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U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
Northern California HIDTA Drug Market Analysis 2010
June 2010
Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse pose the most significant drug threats in the Northern California HIDTA region. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2010,c 29 of the 41 law enforcement respondents in the Northern California HIDTA region identify methamphetamine as the greatest drug threat in their jurisdictions. Additionally, 22 of the 41 respondents report moderate to high methamphetamine availability in their areas. State of California treatment providers identified methamphetamine more often than any other drug as the primary substance of abuse for treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in HIDTA counties from 2005 through 2009.
Most of the ice methamphetamine available in the Northern California HIDTA region is transported by Mexican DTOs from Mexico or produced in domestic clandestine laboratories in northern and central California. In 2009, HIDTA officials reported the emerging availability of d,l-methamphetamine, particularly in Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties. As a result of the Mexican Government's restrictions on chemical precursor imports into Mexico since 2005, there has been a marked decrease in the availability of pseudoephedrine, an essential precursor in the production of high-potency d-methamphetamine. Mexican DTOs have adapted by finding new sources of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine precursors and by increasing their implementation of nonephedrine-based methods of methamphetamine production in Mexico. Some DTOs in Mexico are now producing lower-potency d,l-methamphetamine using phenylacetic acid, a chemical used to make the methamphetamine precursor chemical P2P. (See text box.) Law enforcement officials expect that increased d,l methamphetamine availability will lead some abusers to seek alternative stimulants such as powder or crack cocaine and result in increases in the local production of d-methamphetamine to meet demand.
In 2010, Northern California HIDTA officials reported the presence of ice methamphetamine that had been colored blue. It is unknown why the methamphetamine is colored blue, but it may be a signature marketing technique to distinguish d-methamphetamine from d,l-methamphetamine or to identify the source area in Mexico. Law enforcement seizures of blue-colored methamphetamine were reported in South San Francisco and East Palo Alto in early 2010.
The Northern California HIDTA region is one of the most significant areas for illicit cannabis cultivation in the United States. The prevalence of outdoor and indoor cultivation sites in the region is supported by demand for profitable, high-potency marijuana and the continued exploitation of state medical marijuana laws. Mexican DTOs are expanding their use of the HIDTA region for outdoor cannabis cultivation to lower transportation costs and avoid the risk of seizure associated with shipping marijuana from Mexico into the United States.
Powder and crack cocaine are widely available and frequently abused in the Northern California HIDTA region. Crack cocaine is generally the most abused illicit drug in urban areas, where law enforcement officials report higher levels of crack cocaine availability and abuse. Many law enforcement officials and treatment providers report increasing powder cocaine availability and abuse as some methamphetamine abusers, primarily middle- and upper-income Caucasian adults and high school students, switch to powder cocaine when methamphetamine shortages occur. According to law enforcement officials in Santa Clara County, Mexican criminal groups occasionally have difficulty obtaining supplies of methamphetamine and therefore distribute cocaine when methamphetamine availability is low.
Heroin availability and abuse are at stable levels throughout most of the region; however, law enforcement officials and treatment providers report that heroin distribution and abuse levels are high in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. In 2009, both the San Mateo County Narcotics and South Bay Metro Task Forces reported increases in Mexican black tar heroin availability. Law enforcement officials note that approximately 90 percent of Mexican black tar heroin distributed in the region originates in El Aguaje, Michoacán, Mexico, and is supplied by large Mexican cells in the Central Valley HIDTA region to distributors in East Palo Alto, who in turn supply smaller cells operating in San Francisco. In July 2009, agents from the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement arrested a male Mexican national and seized 70 pounds of Mexican black tar heroin from a hidden compartment in his private vehicle. He was an associate of the Sac Street Gang, a violent East Palo Alto gang with connections to Mexican DTOs. Mexican black tar heroin is the most abundant and common type of heroin available in the Northern California HIDTA region, although some law enforcement officials are reporting the emergence of white Colombian heroin. Certain Mexican DTOs are supplying ounce quantities of 70 to 80 percent pure white Colombian heroin to local dealers. Because of the high potency and white color of the heroin, local dealers cut it with brown sugar, cocoa, or other substances to give it a darker appearance, much like that of black tar heroin, thus making it more appealing to long-term black tar heroin abusers and increasing the volume and, therefore, their profits.
MDMA availability and abuse remain stable at high levels. The drug is distributed primarily in nightclubs by Asian criminal groups and street gangs. MDMA is also distributed at electronic music festivals and raves. For example, in May 2009, the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, in association with the Daly City Police Department and with the assistance of more than 100 officers from 28 city, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, participated in an undercover operation at an electronic music festival held at the Cow Palace (a local event venue). The operation, known as "eBuy3," resulted in the arrest of 76 adults and 3 juveniles for sale or possession of drugs and the seizure of 901 MDMA tablets, 41 doses of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and small amounts of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.
The diversion and abuse of CPDs are increasing in the Northern California HIDTA region. CPDs are abused by all age groups and frequently diverted through doctor-shopping, drug theft, prescription forgery, and Internet purchases. The most commonly abused CPDs include benzodiazepines, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. The DEA Oakland Resident Office has noted rising benzodiazepine abuse by polydrug abusers of all ages. Moreover, oxycodone abuse is increasing among high school age youth in Alameda County. A growing number of young adults switch to heroin when oxycodone becomes too expensive or is unavailable. The DEA Oakland Resident Office has also noticed an increase in the abuse of the stimulants phentermine and sibutramine, drugs used to treat obesity. These drugs are often obtained over the Internet without valid prescriptions. Large shipments of phentermine and sibutramine originating in China, as well as benzodiazepines originating in China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and El Salvador, have been seized at the Oakland/San Francisco U.S. Customs International Mail Branch.
c. NDTS data for 2010 cited in this report are as of March 3, 2010. NDTS data cited are raw, unweighted responses from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies solicited through either NDIC or the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) HIDTA program. Data cited may include responses from agencies that are part of the NDTS 2010 national sample and/or agencies that are part of HIDTA solicitation lists.
UNCLASSIFIED
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