National Drug Intelligence Center   Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2008   May 2008

Drug Trafficking Organizations

Numerous DTOs in the Milwaukee HIDTA region supply illicit drugs to street gangs and criminal groups that dominate retail-level drug distribution in the area. Mexican DTOs supply wholesale quantities of powder cocaine and commercial-grade marijuana to Hispanic and, to a lesser extent, African American dealers in the region for local distribution. Hispanic distributors on the south side of Milwaukee receive wholesale shipments of powder cocaine and marijuana from Mexican DTOs in Chicago, Mexico, and sources along the Southwest Border. African American distributors on the north side of Milwaukee have less direct connections to Mexican DTOs and usually receive large drug shipments from African American and Hispanic street gangs and criminal groups in Chicago and from Hispanic distributors on the south side of Milwaukee. Dominican and Nigerian DTOs based in Chicago and, to a lesser extent, New York City and Boston supply heroin and powder cocaine to local independent dealers in the region. Asian DTOs based in Canada supply wholesale shipments of high-potency marijuana and MDMA to street gangs and independent dealers for local distribution in the region; Asian DTOs based along the west coast supply high-potency marijuana, MDMA, and smaller, less frequent shipments of powder cocaine to local distributors in the region.

Numerous street gangs distribute illicit drugs in the Milwaukee HIDTA region, primarily at the retail level. The Milwaukee Police Department estimates that 50 gangs with over 1,000 members operate in the area. Several long-term multiagency gang investigations in Milwaukee concluded in early 2008 with the indictments of 100 gang members (see text box).

Hispanic street gangs are the primary retail-level distributors of powder cocaine, marijuana, and limited amounts of crack cocaine on the south side of Milwaukee. Hispanic gangs such as Latin Kings, Mexican Posse, and Spanish Cobras are well-organized, operate under a hierarchial structure, and have established manifestos. Their cohesiveness and tightly knit structure make members reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement against other gang members during investigations, including members of rival gangs. Many gang members are first- and second-generation immigrants who have familial ties in Mexico; fear of reprisal against these family members facilitates gang allegiance and fosters uncooperative relationships with law enforcement. Despite the reluctance of gang members to cooperate with law enforcement officers, recent investigations have successfully removed Hispanic gang members who were distributing illicit drugs on the south side of Milwaukee.

African American street gangs are the predominant retail-level distributors of cocaine and marijuana on the north side of Milwaukee. They convert powder cocaine to crack, generally at stash houses in half-kilogram quantities at a time. Additionally, the Milwaukee Police Department reports that African American gangs have increased their involvement in MDMA distribution during the past 2 years. Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords, with connections to Chicago-based gangs of the same names, are the principal African American street gangs operating on the north side of the city; however, many local gangs are also active on the north side and are often named after streets or neighborhoods where the members grew up or where they currently operate. Typically, these gangs are loosely organized without a hierarchical structure. If arrested, African American gang members are generally more willing than Hispanic street gang members to cooperate with law enforcement investigators in providing information about other members.

Hispanic and African American street gangs, particularly those in the city of Milwaukee, are increasingly using females--often girlfriends or relatives of gang members--and juveniles to carry out drug trafficking activities. The role of females in street gangs was previously limited to retail-level drug sales and laundering illicit drug profits by purchasing cars, real estate, and cellular phones in their names; however, the Milwaukee HIDTA Drug Gang Task Force reports that females are increasingly distributing midlevel and wholesale-level quantities of illicit drugs. Street gangs are also recruiting middle school and high school students to distribute illicit drugs at the retail level, act as lookouts for gang-related activities, and commit crimes such as shootings, carjackings, and robberies.

Asian street gangs, primarily Vietnamese, Laotian, and Hmong, distribute high-potency marijuana and MDMA in the Milwaukee HIDTA region; they also distribute limited quantities of powder cocaine. The high-potency marijuana and MDMA that these groups distribute is generally supplied to them by Asian traffickers from Canada and the west coast of the United States. The powder cocaine that they distribute is usually supplied to them by Asian traffickers from San Diego, Fresno, and Sacramento, California. Asian street gangs operating in the region are tight-knit groups with connections to national-level Asian DTOs; they typically prefer to establish relationships and trust prior to working with individuals outside their group.

Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) distribute various illicit drugs in the HIDTA region, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. In addition to drug distribution, they also engage in criminal activities such as assault, burglary, fraud, money laundering, prostitution operations, robbery, and weapons violations. Outlaws Motorcycle Club is the largest and most active OMG operating in the region; they are a nationally affiliated, structured organization with a chain of command, including a president, vice president, and other officers.

Members of DTOs, criminal groups, and street gangs use a variety of communication methods to conduct their drug operations. Contracted cellular phones, two-way direct connect phones, and BlackBerries are commonly used by drug distributors; however, the use of "disposable" communication equipment is increasing. Street gang members and other drug distributors in the HIDTA region are increasingly using prepaid cellular phones, which can be purchased at a low cost and with relative anonymity, factors that result in frequent disposal of the phones and circumvention of law enforcement communication intercepts. For example, the leader of an African American street gang on the north side of Milwaukee used more than 20 different cellular phones to coordinate drug-related activities of the gang; most were prepaid phones that the leader routinely discarded and replaced. Additionally, some street gang members use social networking Internet sites such as MySpace and BLNK, as well as personal web pages to communicate and boast about their gang membership and related activities.

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