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National Drug Intelligence
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Colombian and Dominican DTOs control much of the smuggling and wholesale distribution of cocaine and SA heroin in the PC HIDTA region. Most Colombian DTOs operating in the HIDTA region are cells of larger Colombian organizations based in New York City. These larger organizations and the cells that they operate supply wholesale quantities of cocaine and heroin to upper-level distribution groups, primarily Dominican DTOs. Dominican DTOs control much of the midlevel cocaine and heroin distribution in the HIDTA region and supply African American, Caucasian, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican midlevel and retail distribution groups throughout the area. An increasing number of Dominican DTOs are bypassing sources of supply in New York City and the HIDTA region and are obtaining cocaine directly from Mexican sources at the Southwest Border in order to lower purchase costs and increase profit margins. Additionally, Colombian and Dominican DTOs are increasingly employing Mexican DTOs to transport cocaine and heroin to the region on their behalf.
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Drug trafficking organizations are complex organizations with highly defined command-and-control structures that produce, transport, and/or distribute large quantities of one or more illicit drugs. Criminal groups operating in the United States are numerous and range from small to moderately sized, loosely knit groups that distribute one or more drugs at the retail level and midlevel. Gangs
are defined by the National Alliance of Gang Investigators' Associations as
groups or associations of three or more persons with a common identifying sign,
symbol, or name, the members of which individually or collectively engage in
criminal activity that creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. |
Mexican DTOs are increasing their wholesale drug distribution activities in the region. They have well-established transportation and distribution networks throughout most of the country, including the PC HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs and criminal groups transport and distribute most of the marijuana available in the region; they also transport significant quantities of cocaine and large quantities of methamphetamine, including high-purity ice methamphetamine, to the area. Mexican DTOs transport these drugs from Mexico, Southwest Border states and, increasingly, Atlanta. Mexican DTOs supply a majority of the drugs they transport to the area to midlevel and retail-level distribution groups of various races and ethnicities, including Asian, African American, Dominican, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican DTOs and street gangs. They also supply illicit drugs to imprisoned gang members and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs).
Asian DTOs, primarily Chinese and Vietnamese, based in Canada have emerged as significant producers, transporters, and distributors of MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the region. Law enforcement reporting indicates that Chinese and Vietnamese DTOs are transporting large quantities of MDMA and high-potency marijuana to the region from Canada in order to supply markets throughout the area and gain a wider customer base.
African American, Asian, and Hispanic street gangs (Bloods, Crips, Asian Boyz, Latin Kings, Ņetas, and Sureņos) are the predominant retail drug distributors in the PC HIDTA region. Most street gangs are polydrug dealers, selling more than one type of drug at a time. Street gangs primarily distribute cocaine (powder and crack), heroin, and commercial-grade marijuana; however, they also distribute PCP, ice methamphetamine, MDMA, and high-potency marijuana. Although most gangs are polydrug distributors, some concentrate their efforts on certain drugs. For instance, Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings predominantly distribute crack cocaine throughout the PC HIDTA region.
According to law enforcement reporting, the Bloods street gang is strengthening and growing in the HIDTA region. Many Bloods street gang members have moved into Camden and South Philadelphia from northern New Jersey in order to expand their drug distribution territories; street gang activity also is expanding into surrounding communities such as Bensalem and Bristol, Pennsylvania. Bloods members have taken over distribution areas formerly controlled by local street gangs, a situation that has led to increased violence in the region. The Bloods gang recruits anyone involved in the drug trade as well as those of any age, race, ethnicity, and background in order to increase membership and strengthen the gang. Power is in numbers and Bloods members are well aware of it, as the gang is constantly recruiting to increase its membership. Law enforcement reporting indicates that Bloods members recruit heavily within public and private schools. Impressionable school children, often looking to fit in, are regularly persuaded by members to join the gang. The gang also recruits heavily in correctional facilities throughout the region. There are 18 federal prisons located in the northeast region--half of which (nine) are located in Pennsylvania. Three federal prisons are located in the PC HIDTA region (Federal Detention Center Philadelphia, Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix (NJ), and FCI Fairton (NJ). Additionally, there are numerous state, county, and local correctional facilities in the PC HIDTA region, which give gangs such as the Bloods ample opportunity to recruit new members. The promises of protection and status within the prison often induce individuals to join the gang. Upon being released or paroled from prison, many of the individuals who were recruited within the prison continue their allegiance to the gang.
Asian street gangs have increased their presence in the PC HIDTA region and are emerging as key suppliers of MDMA and Canadian high-potency marijuana. In many cases Asian street gangs smuggle these drugs from Canada to New York City prior to transporting them to the Philadelphia area for distribution. They operate primarily in southern, southwestern, and northern Philadelphia.
OMGs--most notably Pagan's, Warlocks, and Outlaws--distribute retail quantities of cocaine and manufacture and distribute retail quantities of powder methamphetamine in the PC HIDTA region. Many OMGs have established relationships with Mexican DTOs in order to gain greater access to illicit drugs and facilitate their distribution operations.
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