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National Drug Intelligence Center |
The Los Angeles HIDTA region is a major transshipment center for illicit drugs entering the United States destined for drug markets throughout the country. Mexican DTOs based in the Los Angeles HIDTA region will continue to control most drug operations in the region by using associated criminal groups and street and prison gangs to distribute illicit drugs in the HIDTA region and to transport drugs to markets throughout the United States.
Methamphetamine production in the Los Angeles HIDTA region may increase in the near term. Decreased availability of Mexican ice methamphetamine associated with enhanced precursor control legislation in Mexico and the rising availability of precursor chemicals obtained through the growing number of organized smurfing operations in the Los Angeles HIDTA region and in neighboring states will most likely result in increased local methamphetamine production.
Mexican heroin traffickers and criminal groups will take advantage of the increased heroin production in Mexico to further expand their heroin trafficking operations through the Los Angeles HIDTA region to supply local demand and growing heroin markets in Great Lakes and eastern states.
Decreased cocaine availability experienced throughout the Los Angeles HIDTA region in 2008 is very likely to continue throughout 2009 as Mexican military and law enforcement efforts maintain their pressure on major Mexican DTOs smuggling the drug into the region.
Drug-related crime in the HIDTA region will most likely remain at high levels as DTOs, criminal groups, and street and prison gangs use violence and threats of violence to protect drug distribution operations and to intimidate competitors. Moreover, drug abusers in the region will engage in various property crimes and acts of identity theft in order to obtain funds to purchase illicit drug supplies.
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