National Drug Intelligence Center   New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009   April 2009

Drug Threat Overview

Opioids--including heroin, primarily SA heroin, and diverted CPDs such as OxyContin and Percocet (both oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone)--collectively pose the greatest drug threat to the NE HIDTA region, according to law enforcement and public health officials. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS)1 2009, 46 of 104 state and local law enforcement agency respondents in the NE HIDTA region identify heroin or CPDs as the greatest drug threat in their jurisdictions. Seizures of heroin and controlled prescription opioids are indicative of the extent of the problem--law enforcement officials seized approximately 29 kilograms of heroin, 69,843 dosage units of OxyContin, and 298 dosage units of other oxycodone products in conjunction with the NE HIDTA initiatives in 2008. (See Table 1.) Controlled prescription opioid abusers are fueling the heroin abuse problem in the region as an increasing number are switching to heroin because of its higher potency and greater affordability. Heroin prices at the street level reportedly decreased substantially in some primary drug distribution centers over the past year. Heroin abuse is widespread in New England and now encompasses a wide cross section of individuals, including chronic abusers in urban areas, residents of suburban and rural communities, and young adults and teenagers who switched to heroin after initially abusing CPDs. Moreover, the number of heroin-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in the region exceeded admissions for all other illicit substances combined from 2003 through 2007, the latest year for which such data are available. Opioid-related treatment admissions accounted for 69 percent of all illicit drug-related treatment admissions in New England in 2007.

Table 1. Drug Seizures in the New England HIDTA Region, in Kilograms, 2008

Source: New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Other illicit drugs also pose significant threats to the NE HIDTA region. Cocaine, particularly crack, is commonly abused in some parts of the region, mainly inner-city neighborhoods in Boston and Providence, and in Connecticut in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. Crack availability has also expanded in many northern New England cities, such as Burlington, Manchester, and Portland, largely because African American and Hispanic criminal groups and street gangs from southern New England states and the New York City metropolitan area have increased distribution in those areas. NDTS 2009 data reveal that 94 of the 104 state and local law enforcement agency respondents in the NE HIDTA region report powder cocaine availability levels in their areas as high to moderate, while 83 of those agencies report the level of crack cocaine availability as high to moderate. Despite typical high levels of cocaine availability, law enforcement officials in some areas of the NE HIDTA region report fluctuations in the availability and price of cocaine; availability decreased and prices increased from usual levels in some locations. Law enforcement officials seized approximately 366 kilograms of powder cocaine and 16 kilograms of crack cocaine in conjunction with the NE HIDTA initiatives in 2008. (See Table 1.)

Marijuana abuse is pervasive throughout the HIDTA region. According to NDTS 2009 data, nearly all (103 of 104) state and local law enforcement agency respondents in the NE HIDTA region characterize marijuana availability as high to moderate in their jurisdictions. High-potency marijuana from domestic and Canadian suppliers and commercial-grade Mexican marijuana are readily available. Law enforcement officials seized approximately 4,136 kilograms of marijuana in conjunction with the NE HIDTA initiatives in 2008. (See Table 1.)

Methamphetamine is a relatively low threat to the NE HIDTA region--one of the few areas in the country where the drug is not a significant threat. No state or local law enforcement agency in the NE HIDTA region identifies powder methamphetamine as the greatest drug threat to their area, according to NDTS 2009 data. Moreover, law enforcement officials seized only a small amount of methamphetamine in conjunction with the NE HIDTA initiatives in 2008. (See Table 1.) Powder methamphetamine production is limited in New England and typically involves Caucasian abusers who produce personal use quantities of the drug. Distributors in southwestern states and Canada supply limited amounts of ice methamphetamine to the NE HIDTA region. Additionally, increasing quantities of methamphetamine tablets are becoming available in the NE HIDTA region; some are sold as MDMA to unwitting abusers. Approximately 60 percent of the methamphetamine samples that are seized in Maine are in tablet form, according to law enforcement officials. Recent indicators suggest that methamphetamine abuse in some parts of New England may be increasing; drug treatment programs located in the northern counties of Vermont report an increase in methamphetamine abuse and availability, and law enforcement officials in Maine report an increase in methamphetamine-related arrests.

The threat that other dangerous drugs (ODDs) pose to the NE HIDTA region is mixed; MDMA distribution and abuse are increasing in some areas, while the abuse of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), ketamine, LSD, PCP, and psilocybin mushrooms is stable at low levels. Law enforcement officials seized approximately 1,761,600 dosage units of MDMA and small amounts of LSD, PCP, and psilocybin in conjunction with the NE HIDTA initiatives in 2008. (See Table 1.) The distribution and abuse of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH), which are often purchased by abusers through the Internet from domestic and foreign distributors, pose additional threats to the region. In 2007 the largest steroid and HGH enforcement action in U.S. history was linked to distributors in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island as well as to distributors in other states and foreign countries. Additionally, U.S. postal inspectors seized five parcels containing HGH and 15 parcels containing steroids that were mailed to recipients in New England from 2007 through 2008; the parcels were sent to the NE HIDTA region from domestic and foreign locations.

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Drug Trafficking Organizations

Colombian drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are the primary wholesale suppliers of SA heroin and cocaine in the NE HIDTA region. Most Colombian DTOs that operate in New England are based in New York City and typically transport drugs to the region to supply midlevel and retail-level distributors. However, they sometimes contract with Dominican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Jamaican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Central American- and Caribbean-based groups to smuggle heroin and cocaine directly into the region for distribution.

Dominican DTOs operating in New England work closely with Colombian DTOs and serve as major transporters of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. They are also engaged in wholesale and retail drug distribution and money laundering within the region. Some New England-based Dominican traffickers travel to New York City to obtain drug supplies from Colombian and Dominican DTOs; conversely, some Colombian and Dominican distributors from New York City travel to New England to supply illicit drugs to Dominican traffickers. Additionally, law enforcement reporting reveals that some Dominican traffickers may be involved in drug smuggling networks operating between Canada and New England. Dominican DTOs operate from the primary drug distribution hubs in the region--Lowell/Lawrence and Hartford/Springfield.

Asian DTOs operating between the United States and Canada pose a major threat to the NE HIDTA region. They are the primary producers, transporters, and distributors of Canadian high-potency hydroponic marijuana, MDMA, and tablets/capsules that may contain multiple synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine, MDMA, and MDA. Asian DTOs smuggle drug shipments from Canada for further distribution in New England and elsewhere in the United States. Asian DTOs operated a number of sophisticated hydroponic cannabis grow operations that were seized in Connecticut and New Hampshire in prior years. However, only two significant Asian-operated indoor cannabis cultivation sites were seized in the NE HIDTA region in 2008; only one such site was seized in the region in 2007.

Mexican DTOs are significant transporters and wholesale distributors of cocaine, commercial-grade marijuana, SA heroin, and limited quantities of ice methamphetamine in the NE HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs have traditionally transported illicit drug shipments to New England on consignment for Colombian and Dominican DTOs. However, some Mexican traffickers that supply New England are now operating on their own behalf, bypassing Colombian and Dominican DTOs and using existing networks to transport drug shipments directly to the region from mid-Atlantic, southern, and western states for distribution. For example, on April 12, 2009, law enforcement officials in Manchester, New Hampshire, seized 45 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $60,000, and arrested and charged five Mexican nationals with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. This was the largest cocaine seizure in state history. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officials seized a total of $230,000 and two firearms.

Street gang members distribute cocaine, marijuana, and heroin at the wholesale and retail levels in the NE HIDTA region. Most street gangs that operate in New England can be classified as one of four main racial/ethnic groups--African American, Asian, Caucasian, or Hispanic. According to law enforcement officials, large, nationally recognized gangs such as 18th Street, Asian Boyz, Bloods, Crips, La Familia, Latin Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), Ņeta, Sureņos (Sur 13), Tiny Rascal Gangsters, and Vatos Locos as well as numerous local neighborhood street gangs operate to various degrees in the NE HIDTA region. New York City and southern New England-based African American and Hispanic street gangs travel to areas throughout the NE HIDTA region to distribute powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin at inflated prices, and to obtain weapons, which typically are returned to the gangs' urban bases of operation. Many suburban and rural communities in New England are experiencing increasing gang-related crime and violence because of expanding gang influence, particularly incidents related to territorial disputes. Most street gangs that operate in New England engage in violence in conjunction with various crimes, including retail-level drug distribution. Moreover, law enforcement officials report that street gangs are recruiting new members from middle schools and high schools and are enticing incarcerated gang members back to gang life upon their release from prison.

Members of international outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) such as Hells Angels and Outlaws and their associates distribute cocaine, marijuana, MDMA, powder methamphetamine, and CPDs in New England. Some OMG members also engage in various financial crimes, firearms offenses, and violent crimes, including assault and armed carjacking, according to law enforcement reporting.

Various other criminal groups and independent dealers are also involved in drug trafficking within the NE HIDTA region. Hispanic criminal groups that operate from well-established distribution hubs in the HIDTA region distribute cocaine, crack, and marijuana throughout the area. Local independent dealers operating in New England use common diversion methods, such as doctor-shopping, fraudulent prescriptions, and theft, to obtain CPDs for personal use and retail distribution, and Native American traffickers smuggle high-potency Canadian marijuana to the HIDTA region for further distribution in New England and other regions of the United States.

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