Heroin

The abuse of heroin poses an increasing threat to Minnesota. According to TEDS, the number of heroin-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in 2000 (985) more than doubled since 1994 (459). (See Table 1 in Cocaine section.) Heroin-related ED mentions in Minneapolis increased from 105 in 1996 to 228 in 2000, according to DAWN. In Minneapolis-St. Paul the number of deaths in which heroin was a factor decreased from 30 in 1999 to 17 in 2000, according to mortality data from DAWN.

Heroin is available throughout Minnesota in limited quantities and is more readily available in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Southeast Asian and Mexican brown powdered heroin are most prevalent. Mexican black tar heroin is available to a lesser extent. Wholesale quantities of heroin are generally not available; however, according to DEA, ounce quantities were available in some areas of the state, and sold for $2,000 to $5,000 per ounce in the first quarter of FY2002. At the retail level, heroin prices ranged from $50 to $300 per gram throughout the state.

Mexican DTOs and criminal groups supply most of the Mexican heroin available in Minnesota, and Nigerian DTOs supply most of the Southeast Asian heroin available in the state. Most Mexican heroin available in the state is transported from Mexico through California and southwestern states to Minnesota, and most Southeast Asian heroin is transported from Chicago. Private vehicles and package delivery services are the primary methods by which both types of heroin are transported to the state.

Hispanic and African American street gangs and independent dealers are the primary retail distributors of heroin. Retail distribution generally occurs at open-air drug markets, public housing projects, private residences, and from vehicles. Although much of the heroin-related crime reported in Minnesota is attributed to abusers who commit property crimes to support their habits, distributors also commit violent crimes while expanding or protecting their turf.

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