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Mexican DTOs are the primary wholesale distributors of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin in the Ohio HIDTA region; they have replaced Dominican and African American traffickers as the principal wholesale distributors in certain areas. For example, Mexican DTOs have significantly increased the amount of Mexican heroin that they supply to southern Ohio markets, particularly in Columbus, where they have surpassed Dominicans as the principal wholesale heroin distributors in the city, thereby increasing the availability of Mexican heroin throughout the region. Moreover, Mexican DTOs in Columbus control the distribution of Mexican heroin at all distribution levels. Mexican traffickers have also replaced African American criminal groups as the primary wholesale-level distributors of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin in Dayton. The overall availability of heroin in Dayton has increased significantly; law enforcement officials report that prior to the recent influx of Mexican heroin, kilogram quantities of heroin were not available in the city.
Columbus and Dayton have emerged as regional distribution centers for Mexican brown powder and black tar heroin supplied to markets throughout Ohio and neighboring states. Columbus is a distribution center for Mexican heroin supplied to markets throughout much of Ohio as well as in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. Additionally, distributors from other markets often travel to Columbus to purchase Mexican heroin to sell in their home areas. For instance, some heroin distributors in adjoining Fairfield County travel to Columbus twice each day, purchasing approximately 75 balloons of heroin per trip; each balloon contains approximately two-tenths of a gram. The Miami Valley Drug Task Force reports that Dayton is a source of supply for heroin available in southwestern Ohio, primarily in Cincinnati and Greene County, and in nearby Indiana cities such as Richmond.
Dominican and Jamaican DTOs also distribute illicit drugs at the wholesale level, principally in northeastern counties of the HIDTA region. Dominican DTOs are the principal wholesale distributors of SA heroin in Cleveland and Youngstown, while Jamaican DTOs distribute marijuana and cocaine in Cleveland and marijuana in Akron and Youngstown. Jamaican DTOs are also active in marijuana distribution in some southern HIDTA markets, including Cincinnati and Warren County.
African American criminal groups and street gangs are the primary retail-level distributors of crack cocaine and marijuana, particularly in urban areas of the Ohio HIDTA region; they are typically supplied by Mexican DTOs. African American criminal groups and street gangs also distribute retail quantities of heroin, powder cocaine, and PCP to varying degrees throughout the HIDTA region. African American street gangs in Cleveland and Columbus are increasing their distribution of MDMA. Most of these street gangs distribute MDMA along with crack cocaine; however, some Cleveland gangs have switched from crack cocaine sales to exclusively distributing MDMA.
Various other groups and independent dealers also serve as retail-level drug distributors in the region. Puerto Rican criminal groups are the primary retail-level distributors of SA heroin in Mahoning County; they typically are supplied by Dominican DTOs based in New York City. The Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force reports that Puerto Rican traffickers sometimes use quality control measures to satisfy customers and maintain their control of the market. For example, one Puerto Rican group that distributes SA heroin with specific package markings has allowed buyers to return poor-quality heroin for a refund or exchange. Columbus officials report that a few Ghanaian traffickers distribute white heroin (origin unknown), primarily to African American abusers in the city. Hispanic street gangs are active in Columbus, where they distribute cocaine and limited amounts of Mexican ice methamphetamine; they have also emerged as retail-level MDMA distributors. Caucasian independent dealers are the principal distributors of MDMA and diverted pharmaceutical drugs throughout the HIDTA region. Pharmaceutical drugs are typically diverted by distributors and abusers through prescription fraud, doctor-shopping, theft, and pharmacy robberies.
Drug distributors in the Ohio HIDTA region often use cell phones to negotiate transactions and prearrange meetings with customers. South Central Drug Task Force officials in Columbus report that customers there typically call distributors to arrange a meeting place to purchase drugs. Distributors prefer to use prepaid phones because they provide anonymity and can be routinely discarded and replaced because of their low cost. Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force officials indicate that Mexican wholesale distributors in Cleveland are increasingly using text messages to conduct drug transactions.
Law enforcement reporting indicates that cocaine, particularly crack, is the drug that most contributes to violent crime and property crime in the Ohio HIDTA region. According to the NDTS 2007, 24 of the 36 state and local law enforcement respondents in the Ohio HIDTA region identify crack cocaine as the drug most associated with violent and property crime. Crack cocaine distributors commit assaults and homicides to protect drug supplies and distribution territories, while abusers often are involved in shoplifting, robbery, and theft to support their addictions. Heroin abusers also contribute significantly to crime in the region by engaging in shoplifting, identity theft, and burglary to support their addictions. Law enforcement officials in Columbus report that most crime in the city is associated with drug distribution and abuse. Moreover, they report that home invasion robberies involving the theft of drugs or drug proceeds are increasing in Columbus.
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