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National Drug Intelligence Center National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 October 2006 Appendix C. OCDETF Regional SummariesSoutheast Regional OverviewRegional OverviewThe Southeast Region (SER) encompasses the states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The region includes three HIDTA programs--Atlanta, Gulf Coast, and parts of the Appalachia HIDTA. In addition, there are 18 U.S. Attorney Districts in the SER. Atlanta is the most significant drug distribution hub in the SER. Mexican DTOs have consolidated their control of the Atlanta cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana markets and are using Atlanta as a drug distribution hub to transport narcotics to other drug markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York/New Jersey, and New England Regions. A significant and growing Hispanic population in the SER enables Mexican DTOs, who dominate the transportation and wholesale distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana in the region, to operate without increased risk of detection. The rates of increase in the Hispanic populations of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina from 1990 through 2000 were among the highest in the nation. Drug Threat OverviewThe availability and abuse of cocaine and methamphetamine pose the most significant drug threat to the SER. Mexican DTOs transport multiton quantities of cocaine to Atlanta annually for local consumption and for further transportation and distribution throughout the country, particularly to southeastern and Mid-Atlantic markets. The distribution and abuse of methamphetamine, particularly ice methamphetamine, rose dramatically in recent years as Mexican DTOs increased their transportation of the drug to the region. Marijuana is widely cultivated and abused throughout the region; a substantial portion is produced in central and eastern Tennessee. Pharmaceuticals, specifically narcotic analgesics such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, are being increasingly diverted and abused throughout the region. ODDs such as GHB, ketamine, and MDMA pose low-level threats to the SER; Canada-based Asian DTOs have emerged as the principal suppliers of MDMA. The drug threat from heroin is limited primarily to parishes around New Orleans. Strategic Regional Developments
Variations From National Trends
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