National Drug Intelligence Center   West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009   March 2009   UNCLASSIFIED

Drug Threat Overview

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. According to NDIC National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2009 data, of the six responding law enforcement agencies in the West Texas HIDTA, four agencies report that powder cocaine was the greatest drug threat; the other agencies report marijuana and heroin as their greatest drug threats.2 Most responding agencies also report that powder cocaine and marijuana availability were high in their areas. (See Table 1.) 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 2006 to 2008. This decrease could be caused by increased violence in the El Paso/Juárez plaza; large cocaine seizures in transit from South America; 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. Another factor is the increased law enforcement "surge" operations conducted by HIDTA area law enforcement. The "surge" operations are coordinated between all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by flooding specific zones with extra law enforcement personnel in order to disrupt DTO activities. The amount of marijuana transported through and distributed from the HIDTA region decreased from 2006 to 2008. As with cocaine, this decrease is most likely the result of increased violence in the El Paso/Juárez plaza and increased counterdrug operations in the United States and Mexico.

Table 1. Drug Availability in the West Texas HIDTA, National Drug Threat Survey 2009

Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2009.

Heroin, methamphetamine, other dangerous drugs (ODDs), controlled prescription drugs (CPDs), 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. According to NDIC NDTS 2009 data, most responding agencies report that methamphetamine availability was low to moderate and ODDs' availability (which includes MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and PCP (phencyclidine)) was low to not available in their areas. Three of the responding agencies report that CPD availability was low, while the other three report that availability was high. (See Table 1.) A decrease in heroin trafficking to and from the HIDTA region from 2006 through 2008 could be attributed to the same pressures that affect marijuana and cocaine smuggling and to an increase in seizures of the drug in Mexico. Methamphetamine seizures in the HIDTA region decreased overall from 2006 through 2008, indicating a decreased flow of the drug from Mexico into the region that can be 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 2007 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 limited in West Texas because of a lack of demand for the drug in most areas of the HIDTA region; however, methamphetamine laboratories were found in 2008. 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 Ector, El Paso, and Midland Counties (the HIDTA region's population centers). 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 the HIDTA region decreased for all drugs except marijuana/hashish from 2006 to 2008, with the majority of admissions for powder cocaine and heroin abuse.

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Drug Trafficking Organizations

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. According to the West Texas HIDTA, 14 international organizations conduct drug trafficking and money laundering activities in the HIDTA region. (See Table 2.) Most of these are Mexican organizations and include the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes (VCFO) (Juárez Cartel), and the Armando Corral-Herrera, Ismael Zambada-García, Juan José Esparragosa-Moreno, Joaquín Guzmán-Loera Organizations. 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.

Table 2. Drug and Money Laundering Organizations Operating in the West Texas HIDTA Region*

Source: West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
* Data as of November 21, 2008.

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DTOs operating within the West Texas HIDTA region 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 region. 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 Juárez Cartel, Beltrán-Leyva Organization, and remnants of the Gulf Cartel (including Los Zetas) have been battling against the Joaquín Guzmán-Loera, Ismael Zambada-García, Juan José Esparragosa-Moreno, and Ignacio Coronel-Villareal a.k.a. Nacho Coronel DTOs for control of drug trafficking in the plaza; none of these organizations has been able to establish dominance. The increased violence related to this struggle has had an impact on drug flow, particularly the flow of cocaine, from Mexico into the HIDTA region. 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 Juárez.

Mexican DTOs in the region are battling with Mexican law enforcement as a result of increased Mexican counterdrug operations such as Joint Operation Chihuahua. (See text box.) Some DTOs have consolidated or formed alliances to combat law enforcement and military operations in Mexico. The level of violence against Mexican law enforcement officers and military personnel in areas of Mexico adjacent to the West Texas HIDTA region is high. In fact, in 2008 at least 1,475 drug-related murders took place in the Juárez area; 67 were Mexican law enforcement officers.

Mexican DTOs have strengthened their control over drug trafficking operations in the region through working alliances with prison gangs,3 street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) to transport, stash, and package illicit drugs and to assist in money laundering activities. Mexican DTOs have taken advantage of the established organizational networks of these gangs to distribute drugs in the area. Barrio Azteca (BA), a prison gang, is the primary gang operating in the HIDTA region and is aligned with the VCFO. Other gangs such as the Mexicles and Sureños have increased their presence in the area at the behest of the Sinaloa Cartel. Other street gangs such as Bloods, Crips, Folk Nation, and Latin Kings as well as OMGs such as Bandidos are also active in the area. BA's organizational structure is currently in flux since several of their key leaders were arrested and convicted in 2008. (See text box.) Also, the Sinaloa Cartel has been murdering many BA members in Juárez in an attempt to convince them to change their allegiance from the VCFO. These events disrupted their drug trafficking activities, and the gang is attempting to restructure its organization. Because of the disruption of BA, other gangs, such as Crips and Latin Kings, are increasing their drug trafficking activities in the HIDTA region.

Other organizations operating in the West Texas HIDTA region include African American, Caucasian, and Colombian DTOs and criminal groups. According to the West Texas HIDTA, 124 multistate and 97 local DTOs conduct drug trafficking activities in the area.4 (See Table 2.) African American DTOs and criminal groups transport and distribute PCP from California and participate in money laundering activities.

Footnotes

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