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National Drug Intelligence Center Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Drug Threat Assessment July 2003 CocaineCocaine poses a significant drug threat to Puerto Rico and the USVI. The drug is readily available and commonly abused and its distribution and abuse often are associated with violent crime. According to law enforcement and health officials, powdered cocaine and crack cocaine commonly are abused in Puerto Rico, while crack cocaine abuse is more prevalent than powdered cocaine abuse in the USVI. Puerto Rico and the USVI are commonly used as cocaine transshipment locations; most of the cocaine smuggled to the islands from South America is transshipped to other markets, primarily on the U.S. mainland. Cocaine is transported into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI primarily by maritime vessels and also by air conveyances. Dominican DTOs and criminal groups are the primary transporters of cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI; however, Colombian DTOs and Puerto Rican criminal groups also transport cocaine into and through the islands. Colombian, Dominican, and Puerto Rican criminal groups are the principal wholesale-level distributors of cocaine in Puerto Rico and the USVI. These criminal groups supply the drug principally to other Puerto Rican and Dominican criminal groups and local independent dealers and USVI criminal groups for retail sale.
AbuseCocaine commonly is abused in both Puerto Rico and the USVI. Law enforcement and health officials report that both powdered and crack cocaine commonly are abused in Puerto Rico, while crack cocaine abuse is more prevalent than powdered cocaine abuse in the USVI. According to MHAASA, 14.3 percent of males and 9.9 percent of females (approximately 1,492 individuals) who underwent substance abuse treatment from 2000 to 2001 in Puerto Rico cited cocaine as the primary drug of abuse. Treatment data were not available for the USVI. Law enforcement officials indicate that in both Puerto Rico and the USVI, cocaine primarily is abused by individuals residing in low-income neighborhoods. However, individuals in more affluent areas abuse the drug as well.
AvailabilitySeizure data reflect the ready availability of cocaine in Puerto Rico and the USVI. According to FDSS data, federal law enforcement authorities in Puerto Rico seized 6,852.2 kilograms in 1999, 6,352.9 kilograms in 2000, 5,109.7 kilograms in 2001, and 3,936.1 kilograms in 2002. The DEA Caribbean Division reported the following cocaine seizures in the USVI: 2,125.7 kilograms in FY2000; 643.2 kilograms in FY2001, and 345.3 kilograms in FY2002. CBP seized approximately 9,220 kilograms of cocaine in FY1999, 15,240 kilograms in FY2000, and 6,720 kilograms in FY2001 in Puerto Rico and the USVI. In FY2001 the USCG Greater Antillies Section seized 4,673 kilograms of cocaine. Some CBP and USCG seizures may be reflected in the FDSS data. Prices for powdered and crack cocaine vary widely throughout Puerto Rico. The DEA Caribbean Division reported that in the second quarter of FY2002, powdered cocaine sold for $12,500 to $23,000 per kilogram and $750 per ounce. At the retail level, personal use quantities of powdered cocaine--weighing approximately 0.3 grams and commonly called decks--sold for $5 to $20. Crack cocaine sold for $4 to $10 per vial and $5 to $6 per rock. Purity information for powdered and crack cocaine was not available. Cocaine prices in the USVI also vary widely. The DEA Caribbean Division reported that in the second quarter of FY2002, powdered cocaine in St. Thomas sold for $10,000 to $18,000 per kilogram with purity levels ranging between 85 and 95 percent, while an ounce of powdered cocaine sold for $350 to $550. A crack vial sold for $80 to $100, and a rock of crack sold for $20 in St. Thomas. Powdered cocaine in St. Croix sold for approximately $14,000 per kilogram with purity levels ranging between 85 and 90 percent, while an ounce sold for approximately $700. A rock and a vial of crack cocaine--with purity levels of 80 to 90 percent--sold for $50 and $20, respectively, in St. Croix. The percentage of drug-related federal sentences that were cocaine-related in Puerto Rico and the USVI in FY2001 was significantly higher than the national percentage as well as higher than the percentage for any other drug. According to USSC data, 77.7 percent of the drug-related federal sentences in Puerto Rico and 86.6 percent of the drug-related federal sentences in the USVI were cocaine-related compared with 42.5 percent nationwide. In Puerto Rico 69.5 percent of the drug-related federal sentences were powdered cocaine-related, and 8.2 percent were crack cocaine-related. In the USVI 53.3 percent of drug-related federal sentences were powdered cocaine-related, and 33.3 percent were crack cocaine-related. Nationally, 22.1 percent of drug-related federal sentences resulted from powdered cocaine offenses, and 20.4 percent resulted from crack cocaine offenses.
ViolenceCocaine distribution and abuse frequently are associated with violent crime in Puerto Rico and the USVI. Local law enforcement authorities report that retail-level cocaine distributors are heavily armed and commit violent crimes including murder and assault to control lucrative drug markets. In a series of raids conducted in September 2002, Puerto Rico Police Department officials seized 110 kilograms of cocaine and multiple weapons including AK-47s, M16 rifles, and shotguns from several homes and vehicles in a low-income neighborhood known as La Perla. Numerous retail cocaine distributors were known to operate in the neighborhood.
ProductionCoca is not cultivated nor is cocaine produced in Puerto Rico or the USVI. Virtually all of the cocaine consumed in the world is produced in South America. Colombian DTOs produce most of the cocaine smuggled into Puerto Rico and the USVI. Most of the crack sold in Puerto Rico and the USVI is converted locally from powdered cocaine distributed on the islands. Retail-level distributors typically process crack cocaine in public housing projects and other low-income residential areas. Such locations often are heavily secured with armed guards. Children sometimes serve as lookouts.
TransportationPuerto Rico and the USVI are significant transshipment locations for cocaine smuggled into the continental United States. Most of the cocaine smuggled into the islands is transshipped to markets in the mainland United States including Miami, New York, and Newark. Dominican DTOs and criminal groups are the primary transporters of cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI; however, Colombian DTOs and Puerto Rican criminal groups also transport cocaine into and through the islands. Drug transporters commonly use commercial maritime conveyances to smuggle cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. Cocaine is transported directly into Puerto Rico and the USVI from South American source countries or from transshipment countries in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Sint Maarten/St. Martin, Jamaica, and the British Virgin Islands. Drug transporters use large freighters, containerized cargo ships, bulk cargo ships, cruise ships, and passenger ferries to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. Cocaine transported on freighters and bulk cargo ships is concealed in false compartments and vessel components including fuel tanks. Cocaine transported on containerized cargo ships is concealed inside shipping containers among legitimate goods or in the walls of the container itself. DTOs and criminal groups also recruit passengers and crew members aboard cruise ships and ferries to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. In September 2002 law enforcement officials arrested a crew member of a cruise ship in St. Thomas and seized 680 grams of cocaine that were concealed in the man's pants. In 2001 CBP seized 533.76 kilograms of cocaine from commercial maritime vessels in Puerto Rico. CBP seizure data are not available for the USVI.
Private maritime vessels frequently are used to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. Go-fast boats, favored because of their stealth and speed, are the private vessels used most often to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. Go-fast boats are used to retrieve cocaine from motherships and airdrops in the open ocean or to transport cocaine into Puerto Rico and the USVI directly from source countries or transshipment points on various Caribbean islands. Go-fast boats frequently travel at night to avoid detection and transport cocaine to remote areas of Puerto Rico including the island of Vieques, Fajardo (on the east coast), Punta Tuna (on the southeast coast), Ponce (on the south coast), and Mona Island (a nature preserve off Puerto Rico's west coast). Virtually the entire territory of the USVI serves as a maritime arrival zone for go-fast boats because of the multiple inlets, cays, and miles of lightly patrolled coastline. Private yachts and fishing vessels also are used to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI, although to a lesser extent. These vessels primarily retrieve drug shipments at sea for transportation to shore. In October 2002 law enforcement authorities seized about 500 kilograms of cocaine from a fishing vessel in the open ocean 84 miles south of St. Croix. Six Venezuelan men were detained and sent to Venezuela for prosecution. In 2001 CBP seized a total of 6,773.28 kilograms of cocaine from private maritime vessels in Puerto Rico. CBP seizure data are not available for the USVI. Smaller amounts of cocaine are transported into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI via commercial aircraft and package delivery services. Couriers aboard commercial aircraft conceal cocaine internally, on their persons, or in luggage. Cocaine also is transported in cargo shipments aboard commercial aircraft. The drug often is intermingled with legitimate cargo and packaged in containers. Transporters also use package delivery services to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI. In 2001, 122 kilograms of cocaine were seized as part of Operation Jetway in Puerto Rico. That same year CBP seized 70 kilograms of cocaine from commercial aircraft at airports in Puerto Rico. Some of the CBP seizures may be included in Operation Jetway data.
DTOs and criminal groups frequently use private aircraft to transport cocaine into and through Puerto Rico and the USVI from source countries in South America and from transshipment points on other Caribbean islands. Drug transporters typically airdrop bales of cocaine into the open sea for retrieval by crewmen on maritime vessels. Private aircraft also transport cocaine to airports and private airstrips in Puerto Rico and the USVI, although to a lesser extent. Overland conveyances often are used to transport cocaine within Puerto Rico and the USVI. After cocaine has been smuggled to the islands, criminal groups use overland conveyances, primarily private vehicles, to transport the drug to stash sites or distribution points. In 2001 CBP in Puerto Rico seized 25 kilograms of cocaine being transported by private vehicles, buses, and vans. (Similar seizure data are not available for the USVI.)
DistributionColombian, Dominican, and Puerto Rican criminal groups are the principal wholesale-level distributors of cocaine in Puerto Rico and the USVI. Wholesale distributors frequently manage stash houses where cocaine is temporarily stored prior to local retail distribution or shipment to the U.S. mainland. A large cache of weapons usually is maintained at these locations. Puerto Rican and Dominican criminal groups and local independent dealers are the principal retail-level cocaine distributors in Puerto Rico. These distributors frequently manage stash houses where cocaine is temporarily stored and drug proceeds are counted. In Puerto Rico retail cocaine distribution typically occurs at puntos de drogas, or drug points. These drug points generally are located in or near public housing projects and other low-income neighborhoods. Typically, several drugs including crack, powdered cocaine, and heroin are available at drug points. Cocaine also is distributed from some businesses, including bars and nightclubs, and private homes.
In the USVI native Virgin Islanders, Colombians, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and Arabs distribute cocaine, either as members of criminal groups or working independently. Crack cocaine, the type of cocaine most commonly distributed in the USVI, generally is sold in hand-to-hand transactions on city streets. Powdered cocaine usually is sold at local bars and clubs.
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