To
Contents
To Previous Page
To Next Page
To Publications Page
To Home Page
National Drug Intelligence
Center |
The smuggling and transshipment of multiton quantities of marijuana and multikilogram quantities of powder cocaine are the principal drug problems in the West Texas HIDTA region. Cocaine and marijuana smuggled through the HIDTA region are distributed in drug markets throughout the country. The amount of cocaine smuggled through and from the HIDTA region decreased from 2005 to 2007, with a notable decrease occurring from 2006 to 2007. This decrease could be due to a temporary suspension of cocaine shipments by a DTO operating in the El Paso/Juárez plaza; large cocaine seizures in transit toward the United States; violent conflicts between competing Mexican DTOs as well as between DTOs and Mexican military and law enforcement personnel; increasing seizures in Mexico; and increased smuggling of the drug to Europe. The amount of marijuana transported through and distributed from the HIDTA appears to be increasing, a development that could be attributed to the increased presence of the Sinaloa Cartel in the El Paso/Juárez plaza over the past several years, which controls many of the production areas in Mexico.
Heroin, methamphetamine, other dangerous drugs (ODDs), diverted pharmaceuticals, and precursor chemicals are also smuggled into and transshipped from the West Texas HIDTA region; however, the quantities seized in this region are well below those seized in other areas along the Southwest Border. A decrease in heroin trafficking to and from the HIDTA region from 2005 through 2007 could be attributed to an increase in seizures of the drug in Mexico. Methamphetamine seizures in the HIDTA region decreased overall from 2005 through 2007, indicating a decreased flow of the drug from Mexico into the region attributed to stronger precursor chemical control regulations and increased drug interdiction efforts in Mexico. The availability of all other drugs appears to have remained consistent with 2006 smuggling trends.
Drug production in the West Texas HIDTA region is limited because of the ready supply of drugs smuggled from Mexico. Powder methamphetamine production is negligible in West Texas as a result of a lack of demand for the drug in most areas of the HIDTA. Indoor cannabis grows are virtually nonexistent in the region. Large outdoor cannabis grows have previously been seized in Big Bend National Park; however, no large grows have been seized there since 2003.
Illicit drug abuse in the West Texas HIDTA region takes place primarily in El Paso, the HIDTA region's population center. The scattered and sparse population in areas outside El Paso precludes collection of accurate information pertaining to drug abuse in other counties of the HIDTA region. Drug-related admissions in El Paso County decreased slightly overall from 2005 to 2007, with the majority of admissions for powder cocaine and heroin abuse.
Mexican DTOs are the primary organizational threat to the region. Maintaining sophisticated command-and-control centers in Mexico, they exert nearly total control over drug trafficking operations through the El Paso/Juárez plaza. The West Texas HIDTA has identified six Mexican organizations--the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes (Juárez Cartel), Armando Corral-Herrera, Ismael Zambada-García, Juan José Esparragosa-Moreno, Joaquín Guzmán-Loera (Sinaloa Cartel), and Arellano-Felíx (Tijuana Cartel) Organizations--as well as 129 multistate and 606 local DTOs that conduct drug trafficking activities in the area.3 Mexican DTOs compartmentalize their organizations in order to insulate themselves from law enforcement. Contributing to the magnitude of this threat is the ease with which Mexican DTOs adapt to law enforcement efforts to detect and dismantle their operations. They also use violence and intimidation to deter law enforcement authorities, control organization members, and secure smuggling territories. These DTOs reportedly use their own financial resources and those of corrupt Mexican businessmen to conduct their trafficking activities. Additionally, these DTOs have enlisted corrupt law enforcement officials in Mexico and, to a lesser extent, in the United States to assist in their drug trafficking operations.
|
Drug Trafficking Organizations, Criminal Groups, and Gangs 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. |
DTOs operating within the West Texas HIDTA use numerous advanced communication techniques in order to facilitate drug smuggling across the Southwest Border. Traffickers commonly use prepaid cell phones, satellite phones, and two-way radios, which are often seized by law enforcement during investigations, to communicate with each other during trafficking operations. For example, an organization operating in the El Paso/Juárez plaza uses a sophisticated system of two-way radios and satellite phones to facilitate the smuggling of ton quantities of marijuana into the HIDTA. Traffickers often change communication devices in order to avoid law enforcement detection. For instance, they frequently discontinue cell phone service and start over with a new phone and phone number. Additionally, traffickers use numerous communication devices during a single transaction in order to avoid detection by authorities.
Control of drug trafficking in the El Paso/Juárez plaza is currently in flux. The Sinaloa and Juárez Cartels are battling for control of drug trafficking through the plaza, and the dominant cartel has yet to be established. The violence resulting from this struggle has had an impact on drug flow, particularly the flow of cocaine, from Mexico into the HIDTA. Furthermore, since January 2008, these cartels have been engaged in violence not only against each other but also against the increased Mexican military and law enforcement presence in the Juárez area. Increased military and law enforcement presence in the plaza will quite likely delay the resolution of this conflict in the near term.
In addition to fighting with each other for control of the El Paso/Juárez plaza, Mexican DTOs in the region are battling with Mexican law enforcement as a result of increased Mexican counterdrug operations. Some DTOs have consolidated or formed alliances to combat law enforcement and military operations in Mexico. Although the degree of violence against Mexican law enforcement officers and military personnel in areas of Mexico adjacent to the West Texas HIDTA region has not reached the levels that exist in other areas of Mexico, it appears to be on the rise. In fact, from January through April 2008, 140 drug-related murders occurred in the Juárez area; 17 of the murder victims were law enforcement officers. For example, in January 2008 three Mexican law enforcement officers were shot; these attacks are believed to have been at the behest of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Mexican DTOs have strengthened their control over drug trafficking operations in the region by forming working alliances with prison gangs,4 street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) to transport, stash, and package illicit drugs and to assist in money laundering activities. Mexican DTOs take advantage of the organizational networks that these gangs have established to distribute drugs in the area. Barrio Azteca5 is the primary gang operating in the El Paso/Juárez area; however, its operations could be hindered in the near term as a result of recent arrests of key members. In January 2008 seven high-ranking members, including one lieutenant, were indicted on drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, and extortion charges. According to law enforcement officials, these arrests will quite likely decrease the gang's ability to transport and distribute drugs in the HIDTA region.
To Top To Contents To Previous Page To Next Page
To Publications Page To Home Page
End of page.