U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
South Florida HIDTA Drug Market Analysis 2010
May 2010

Drug Threat Overview

The diversion, distribution, and abuse of CPDs, the distribution and abuse of cocaine, and the cultivation of cannabis and subsequent distribution and abuse of marijuana are the principal drug threats to the South Florida HIDTA region. According to the NDIC National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2010,c 19 of the 40 law enforcement respondents in the South Florida HIDTA region identify CPDs as the drug that poses the greatest threat to their jurisdictions, 12 identify cocaine, and 7 identify marijuana. In 2009, South Florida HIDTA initiatives reported the seizure of over 700,000 dosage units of CPDs, 12,700 kilograms of cocaine, and 9,000 kilograms of marijuana.d (See Table 1.)

Table 1. South Florida HIDTA Initiative Seizures, by Drug, in Kilograms, 2009

Source: South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
* Other CPDs include steroids.

The South Florida HIDTA region is a significant source area for the diversion of CPDs, particularly opioid pain relievers. Distributors and abusers travel from states such as Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia to obtain these drugs from the large number of pain management clinics operating in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. The threat posed by CPDs is enhanced by the high levels of availability and abuse reported by treatment providers in the region. CPDs are available at high to moderate levels in 36 of the 40 responding law enforcement jurisdictions in the South Florida HIDTA region. The most widely available and commonly abused CPDs in the region include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone, morphine, and oxycodone (OxyContin), as well as anabolic steroids.

Cocaine availability fluctuated in some areas of the South Florida HIDTA region in 2009, but remains at levels sufficient to support local demand and supply a number of drug markets in Florida and some areas in the eastern United States such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the New England region. Some areas experienced lower cocaine availability in 2009; in particular, the DEA MFD reported lower cocaine availability and higher kilogram prices in the Greater Miami area. Cocaine prices in the Miami area increased from $15,250 to $17,500 per kilogram at year-end 2008 to $24,000 to $35,000 per kilogram at year-end 2009. Nonetheless, cocaine prices were relatively stable at $700 to $1,300 per ounce and $100 per gram in the Miami area from year-end 2008 to year-end 2009. Lower cocaine availability in some parts of South Florida is attributed to several factors, including effective counterdrug operations in the South Florida HIDTA region, decreased cocaine production in Colombia, expanded cocaine markets in Europe and Africa, and increased law enforcement efforts in Mexico.

High-potency marijuana is widely available in the South Florida HIDTA region because of the numerous large-scale indoor cannabis grow operations operated primarily by Cuban and Hispanic DTOs and criminal groups. Much of the high-potency marijuana produced at these sites is sold throughout Florida as well as much of the eastern United States. Commercial-grade marijuana produced locally at outdoor grow sites and transported from the Bahamas, Colombia, Jamaica, and Mexico is also widely available in the region.

Heroin availability and abuse are low but increasing in the region. Rising heroin availability in the South Florida HIDTA region is evidenced by increased heroin purity from 2007 through 2008, which contributed to an observed increase in the number of heroin-related deaths during that period. Most of the heroin available in the South Florida HIDTA region is South American (SA). According to CSPSA, trends over the past few years suggest that nonmedical prescription opioid use is occurring among heroin users in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. The CSPSA links both heroin and prescription opioids in an expansion phase of what they call the new opiate epidemic.

The demand for methamphetamine in the region is typically low and generally satisfied by Mexican ice methamphetamine distributed by local independent dealers with ties to Atlanta-based Mexican DTOs. Nonetheless, small-scale methamphetamine production is expected to emerge in the South Florida HIDTA region (see Production section).

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy) poses a low threat to the South Florida HIDTA region. MDMA is readily available in the region and continues to be transported into the region overland by vehicle from Canada. Most of the MDMA transported into the region is intended for local consumption and is distributed primarily by African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Jamaican traffickers.

Footnotes

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 the 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.
d. Drug seizures reported by the South Florida HIDTA are significantly higher than drug seizures reported for all of Florida. The Federal-wide Drug Seizure System data, run on March 18, 2010, indicate that 13,457.3 kilograms of marijuana, 6,565.2 kilograms of cocaine, 70.2 kilograms of heroin, 59.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 4.3 kilograms and 32,625 dosage units of MDMA were seized in Florida in 2009. The South Florida HIDTA reports that its seizure data most accurately reflects its efforts in the region.

UNCLASSIFIED

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