Outlook

Cocaine will remain a significant drug threat to Virginia since it is readily available, frequently abused, and the distribution and abuse of crack more frequently are associated with violent crime than any other illicit drug. Dominican and Colombian DTOs and criminal groups currently are the primary transporters of cocaine into Virginia and will likely remain so in the near future. However, Mexican criminal groups increasingly are transporting powdered cocaine into southern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley region, and it is likely that their influence will spread to other areas of the state. Various ethnic criminal groups, local independent dealers, and street gangs will continue to distribute cocaine in the state.

Marijuana will remain the most widely available and abused illicit drug in Virginia. Cannabis will continue to be cultivated in the state; however, marijuana transported from southwestern states by Jamaican and Mexican criminal groups will remain more prevalent due to established sources of supply, multiple transportation routes, and well-established distribution networks.

Heroin, particularly South American heroin, will continue to pose a serious drug threat to Virginia. Heroin transportation or distribution patterns will not change significantly in the next several years, as Dominican and Colombian DTOs and criminal groups likely will remain the primary transporters of South American heroin into Virginia. Dominican and African American criminal groups will continue to dominate wholesale and midlevel distribution of South American heroin. African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic criminal groups and local independent dealers of various ethnic backgrounds will continue to distribute retail quantities of the drug in Virginia.

The threat posed by methamphetamine most likely will continue to increase in Virginia. Laboratory seizure, treatment, mortality, and survey data all will increase as methamphetamine availability and abuse continue to rise.

Diverted pharmaceuticals and MDMA will continue to pose significant drug threats to Virginia; however, the threats posed by these drugs will remain lower than those posed by cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. The availability and abuse of PCP will continue to increase in the state, particularly in Northern Virginia where drug markets often mirror abuse and distribution patterns in Washington, D.C.

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