Heroin

Heroin is the least significant illicit drug threat to Tennessee. The availability, abuse, and violence associated with heroin are limited and concentrated primarily in Memphis and, to a lesser extent, in Chattanooga and Knoxville. Mexican brown powdered heroin is available in small quantities primarily in Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Mexican black tar heroin is available less frequently. South American heroin rarely is available. Most of the heroin seized in the state is destined for other markets. Wholesale distribution of heroin is rare. Mexican criminal groups, African American street gangs, and local independent African American dealers all based in Tennessee are the primary transporters and retail distributors of heroin.

Abuse

Heroin abuse rates are low in Tennessee. According to TEDS data, the number of treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities reporting heroin as the primary drug of abuse decreased from 35 in 1995 to 0 in 1998 and in 1999. (See Table 3 in Cocaine section.) In 1999 there were no heroin-related treatment admissions per 100,000 in Tennessee compared with 105 per 100,000 nationwide. (See Table 2 in Overview section.)

State survey data also indicate that the rate of heroin abuse in Tennessee is low. According to the 1998 Tennessee Department of Health, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Survey, 0.9 percent of Tennessee residents surveyed reported having abused heroin at least once in their lifetime. Results from another survey by the same department that year indicate that 1.6 percent of emergency room admissions surveyed reported having abused heroin at least once in their lifetime and 0.8 percent reported having abused heroin in the 30 days preceding the survey.

The rate of heroin abuse reported by high school students in Tennessee is comparable to the rate reported nationwide. According to the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2.2 percent of high school students surveyed in Tennessee reported having abused heroin at least once in their lifetime compared with 2.4 percent of high school students surveyed nationwide. Rates of abuse among males and females in Tennessee were 3.0 percent and 1.5 percent respectively, compared with national rates of 3.5 percent and 1.3 percent.

To Top      To Contents

Availability

Heroin availability varies by type and location. Mexican brown powdered heroin is available in small quantities primarily in Memphis, while Mexican black tar heroin is available less frequently, according to the Memphis Police Department. The DEA Chattanooga Resident Office and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department reported that Mexican brown powdered and black tar heroin occasionally are available in small quantities in their areas. The Knoxville Police Department reported four heroin-related investigations in 1999. Most law enforcement officials reported that South American heroin rarely was available in Memphis, Chattanooga, or Knoxville.

Heroin is seized in Tennessee; however, law enforcement officials report that most of the heroin is destined for areas outside the state. According to FDSS, federal law enforcement officials seized 2.4 kilograms of heroin in 1999 and 15.1 kilograms in 2000. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation seized 38 grams of heroin in 1998 and none in 1999 or 2000. Law enforcement officials seized 0.5 kilograms of heroin in 1999 and none in 2000 under Operation Pipeline and reported no heroin seizures in 1999 or 2000 under Operation Jetway.

Tennessee had a small number of heroin-related federal sentences from 1997 through 2000. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the number of heroin-related federal sentences peaked at 30 in 1998, but decreased to 8 in 1999 and 4 in 2000. (See Table 1 in Overview section.)

Violence

Heroin-related violence is minimal in Tennessee. Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords distribute limited quantities of heroin, among other drugs, although gang violence associated with heroin distribution is limited, according to local police department officials.

Production

Opium poppies are not cultivated nor is heroin refined in Tennessee. Heroin is produced in four source regions: Mexico; South America, primarily Colombia; Southeast Asia, primarily Burma; and Southwest Asia, primarily Afghanistan. Most of the heroin available in Tennessee is produced in Mexico.

To Top      To Contents

Transportation

Mexican criminal groups, African American street gangs, and local independent African American dealers all based in Tennessee are the primary transporters of heroin in the state. They usually transport heroin in private vehicles but also transport small quantities from Texas to Memphis by bus--internally (in body cavities or swallowed), externally (hidden on their persons), or in luggage. Mexican criminal groups based in Tennessee transport heroin primarily from Los Angeles. The Memphis Police Department reports that Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords members transport 1 or 2 kilograms of heroin from Chicago or Detroit two or three times a year.

Heroin commonly is transshipped in packages through the Memphis International Airport. USCS agents seized a total of 41.1 kilograms of heroin at the Memphis International Airport in FY2001, most of which was destined for other states. In November 2000 USCS at the Memphis International Airport seized a package containing 5.3 kilograms of heroin that was concealed in hollowed-out books that were sent from Colombia destined for New York City.

Distribution

Wholesale distribution of heroin is rare in Tennessee and retail distribution is limited. Most local agencies responding to the NDIC National Drug Threat Survey 2000 reported little or no heroin distribution in their areas. Mexican criminal groups, African American street gangs, and local independent African American dealers all based in Tennessee are the primary retail distributors of heroin in Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Mexican criminal groups based in Tennessee purchase small quantities of Mexican brown powdered heroin from Mexican and other criminal groups, primarily in Los Angeles. Street gangs purchase small quantities of Mexican brown powdered heroin from other street gangs, primarily in Chicago and Detroit, and usually distribute it to local African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic abusers, primarily in Memphis and, to a lesser extent, in Chattanooga and Knoxville. Local independent African American dealers purchase small quantities of Mexican black tar and brown powdered heroin from local independent dealers, primarily in Texas, and sell the drug on street corners in Memphis.

Distributors attempt to avoid law enforcement detection by using the "beep and meet" method. Abusers usually page retail distributors and set up appointment times and locations to exchange cash for heroin. Distributors commonly keep heroin-filled balloons in their mouths while waiting for customers and swallow the balloons if approached by law enforcement.

To Top      To Contents     To Previous Page     To Next Page

To Publications Page     To Home Page