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National Drug Intelligence Center |
African American, Mexican, and Asian traffickers who transport drugs to the Michigan HIDTA region are also the primary wholesale distributors of these drugs. African American and Mexican traffickers are the principal suppliers of cocaine, Mexican marijuana, and SA and Mexican heroin in most areas of the HIDTA region. Asian and, to a lesser extent, Albanian traffickers are wholesale suppliers of high-potency marijuana and MDMA produced in Canada. Caucasian and Middle Eastern traffickers are wholesale distributors of cocaine and marijuana in the region, but to a lesser extent.
African American drug traffickers are the primary retail-level distributors of crack cocaine and heroin throughout the region; they also distribute marijuana and, to a lesser extent, MDMA in urban areas of the HIDTA region. MDMA distribution by African American traffickers is quite likely contributing to increased MDMA availability and abuse among African Americans in Detroit. Some African American crack cocaine dealers in Detroit and Flint are selling smaller rocks of crack known as nicks or nickels, which sell for $5, in order to stretch supplies and increase profits. Additionally, this marketing technique provides a more affordable drug to users in response to weak economic conditions. African American traffickers typically sell heroin to abusers in urban areas but are increasingly distributing the drug to suburban and rural abusers, particularly young Caucasians. Drug sales at the retail level, especially sales of crack cocaine, occur in private homes, public bars, nightclubs, hotel rooms, and drug houses, as well as on street corners. Some African American dealers operate drug houses where multiple illicit drugs are available, including crack cocaine, marijuana, and MDMA.
Mexican, Hispanic, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, and West African criminal groups and independent dealers distribute illicit drugs at the retail level throughout the HIDTA region. Mexican criminal groups distribute cocaine and marijuana throughout the entire region and distribute MDMA in Flint and the Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids area. They also distribute heroin, particularly in western counties of the HIDTA. Some Hispanic traffickers are distributing MDMA in southwestern Detroit, where a large Hispanic population resides. Caucasian criminal groups and independent dealers distribute marijuana, MDMA, and methamphetamine throughout the region. Middle Eastern traffickers distribute cocaine, marijuana, and MDMA in Detroit. Nigerian drug traffickers distribute heroin at the retail level in the area. Some street gangs operating in the region distribute cocaine, heroin, and marijuana at retail drug markets; OMGs distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Various independent dealers and some unscrupulous doctors distribute diverted CPDs in the HIDTA region.
Drug distributors often engage in various criminal activities to sustain their drug-related activities; crack cocaine dealers, in particular, are the distributors most associated with violent and property crimes in the HIDTA region. According to the NDTS 2009, 30 of the 48 state and local law enforcement respondents in the Michigan HIDTA region identify crack cocaine as the drug most associated with violent crime; 26 respondents report the same for property crime. Drug distributors often commit violent crimes such as assault and homicide in order to maintain control of their drug distribution territories. For example, law enforcement officials in Detroit report that some drug dealers and customers in Detroit kill other dealers that they have robbed in order to avoid violent retaliation. Some young distributors are unwilling to work for established distributors and instead resort to theft from, and violence against, established distributors to begin their own criminal enterprises.
Drug abusers typically commit crimes including burglary, retail fraud, robbery, and identity theft in order to obtain drugs or money to purchase drugs. Drug abusers steal a wide variety of items that they can sell, including scrap metal, window air conditioners, catalytic converters, and grounding bars from cellular phone and radio towers, in order to acquire drug funds. Law enforcement officials in eastern HIDTA counties report a noticeable increase in the level of property crimes, partially attributed to both drug abusers and the weakened economy. They further report that criminals are increasingly breaking into cars to steal garage door openers that they use to gain entrance into houses to commit burglary. Law enforcement officials suspect that some of these criminals are using the proceeds from these burglaries to purchase drugs. Additionally, law enforcement officials in Washtenaw County report that heroin abusers are increasingly committing property crimes to sustain their drug use. According to the NDTS 2009, 10 respondents identify heroin as the drug most associated with property crime. Some drug abusers resort to violence to maintain their drug habits. For example, a teenage drug abuser in Canton Township, Wayne County, killed and beheaded a 26-year-old man who failed to pay a $400 drug debt.
Drug producers also commit crimes in order to sustain their drug production in the region. Marijuana producers who operate indoor grows often steal electricity by reversing or bypassing meters. Methamphetamine producers steal precursor chemicals or obtain them through illegal sources in order to produce the drug in the region.
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