National Drug Intelligence Center   Philadelphia/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009   February 2009

Drug Threat Overview

Cocaine (particularly crack), heroin, marijuana, and controlled prescription drugs (CPDs) pose significant drug threats in the HIDTA region. High levels of violent and property crime associated with crack trafficking and the social and health consequences associated with cocaine and heroin abuse severely tax law enforcement and public health resources in the region. Cocaine, especially crack, is the primary drug-related cause of deaths, emergency department visits, and treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities in Philadelphia. Heroin is frequently abused in the HIDTA region, and its abuse is spreading to new and younger populations. Distributors are targeting customers in smaller towns and rural areas to gain market share. The purity of South American (SA) heroin, the predominant type available in the region, is relatively high but has been gradually decreasing over the past several years. Declining heroin purity has contributed to local abusers seeking alternative methods of abuse, such as injecting larger doses or injecting more frequently. Commercial-grade Mexican marijuana is the most widely available and abused illicit drug in the region; increasing availability of high-potency marijuana, both Canadian and locally produced, is drawing new users to the drug. The abuse of CPDs is increasing among teenagers and young adults in the region. Many teens believe that drugs prescribed by a doctor are not as harmful as illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine and, therefore, are not as dangerous.

Other illicit drugs pose varying threats to the PC HIDTA region. The threat from methamphetamine production and abuse historically has been low in the area; however, an increase in methamphetamine availability is a growing concern for law enforcement and public health officials. This increase is being driven by the slowly rising local production of powder methamphetamine and by an influx of high-purity ice methamphetamine transported into the region by Mexican and, more recently, Canada-based Asian DTOs. Other dangerous drugs (ODDs) such as MDMA, PCP (phencyclidine), and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) are available and abused to varying degrees within the HIDTA region, mainly by teens and young adults.

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Drug Trafficking Organizations

Colombian and Dominican DTOs control much of the smuggling and wholesale distribution of cocaine and SA heroin in the PC HIDTA region. Most Colombian DTOs operating in the HIDTA region are cells of larger Colombian organizations based in New York City. These larger organizations and the cells that they operate supply wholesale quantities of cocaine and heroin to upper-level distribution groups, primarily Dominican DTOs. Dominican DTOs control much of the midlevel cocaine and heroin distribution in the HIDTA region and supply African American, Caucasian, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican midlevel and retail distribution groups throughout the area. An increasing number of Dominican DTOs are bypassing sources in New York City and the HIDTA region and obtaining cocaine and heroin directly from Mexican sources at the Southwest Border and from sources in the Caribbean in order to lower purchase costs and increase profit margins. As a result of these newly established relationships, Dominican DTOs also are increasingly distributing marijuana and ice methamphetamine throughout the region. Colombian and Dominican DTOs also employ Mexican DTOs to transport cocaine and heroin to the region on their behalf.

Mexican DTOs are becoming more influential in the illicit drug trade in the PC HIDTA region. They have well-established transportation and distribution networks throughout most of the country, including the PC HIDTA region. Mexican DTOs and criminal groups transport and distribute most of the marijuana available in the region; they also transport significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, including high-purity ice methamphetamine, to the area. Mexican DTOs transport these drugs from Mexico, Southwest Border states and, increasingly, Atlanta. Mexican DTOs supply a majority of the drugs they transport to the area to midlevel and retail-level distribution groups of various races and ethnicities, including Asian, African American, Dominican, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican DTOs and street gangs. They also supply illicit drugs to imprisoned gang members and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs).

Other DTOs and criminal groups also distribute illicit drugs at the wholesale level in the HIDTA region. Jamaican DTOs obtain marijuana supplies from Mexican and Dominican distributors, either locally or in southwestern drug markets. Jamaican DTOs and criminal groups also supply marijuana from Florida and the Caribbean to the region. Asian DTOs, primarily Chinese and Vietnamese, based in Canada have emerged as significant producers, transporters, and distributors of MDMA and high-potency marijuana in the region. Law enforcement reporting indicates that Chinese and Vietnamese DTOs are transporting large quantities of MDMA and high-potency marijuana to the region from Canada in order to supply markets throughout the area and gain a wider customer base.

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African American, Asian, and Hispanic street gangs (Asian Boyz, Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Ņetas, and Sureņos) are the predominant retail drug distributors in the PC HIDTA region. Most street gangs are polydrug dealers, selling more than one type of drug at a time. Street gangs distribute primarily cocaine (powder and crack), heroin, and commercial-grade marijuana; however, they also distribute PCP, ice methamphetamine, MDMA, and high-potency marijuana. Although most gangs are polydrug distributors, some concentrate their efforts on certain drugs. For instance, Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings predominantly distribute crack throughout the PC HIDTA region.

According to law enforcement reporting, Bloods street gangs are strengthening and growing in the HIDTA region. Many Bloods street gang members have moved into Camden and South Philadelphia from northern New Jersey (Newark) to expand their drug distribution territories; street gang activity also is expanding into surrounding suburban and rural areas from the inner cities. Bloods members have taken over distribution areas formerly controlled by local street gangs, a situation that has led to increased violence in the region. Law enforcement officials report that Bloods street gang members are moving into the region from Trenton, New Jersey, to recruit new members. The Bloods gang recruits anyone involved in the drug trade as well as those of any age, race, ethnicity, and background to increase membership and strengthen the gang. Power is in numbers, and Bloods members are well aware of it, as the gang is constantly recruiting to increase its membership. Law enforcement reporting indicates that Bloods members recruit heavily within public and private schools. Impressionable school children, often looking to fit in, are regularly persuaded by members to join the gang. The gang also recruits heavily in correctional facilities throughout the region. Eighteen federal prisons are located in the northeast region--half of which are located in Pennsylvania. Three federal prisons are located in the PC HIDTA region (Federal Detention Center Philadelphia, Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix (NJ), and FCI Fairton (NJ). Additionally, numerous state, county, and local correctional facilities are located in the PC HIDTA region--a situation that gives gangs such as the Bloods ample opportunity to recruit new members. The promises of protection and status within the prison often induce individuals to join the gang. Upon being released or paroled from prison, many of the individuals who were recruited within the prison continue their allegiance to the gang.

Other street gangs also are increasing their presence in the PC HIDTA region. African American Crips sets are growing in number, although not as significantly as Bloods. Hispanic street gangs such as Latin Kings, Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), and Trinitarios, a Dominican street gang, are showing an increasing presence in correctional facilities and on the streets of the PC HIDTA region. Law enforcement officials report that Trinitarios street gangs in the region have been "under the radar," because most law enforcement attention has been paid to other gangs such as Bloods or Crips. Asian street gangs have increased their presence in the PC HIDTA region and are emerging as key suppliers of MDMA and Canadian high-potency marijuana. In many cases Asian street gangs smuggle these drugs from Canada to New York City prior to transporting them to the Philadelphia area for distribution. They operate primarily in southern, southwestern, and northern Philadelphia.

OMGs--most notably Pagans, Warlocks, and Outlaws--distribute retail quantities of cocaine and manufacture and distribute retail quantities of powder methamphetamine in the PC HIDTA region. Many OMGs have established relationships with Mexican DTOs in order to gain greater access to illicit drugs and facilitate their distribution operations.

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