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National Drug Intelligence
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Crack cocaine conversion occurs in the HIDTA region, particularly in urban areas; limited methamphetamine production also takes place in or near the region, mainly in rural areas. African American street gangs and independent dealers convert powder cocaine to crack in residential settings, usually in the vicinity of the intended market. Powder methamphetamine production poses a moderate but slowly rising problem in the PC HIDTA region. Seizure data indicate that only a few methamphetamine laboratories have been seized over the past several years in the region; however, law enforcement intelligence and investigative information suggest that methamphetamine production is slowly increasing, particularly in rural areas adjacent to the HIDTA region, such as the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. Most clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in and near the PC HIDTA region are operated by OMGs, particularly Pagan's and Warlocks, that typically produce only retail quantities of the drug; local independent Caucasian producers also produce limited amounts of methamphetamine, mostly for personal use.
Indoor cannabis cultivation appears to be increasing in the HIDTA region as marijuana traffickers attempt to attain higher profits through production of high-potency marijuana. Asian DTOs and criminal groups, primarily Vietnamese, are expanding and establishing an increasing number of indoor cultivation operations in the HIDTA region. These DTOs purchase high-priced houses in residential neighborhoods--with no money down--to use as grow sites. The houses are gutted, and all space is used for growing cannabis. Utility meters are bypassed to avoid detection through high utility usage. In order to mask growing operations, some growers put out trash cans regularly and hire gardeners to tend the property. From March 2006 to January 2008, 20 grow houses were seized in Philadelphia. The houses contained approximately 300 to 700 cannabis plants worth an estimated $1 million per house as well as hydroponic equipment, watering systems, fertilizer, and industrial fans.
Production of other drugs such as GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and MDMA is at low levels and not considered to be a formidable threat by law enforcement officials.
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