest Asian heroin. Dominican retail distributors of South American heroin are prominent throughout these regions and their presence is growing, according to DEA reporting. Colombian retail distributors of South American heroin often operate in the same market areas as Dominican retailers, while Puerto Rican retail distributors of South American heroin are active primarily in the New England and New York/New Jersey regions. Asian distributors, particularly Asian gangs, distribute Southeast Asian heroin at the retail level in the New England and New York/New Jersey regions. Retail distributors of Mexican heroin are active in the Southeast but are not prominent in most areas of the New England, New York/New Jersey, and Mid-Atlantic regions, where neither black tar nor brown powdered heroin is common. In the Florida/Caribbean region, Puerto Rican distributors control sales at the retail level.

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Primary Market Areas

Heroin is distributed and used in every large city in the country. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies suggests, however, that Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York are the primary market areas for heroin because of high levels of heroin use, significant consequences of that use, and widespread distribution. Other significant heroin markets include Baltimore, Detroit, Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Figure 9. Primary Market Areas: Heroin

Boston. Reporting from law enforcement and epidemiologic sources indicates that heroin use and the consequences of this use have increased sharply in Boston in recent years. DAWN data for Boston show a 12.7 percent increase between 2000 and 2001 in the number of ED mentions for heroin (3,867 to 4,358). According to DAWN mortality data, heroin/morphine was mentioned in 168 of 344 deaths involving drug abuse in Boston in 1999 and in 183 of 343 deaths in 2000, more than for any other drug in both years. It was listed as the drug of abuse in 47 of 116 single-drug deaths in 2000. CEWG reports that heroin may have surpassed cocaine as the most commonly used drug in the Boston area and that admissions for which heroin was the primary drug of abuse now constitute the largest proportion (42%) of illicit drug admissions to publicly funded treatment programs in the city.

Expansion of the Boston heroin market has been facilitated greatly by several New York-based criminal groups. Colombian and Dominican distributors are predominant, supplying wholesale and midlevel quantities of South American heroin to retail distributors in Boston and subsequently throughout New England. Asian midlevel distributors supply Southeast Asian heroin primarily to Asian gangs, who distribute retail quantities in communities in the Boston metropolitan area.

Chicago. Chicago is one of the largest heroin markets in the United States and the consequences of heroin use in the city are high. The most recent DAWN data available show that the number of heroin ED mentions in Chicago declined from 12,454 in 2000 to 11,902 in 2001; however, mentions were still the highest for any city reporting in 2001. DAWN mortality data indicate that heroin/morphine was mentioned in 456 of 878 deaths involving drug abuse in 1999 and in 499 of 869 deaths in 2000. Heroin/morphine was the drug of abuse in 101 of 268 single-drug deaths in Chicago in 2000, second only to cocaine. ADAM data for 2001 indicate that 21.8 percent of adult male arrestees in Chicago tested positive for opiates.

Heroin from all four source areas is available to varying degrees in Chicago. Colombian and Nigerian traffickers dominate distribution at the wholesale level. Nigerian traffickers smuggling Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin supply African American and Hispanic gangs--particularly Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, and Latin Kings--who control retail heroin distribution in the city. Nigerian dominance of wholesale distribution is waning, however. Colombian traffickers smuggling South American heroin have secured a sizable portion of the heroin market in Chicago and often supply the same gangs supplied by Nigerian distributors. Mexican distributors of black tar heroin are present at the midlevel and retail levels but are not a significant presence in Chicago.

Chicago-based wholesale and midlevel distributors supply distributors in several other heroin markets primarily in the Great Lakes region, such as Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.

Los Angeles. Los Angeles is in all likelihood the largest heroin market in the western United States and the largest black tar heroin market in the country. DAWN ED data show that the number of ED mentions for heroin decreased significantly between 2000 and 2001 from 3,177 to 2,878. According to DAWN mortality data, heroin/morphine was mentioned in 644 of 1,887 deaths involving drug abuse in 1999 and in 473 of 1,192 deaths in 2000, when it was the drug of abuse in 76 of 295 single-drug deaths.

In Los Angeles Mexican criminal groups control most distribution of heroin--primarily black tar--at the wholesale, midlevel, and retail levels. Mexican wholesale and midlevel distribution groups also supply black tar heroin to several African American and Hispanic gangs, who conduct a large portion of retail heroin distribution in the city. DEA and HIDTA reporting indicates that Colombian criminal groups may be establishing networks in Los Angeles to distribute South American heroin in the area. Chinese, Nigerian, and Thai criminals facilitate the wholesale distribution of Southeast Asian heroin from Los Angeles to other U.S. markets, but distribution of Southeast Asian heroin at the retail level in Los Angeles is very limited.

Mexican and South American heroin often is distributed from Los Angeles to other heroin markets throughout the country. Mexican heroin is distributed from Los Angeles to Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and St. Louis. South American heroin is distributed from Los Angeles to New Orleans and other markets in eastern states.

New York. New York is possibly the largest heroin market in the United States. The level of heroin use is high, although the consequences of such use appear to have declined slightly from 2000 to 2001. DAWN data show that the number of heroin ED mentions declined between 2000 and 2001 from 11,009 to 10,644--second only to Chicago among DAWN reporting cities. DAWN mortality data show that heroin/morphine was mentioned in 174 of 729 deaths involving drug abuse in 1999 and in 194 of 924 deaths in 2000. ADAM data reflect a decrease (22.0% to 18.7%) in adult male arrestees in New York testing positive for opiates between 2000 and 2001.

Extensive wholesale, midlevel, and retail distribution of South American heroin occurs in New York and, according to DEA, most of the heroin available at the retail level in that city is of South American origin. Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin are available but to a much lesser extent. Numerous criminal groups and gangs distribute heroin in the city; however, Colombian and Dominican distributors are predominant and often work together to sell South American heroin at all levels of distribution. Colombian and Dominican distributors also supply Puerto Rican criminal groups and African American and Hispanic gangs with retail quantities for distribution.

Asian criminal groups, typically Fukinese Chinese, once controlled heroin distribution in the city. Now they usually supply only wholesale and midlevel quantities of Southeast Asian heroin to groups that distribute the drug at the retail level. Southwest Asian criminal groups, including those of Afghan, Indian, and Pakistani origin, supply wholesale and midlevel amounts of Southwest Asian heroin to midlevel and retail distributors.

New York is a major source of South American heroin to heroin markets throughout the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes regions. New York is also a source of limited amounts of Southeast Asian heroin to heroin markets in some eastern states. Law enforcement reporting indicates that distributors in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., receive heroin from wholesale distributors in New York.

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Key Developments

Mexican criminal groups are increasingly transporting South American heroin. DEA reports that in 2002 a significant number of Mexican nationals intending to board flights to Mexico were arrested at airports in Central and South America with South American heroin in their possession. This heroin was to be stored in Mexico and smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border for transport and distribution to eastern drug markets, primarily New York, by Colombian and Dominican criminal groups.

U.S. Customs Service (USCS) reporting indicates that seizures involving heroin saturation--a technique whereby material such as clothing, blankets, and towels is soaked in heroin solution and then allowed to dry--increased in 2001. Law enforcement reporting indicates that heroin saturation usually is encountered in shipments transported from Colombia to the United States via couriers on commercial flights and in maritime cargo.

Projections

Worldwide heroin production likely will increase in 2002 since, according to Intelligence Community reporting, producers in post-Taliban Afghanistan will resume opium cultivation. Notwithstanding the potential increase, U.S. markets likely will not experience an increase in the availability of Southwest Asian heroin since this heroin generally is consumed in markets in Europe and in central and western Asia.

Increased airport security since September 11, 2001, may result in fewer heroin couriers on commercial flights to the United States. To compensate, Colombian traffickers may rely more heavily on Mexican criminal groups to transport heroin across the U.S.-Mexico border or increase their use of maritime transportation and, possibly, mail services.

End Notes

17. Under the Heroin Signature Program, DEA's Special Testing and Research Laboratory analyzes heroin samples from POE seizures, as well as a random sample of other seizures and purchases submitted to DEA laboratories, to determine source areas.
18. The Domestic Monitor Program is a heroin purchase program designed to identify the purity, price, and source of origin of retail-level heroin available in drug markets in 23 major U.S. metropolitan areas.

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