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Strategic Drug Threat Developments

 

HIDTA Overview

The Northwest HIDTA was established in 1997 to counter the threat posed by the high volume of drugs transported throughout the area and smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border. The region encompasses 14 counties in Washington--Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, Franklin, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Whatcom, and Yakima. The proximity of the HIDTA region to Canada and the direct access to drug sources in Mexico through a vast transportation infrastructure--numerous freeways, highways, airports, waterways, and railways--contribute to the threat of cross-border smuggling. For instance, Interstate 5, a major north-south corridor, provides traffickers direct access to the area from the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry (POEs) at the U.S.-Mexico border and the Blaine POE located in Washington at the U.S.-Canada border.


End Note

1. For the purposes of this report, ice methamphetamine refers to methamphetamine that has been crystallized from powder methamphetamine.


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