National Drug Intelligence Center   South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009   April 2009

Drug Threat Overview

The most significant drug threats to the South Florida HIDTA region are the distribution and abuse of cocaine and CPDs and the cultivation of cannabis and the subsequent distribution and abuse of marijuana; the laundering of illicit drug proceeds poses a major threat to the region. According to data from the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2009, 15 of the 27 law enforcement agency respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region report that cocaine is the greatest drug threat in their jurisdictions; 10 of the 27 respondents report the same for CPDs.3 Moreover, 26 of the 27 law enforcement agency respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region report that marijuana is available at high levels in their jurisdiction, and 21 report that cannabis is cultivated hydroponically in their jurisdictions, according to NDTS 2009 data. In addition, reporting from South Florida HIDTA initiatives indicates that 14,529 kilograms of powder cocaine, 260,431 dosage units of CPDs, and 20,405 kilograms of marijuana were seized in 2008. (See Table 1.)

Table 1. South Florida HIDTA Drug Seizures, in Kilograms, 2008

Source: South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Cocaine trafficking and abuse pose one of the greatest drug threats to the South Florida HIDTA region, as evidenced by the large quantities of cocaine available in the area, the level of violent and property crime associated with cocaine (particularly crack) distribution, and the number of cocaine-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities. Cocaine usually is readily available throughout the South Florida HIDTA region because of the region's proximity to reliable international sources of supply; however, shortages in wholesale quantities of powder cocaine were reported by some law enforcement officers in the South Florida HIDTA region in early 2009.4 Cocaine prices also reflect the shortages; wholesale prices of cocaine increased in Miami from $15,250 to $17,500 per kilogram in October through December 2008 to $17,000 to $32,000 per kilogram in January through March 2009. Nonetheless, some law enforcement agencies in the South Florida HIDTA region report that quantities of cocaine are sufficient to meet local demand and to distribute to other markets.

The diversion, distribution, and abuse of CPDs5 pose a significant threat to the region. According to NDTS 2009 data, 20 of the 27 law enforcement respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region report that CPDs are available at high levels in the jurisdiction. CPDs are widely abused in the region, particularly among Caucasian adolescents and adults; law enforcement and public health officials report that the average age of abusers is decreasing. The most widely available and commonly abused CPDs are methadone, morphine, OxyContin (oxycodone), Valium (diazepam), Vicodin (hydrocodone), and Xanax (alprazolam).6 CPD abusers are enticed in part by the ease with which they can obtain the drugs over the Internet and from retail-level distributors. The South Florida HIDTA region is also a source area for CPDs available throughout a large portion of the eastern United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee; abusers travel to the region to illicitly purchase CPDs from various distributors and pain management clinics. In fact, law enforcement officials in the Appalachia HIDTA region report that because of the effectiveness of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in their region, some CPD traffickers and abusers are traveling to South Florida, where they illicitly obtain CPDs that they bring back to the Appalachia HIDTA region to use and sell for profit.7 Some traffickers and abusers use the Internet to order the drugs from rogue Internet pharmacies based in Florida, although the full extent of CPD sales from Florida-based Internet pharmacies is an intelligence gap.8 To counter this problem, federal legislation designed to reduce the number of rogue Internet pharmacies selling CPDs was enacted in 2008. (See text box.)

Cannabis cultivation and subsequent marijuana distribution and abuse, particularly of high-potency marijuana grown hydroponically at indoor sites, pose significant threats to the South Florida HIDTA region. The demand for high-potency marijuana in the region is high, as is the number of indoor cannabis cultivation sites established to meet the demand. Most of the high-potency marijuana available in the region is produced locally at indoor grow sites. Indoor cannabis cultivation, primarily using hydroponic growing techniques, has expanded throughout the HIDTA region; these indoor cultivation sites are established and operated primarily by Cuban DTOs.9 This locally produced high-potency marijuana is distributed throughout the region and is also transported and distributed to drug markets in Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee as well as central and northeastern states. Commercial-grade marijuana available in the region is also produced locally at outdoor grow sites and is produced in the Bahamas, Colombia, Jamaica, and Mexico and transported to the region by various traffickers.

SA heroin, methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs (ODDs), primarily MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), pose varying levels of threat to the South Florida HIDTA region. Most of the heroin transported into the HIDTA region is further transported to drug markets in the eastern states, such as Massachusetts and New York; some of the heroin remains in southern Florida to meet the limited local demand for the drug. Heroin availability and abuse are stable at low levels in the South Florida HIDTA region; however, law enforcement officers in the City of Boca Raton Police Services Department, Highland Beach Police Department, and Miami-Dade Police Department report that heroin is available at high levels in their jurisdictions. Methamphetamine availability and abuse are low in the region; demand is satisfied with Mexican ice methamphetamine distributed by local independent dealers who have ties to Atlanta-based Mexican DTOs. Law enforcement reporting and methamphetamine laboratory seizure data suggest that methamphetamine production is extremely limited in the region. According to NDTS 2009 data, 16 of the 27 law enforcement agency respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region report low levels of methamphetamine production in their jurisdictions, and 11 report that methamphetamine is not produced in their jurisdictions. Moreover, National Seizure System (NSS) data indicate that no methamphetamine laboratories have been seized in the region since 2006. The availability and abuse of ODDs, principally MDMA, are at stable levels. Most of the MDMA available in the region is transported from sources in Canada and the Netherlands.

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Drug Trafficking Organizations

Colombian DTOs and criminal groups in the South Florida HIDTA region control the movement of cocaine and SA heroin from source, staging, and transit areas in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela to South Florida among other areas, often at the behest of Colombian DTOs based in Colombia. Colombian DTOs dominate the wholesale distribution of cocaine and SA heroin in the South Florida HIDTA region; they are also the region's principal money launderers. However, effective law enforcement efforts in Colombia have resulted in the disruption of some large DTOs in that country. Many of the leaders of these DTOs are in Colombian custody awaiting extradition to the United States; some are awaiting trial in the United States. Consequently, the subordinates of some of these leaders are attempting to form their own smaller organizations in Colombia--a circumstance that may affect the supply of cocaine to the South Florida HIDTA region in the coming year. Colombian DTOs rely heavily on Caribbean-based DTOs and criminal groups, including Bahamian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan groups, to transport cocaine and heroin from South America to the region, generally through transit areas in the Caribbean; they typically pay these organizations with drugs or money. Colombian DTOs in the HIDTA region frequently work with Mexican DTOs to coordinate the transportation of powder cocaine from Colombia through Central America and Mexico into the United States, and eventually into Florida.

Cuban DTOs and criminal groups distribute marijuana, powder cocaine, and SA heroin in the South Florida HIDTA region. They also operate numerous indoor high-potency cannabis grow sites in the area. Cuban traffickers in the region are typically affiliated in loosely organized criminal groups. However, some law enforcement officials in Florida and other southeastern states have identified more structured Cuban DTOs operating in their jurisdictions that engage in the production and distribution of high-potency marijuana.

Other DTOs and criminal groups of various races/ethnicities, including African American, Caucasian, Dominican, Israeli, and Jamaican, distribute illicit drugs at the midlevel and retail level in the South Florida HIDTA region. These traffickers often obtain powder cocaine and heroin from Colombian DTOs and ice methamphetamine and Mexican commercial-grade marijuana from Mexican DTOs. African American criminal groups generally distribute cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and limited quantities of CPDs and MDMA. Caucasian criminal groups distribute cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, CPDs, and ODDs. Dominican DTOs distribute illicit drugs at the midlevel in the region. Israeli DTOs and criminal groups are involved primarily in white collar crime, fraud, money laundering and, to a limited extent, MDMA trafficking. Jamaican DTOs transport and distribute cocaine and marijuana.

Mexican DTOs transport and distribute powder cocaine, heroin, Mexican methamphetamine, and Mexican commercial-grade marijuana in the South Florida HIDTA region, primarily in Palm Beach County. They also facilitate the transportation of powder cocaine into the region on behalf of Colombian DTOs. They typically obtain illicit drugs from Mexican DTOs in Atlanta or southwestern states.

Street gangs are retail distributors of illicit drugs in many areas of the South Florida HIDTA region; the level of drug distribution by street gangs is generally moderate to high in the region. According to NDTS 2009 data, 11 of the 27 law enforcement agency respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region report the level of gang drug activity increased in the past year. Local street gangs, such as 112 Avenue Boys, Baby Demons, and Davie Boys, and national street gangs, including Latin Kings, Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), and Sureņos 13 (Sur 13), typically distribute significant amounts of powder and crack cocaine, marijuana, and heroin and smaller amounts of CPDs, methamphetamine, and MDMA. Street gang activity is prevalent among African American and Hispanic youths in the region. Local street gangs commonly adopt multiple facets of gang culture from national-level street gangs, often by observing them over the Internet rather than through direct contact with the national-level gangs. Most street gangs in the region are violent and operate in a defined area, or turf. Most gang-related violence is a result of significant rivalries or disputes over drug territories among street gangs; however, some gang violence is directed at members of the same gang, prompted by jealousy or acts of theft.

Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) and various support clubs distribute illicit drugs in the South Florida HIDTA region to a limited extent. The South Florida HIDTA reports that the number of new clubs and new members is increasing in South Florida. Moreover, law enforcement officers with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Coral Springs Police Department, and Palm Springs Police Department report that the level of OMG drug activity has increased in the past year in their jurisdictions. OMGs distribute small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, CPDs, and ODDs in the region.

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Footnotes

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