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National Drug Intelligence Center
National Drug Threat Assessment 2007
October 2006
Appendix
C. OCDETF Regional Summaries
Regional Overview
The Southwest Region encompasses Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Texas, and the nine southernmost counties in California. Within the Southwest
Region are eight HIDTAs--the California Border Alliance Group (CBAG), Los
Angeles, Arizona, New Mexico, Houston, North Texas, South Texas, and West
Texas--as well as 11 U.S. Attorney Districts. The Southwest Region, which
contains the entire 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, is the principal arrival zone
for most illicit drugs smuggled into the United States. Mexican DTOs operating
in Mexico and the United States exert nearly total control over drug trafficking
operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Southwest Region also serves as a
significant national money laundering hub for the transport and placement of
illicit funds derived from the sale of drugs in the region and throughout the
country.
Drug Threat Overview
Methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin as well as ODDs
and pharmaceuticals pose varying threats to the Southwest Region. The threats
posed by methamphetamine and cocaine are growing as a result of the increased
involvement of Mexican DTOs in the distribution of these drugs from the
Southwest Region to markets throughout the United States. Marijuana is the most
seized drug by weight along the Southwest Border and is the most widely
available and abused drug in the region. The trafficking and abuse of heroin
also are a significant threat because of the amount of Mexican black tar (MBT)
and Mexican brown powder (MBP) heroin as well as South American heroin smuggled
into and through the region. ODDs and pharmaceuticals pose a much lesser threat
because lower volumes of these drugs are smuggled across the border, and
national distribution from the region is limited to MDMA and PCP.
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Strategic Regional Developments
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Mexican DTOs operating in the Southwest Region are rapidly
increasing their influence over drug distribution in all regions of the
country. Mexican DTOs exert greater influence over drug trafficking in the
United States than any other organizations, and their influence is increasing,
particularly with respect to cocaine and methamphetamine distribution.
-
The amount of methamphetamine smuggled across the Southwest
Border has increased considerably in recent years. Ice methamphetamine is
becoming the predominant form of the drug seized in and transshipped from the
region and may pose an even more severe threat as a result of increased
demand, purity, and profit potential. Methamphetamine production has decreased
in the region; however, quantities sufficient for national-level distribution
continue to be produced. This decline is primarily a result of the influx of
the drug from Mexico, regulatory efforts to control precursor chemicals, and
law enforcement efforts.
-
Marijuana production has increased in California in response
to increased regional and national demand for the drug, particularly higher
potency marijuana. Mexican DTOs that cultivate significant quantities of
cannabis at large-scale outdoor cannabis grow sites are producing
commercial-grade marijuana with slightly higher THC levels than in the past.
Various criminal groups are also increasingly producing high-grade marijuana
at indoor grow sites in response to increased demand.
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Mexican DTOs are moving away from seasonal marijuana smuggling
patterns and now stockpile marijuana shipments and smuggle the drug throughout
the year.
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PCP production has decreased during the past year in Los
Angeles, one of the primary PCP production areas in the country, largely as a
result of the arrests of several major producers. As a result of decreased
production, PCP is less available in the Los Angeles area, and national-level
distribution most likely will decrease.
-
MDMA supplied by Canadian sources is increasingly being
distributed in the Southwest Region and could have national-level impact as a
result of Los Angeles's role as a large domestic MDMA market. Asian DTOs, one
of the primary groups involved in the smuggling of MDMA from Canada into the
United States, have established trafficking networks in the Region,
particularly Los Angeles and Houston, which could facilitate MDMA distribution
in and from these areas.
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The Southwest Region serves as one of the most significant
national money laundering centers for illicit drug proceeds generated
throughout the United States. The physical transportation of bulk cash and
monetary instruments is the principal method used by traffickers to remove
illicit drug proceeds from drug market areas to and through the Southwest
Region.
Variations From National Trends
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Asian DTOs are increasing their distribution capabilities in
the Southwest Region's primary metropolitan areas. Chinese, Korean, and
Vietnamese DTOs distribute significant quantities of BC Bud and
methamphetamine as well as MDMA in the region. These trafficking organizations
obtain the drugs from sources in the Pacific Region and Canada.
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Mexican pharmacies located along the U.S.-Mexico border are a
primary source of prescription narcotics, depressants, and steroids
distributed in and abused throughout the Southwest Region. San Diego is one of
the most significant pharmaceutical smuggling areas in the country, owing to
its proximity to Tijuana, which has 10 times the number of pharmacies needed
to support its population.
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Law enforcement officials along the entire length of the
U.S.-Mexico border are documenting increasingly violent confrontations between
law enforcement officials and drug traffickers. Mexican DTOs operating along
the border often use violence to facilitate the passage of their illicit
cargo.
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Large-scale Mexican DTOs increasingly are using subterranean
tunnels in California and Arizona to smuggle illicit drugs (primarily cocaine
and marijuana) into the United States.
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