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Figure 1. Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Map showing the Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
The map shows two HIDTA areas. The first, near Houston shows Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange counties.
The second area, near Corpus Christi, shows Aransas, Brooks, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria counties.
Major cities shown are Corpus Christi and Houston with populations of 250,000 or more; Beaumont, with a population of 75,000-249,999; other places of interest shown are Galveston and Port Arthur.
Note: Populations are from U.S. Census Bureau Census 2000 data.
Return to Figure 1.
Figure 2. Greatest Drug Threats to the Houston HIDTA Region
Chart showing the number of agencies reporting the greatest drug threat to their areas, broken down by drug.
Heroin was reported as the greatest drug threat by 1 agency.
Other was reported as the greatest drug threat by 2 agencies.
Powder methamphetamine was reported as the greatest drug threat by 2 agencies.
Ice methamphetamine was reported as the greatest drug threat by 5 agencies.
Marijuana was reported as the greatest drug threat by 5 agencies.
Controlled prescription drugs were reported as the greatest drug threat by 7 agencies.
Crack cocaine was reported as the greatest drug threat by 19 agencies.
Powder cocaine was reported as the greatest drug threat by 19 agencies.
Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2009.
Return to Figure 2.
Figure 3. Drug Availability in the Houston HIDTA as Reported by State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, 2009*
Chart showing drug availability in the Houston HIDTA region as reported by state and local law enforcement agencies, broken down by drug.
Powder cocaine was reported as having high availability by 44 agencies, moderate availability by 13 agencies, and low availability by 3 agencies. No agencies reported powder cocaine as not available.
Crack cocaine was reported as having high availability by 50 agencies, moderate availability by 7 agencies, low availability by 2 agencies, and not available by 1 agency.
Heroin was reported as having high availability by 10 agencies, moderate availability by 13 agencies, low availability by 34 agencies, and not available by 2 agencies. One agency did not respond regarding heroin availability.
Powder methamphetamine was reported as having high availability by 15 agencies, moderate availability by 19 agencies, low availability by 18 agencies, and not available by 6 agencies. Two agencies did not respond regarding powder methamphetamine availability.
Ice methamphetamine was reported as having high availability by 23 agencies, moderate availability by 16 agencies, low availability by 19 agencies, and not available by 1 agency. One agency did not respond regarding ice methamphetamine availability.
Marijuana was reported as having high availability by 53 agencies, moderate availability by 7 agencies, and low availability by 0 agencies. No agencies reported marijuana as not available.
MDMA was reported as having high availability by 22 agencies, moderate availability by 29 agencies, low availability by 7 agencies, and not available by 2 agencies.
GHB was reported as having high availability by 2 agencies, moderate availability by 9 agencies, low availability by 44 agencies, and not available by 3 agencies. Two agencies did not respond regarding GHB availability.
LSD was reported as having high availability by 0 agencies, moderate availability by 9 agencies, low availability by 46 agencies, and not available by 4 agencies. One agency did not respond regarding LSD availability.
PCP was reported as having high availability by 3 agencies, moderate availability by 20 agencies, low availability by 31 agencies, and not available by 5 agencies. One agency did not respond regarding PCP availability.
Controlled prescription drugs were reported as having high availability by 42 agencies, moderate availability by 12 agencies, low availability by 4 agencies, and not available by 2 agencies.
Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2009.
*
Chart depicts the number of state and local law
enforcement agencies reporting the specified availability levels for each drug.
Return to Figure 3.
Figure 4. Past Year Changes in Street Gang and OMG Drug Activity in the Houston HIDTA Region as Reported by State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies*
Chart showing past year changes in street gang and OMG drug activity in the Houston HIDTA region as reported by state and local law enforcement agencies.
There was no response from three agencies regarding street gang drug activity, and no response from seven agencies regarding OMG drug activity.
Six agencies responded that the question was not applicable for street gang drug activity, and twenty-one agencies responded that the question was not applicable for OMG drug activity.
Twenty-five agencies reported that street gang drug activity remained the same, and twenty-five agencies reported that OMG drug activity remained the same.
Four agencies reported that street gang drug activity decreased, and two agencies reported that OMG drug activity decreased.
Twenty-two agencies reported that street gang drug activity increased, and five agencies reported that OMG drug activity increased.
Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2009.
*
Chart depicts the number of state and local law
enforcement agencies reporting the specified changes in street gang and OMG drug
activity.
Return to Figure 4.
Figure 5. Houston HIDTA region transportation infrastructure
Map showing the Houston HIDTA region transportation infrastructure.
The map shows two HIDTA areas. The first is near Houston and the second area is near Corpus Christi.
Major cities shown with populations of 250,000 or more are Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio; cities with populations of 100,000-249,999 are Beaumont, Brownsville, McAllen, and Pasadena.
San Antonio, Houston, and Corpus Christi are the International Airports.
Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Galveston, Houston, Orange, Port Arthur, Sabine, Texas City, and Victoria are major seaports.
The Ports of Entry are Rio Grande City, Hidalgo, Progreso, and Brownsville.
The checkpoints are Falfurrias and Sarita.
The interstates within this region are I-10, I-35, I-37, and I-45.
The U.S. highways are routes 59, 77, and 281.
Note: Populations are by Census 2000 data
Return to Figure 5.
Figure 6. Money Laundering Techniques Used by Wholesale-Level Traffickers in Harris County, as Reported by State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies*
Chart showing the number and type of money laundering techniques used by wholesale-level traffickers in Harris County, as reported by state and local law enforcement agencies, broken down by money laundering type.
Two agencies reported that money laundering through electronic commerce is used in their jurisdictions.
Three agencies reported that money laundering through informal value transfer systems is used in their jurisdictions.
Four agencies reported that trade-based money laundering is used in their jurisdictions.
Five agencies reported that money laundering through real estate is used in their jurisdictions.
Five agencies reported that money laundering through use of prepaid cards is used in their jurisdictions.
Six agencies reported that money laundering through structuring bank deposits is used in their jurisdictions.
Ten agencies reported that money laundering through money service businesses is used in their jurisdictions.
Eleven agencies reported that money laundering through cash-intensive businesses is used in their jurisdictions.
Twelve agencies reported that money laundering through bulk cash is used in their jurisdictions.
Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2009.
*
Seventeen law enforcement agencies in Harris County
responded to the NDTS 2009 as of February 12, 2009; Figure 6 represents the number
of these agencies that responded positively when asked if these money laundering
techniques were used in their jurisdictions.
Return to Figure 6.
Figure 7. Padre Island National Seashore
Map showing the southern Houston HIDTA area and the Padre Island National Seashore.
The map shows the southern Houston HIDTA area and the Padre Island National Seashore. The major cities are Corpus Christi, with a population of 250,000 or more; Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville with populations between 100,000 and 249,999; and other places of interest are Port Mansfield, South Padre Island, and Port Isabel. There is a major seaport and an international airport at Corpus Christi. Ports of entry shown are at Laredo, Roma, Rio Grande City, Hidalgo, Progreso, and Brownsville.
Checkpoints shown are north of Laredo, Falfurrias, and Sarita.
The interstates shown within this region are I-35 and I-37.
The U.S. highways shown are routes 59, 77, and 281.
The state highway shown is route 186.
The Mexican highways shown are routes 85, which crosses the border at Laredo, and 180, which crosses the border at Brownsville.
Note: Populations are by Census 2000 data
Return to Figure 7.
UNCLASSIFIED
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