U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
Los Angeles HIDTA Drug Market Analysis 2010
May 2010

Drug Threat Overview

The distribution and abuse of methamphetamine is the primary drug threat in the Los Angeles HIDTA region, followed by cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and controlled prescription drugs (CPDs). According to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2010, 28 of the 39 federal, state, and local law enforcement respondents in the Los Angeles HIDTA region identify methamphetamine as the drug that poses the greatest threat to their jurisdictions; 5 respondents identify cocaine; 3 identify marijuana; 2 identify heroin; and 1 identifies CPDs. (See Figure 2.) In 2009, Los Angeles HIDTA initiatives reported the seizure of 957 kilograms of ice methamphetamine, 2,317 kilograms of cocaine, 111,141 kilograms of marijuana, and 149 kilograms of heroin. (See Table 1.) Heroin, ice methamphetamine, and MDMA seizures increased, whereas cocaine, marijuana, and PCP seizures decreased when compared with 2008 seizures.

Figure 2. Greatest Drug Threat in the Los Angeles HIDTA Region as Reported by State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies by Number of Respondents.c

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       Source: National Drug Threat Survey 2010.

Table 1. Illicit Drugs Seized in the Los Angeles HIDTA Region, in Kilograms, 2005-2009

Source: Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Mexico-produced ice methamphetamine availability increased in the region in 2009. As a result, wholesale prices for the drug decreased from $17,500 to $19,500 per kilogram in December 2008 to $13,800 to $14,000 per kilogram in December 2009. The increase in ice methamphetamine availability is the result of increased methamphetamine production in Mexico. Mexican DTOs have adjusted to the government of Mexico (GOM) restrictions on precursor materials by smuggling ephedrine and pseudoephedrine from India, China, and South American countries such as Argentina and Bolivia. As a result, methamphetamine laboratory seizures in Mexico increased nearly 279 percent from 2008 (47) through November 2009 (178). Concurrently, as Mexican methamphetamine availability in the region increased, methamphetamine laboratory seizures in the region decreased 49 percent in 2009 (25 laboratories) when compared with 2008 (49 laboratories). (See Table 2.)

Table 2. Small, Major, and Super Methamphetamine Laboratory Seizures in the Los Angeles HIDTA Region, 2006-2009*

Source: Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
*Small laboratories are capable of producing less than 2 pounds of methamphetamine per production cycle. Major laboratories are capable of producing 2 to 9 pounds of methamphetamine per production cycle. Superlabs are capable of producing over 10 pounds of methamphetamine per production cycle.

Wholesale cocaine quantities were widely available in 2009, compared with shortages reported in the region in 2007 and 2008. Consequently, wholesale prices for cocaine decreased from $22,000 to $26,000 per kilogram in December 2008 to $19,500 to $21,000 per kilogram in December 2009. Despite reported increases in cocaine availability, Los Angeles HIDTA initiatives report a 62 percent decrease in cocaine seizures in 2009 (2,317 kg) when compared with 2008 (6,042 kg). (See Table 1.) Law enforcement in the region reports that lower seizure numbers are the result of traffickers transporting smaller loads to minimize the potential loss, and a law enforcement focus on long-term investigations targeting methamphetamine traffickers.

Marijuana availability in the Los Angeles HIDTA region remains high despite a 45 percent decrease in HIDTA initiative marijuana seizures from 2008 to 2009. (See Table 1.) Stable prices indicate that marijuana availability remained at high levels from 2008 through 2009. The decrease in seizures is partly the result of Mexican DTOs shipping smaller loads to minimize potential loss to seizure by law enforcement and the diversion of investigative resources to other priorities, such as Mexican methamphetamine trafficking organizations.

Heroin trafficking is increasing in the Los Angeles HIDTA region. Heroin seizures increased 137 percent from December 2008 (63 kg) to December 2009 (149 kg) (see Table 1); wholesale prices for heroin also have decreased. Increased heroin availability is filling the higher demand for the drug by OxyContin abusers who are switching to heroin because of lower prices. Mexican black tar heroin is the most available, although other types, such as South American heroin and Mexican brown powder heroin, are also available in the region. Although uncommon, law enforcement reported a seizure of China White heroind and raw opium in 2009.

MDMA is increasingly available within the region. HIDTA initiatives resulted in a 343 percent increase in MDMA seizures from 2008 to 2009 (see Table 1); wholesale prices for MDMA remained stable from 2008 to 2009. Asian and Vietnamese gangs that acquire the drug from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, control the distribution of MDMA, primarily in the Orange County area.

Los Angeles HIDTA initiative seizures of PCP declined in 2009 (see Table 1). Wholesale prices decreased in 2009, indicating that PCP is still readily available in the region.

Footnotes

c. NDTS data for 2010 cited in this report are as of March 3, 2010. NDTS data cited are raw, unweighted responses from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies solicited through either NDIC or the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) HIDTA program. Data cited may include responses from agencies that are part of the NDTS 2010 national sample or agencies that are part of HIDTA solicitation lists.

d. White powder heroin is generically and collectively referred to as China White. The generic use of the term “China White” has inadvertently contributed to the misperception that the term refers to heroin produced in Asia when, in fact, it refers only to the color of the heroin and not whether it was produced in Asia, Mexico, or South America.

UNCLASSIFIED

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