Drug-Related Crime

Violence associated with criminal organizations that distribute, individually or in combinations, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and MDMA is a significant drug-related crime problem in the PC HIDTA region. In 2006 the number of homicides in Philadelphia reached the highest level in over a decade; according to law enforcement officials, many of these homicides were drug-related. During 2006, 406 homicides occurred, an increase from 377 in 2005 and 330 in 2004. Additionally, as of April 22, 2007 law enforcement officials in Philadelphia reported 128 homicides, a 17 percent increase from the same period in 2006. The use of firearms by street gang members is one of the most significant contributing factors to the high homicide rate. Street gang members often use firearms to command respect, defend their turf, or acquire new distribution territories. The use of firearms in other areas of the region also contributes to high levels of violent crime. For example, high levels of violence in Camden are attributed to attempts by Camden Bloods street gang members to take control of drug markets from smaller, less organized neighborhood gangs. They have been responsible for many homicides, shootings, aggravated assaults, and kidnappings. Additionally, members of Camden Bloods often threaten and commit violent acts against witnesses and informants to protect themselves from prosecution, and they have targeted police officers at their homes. Asian street gangs have increased their presence in Philadelphia and various suburban communities of the PC HIDTA region, contributing to the overall level of drug-related violent crime in the region. Asian street gang members typically are young, and many of them possess violent tendencies; many have been involved in assaults, drive-by shootings, extortions, homicides, robberies, and thefts in the area. Additionally, Asian gang members in the PC HIDTA region have committed armed home invasions of the residences of Asian businessmen who, they believed, had large amounts of cash in their homes because of a distrust of traditional financial institutions.

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