LIMITED OFFICIAL USE-LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
Monthly Drug Summary: Southwest Border Drug Seizure Statistics Report--February 2010 and Year-to-Date 2010
May 14, 2010

Appendix B. Background--2005 Through 2009

(LES//FOUO) NDIC has identified the following trends through analysis of CBP seizure data from 2005 through 2009. This information is provided as a 5-year baseline to assist the reader in understanding the historical perspective from which subsequent months' data are analyzed. Additional information on these trends can be found in previous editions of this report.

• (LES//FOUO) Marijuana: The amount of marijuana seized along the Southwest Border increased overall from 2005 to 2009. The amount seized in 2009 was 40 percent higher than the 2007 total, the previous high annual seizure total. The Tucson Area has been the primary area for marijuana seizure amounts since at least 2005, accounting for more than one-third of the total amount of marijuana seized along the Southwest Border from 2005 through 2009. Marijuana seizure data indicate that U.S. Border Patrol agents seize the drug primarily in sectors (between POEs). The Tucson and McAllen Sectors have been the primary sectors for marijuana seizure amounts since at least January 2005. Marijuana is also seized at POEs; however, the amount seized has accounted for only 22 percent of the total marijuana seized since 2005.1 Officers have seized the greatest amount of marijuana at the El Paso POE each year since 2006.
   
• (LES//FOUO) Cocaine: Cocaine seizure amounts have decreased along the Southwest Border since their peak in 2006. The McAllen Area was the primary area for cocaine seizure amounts every year except 2008, when the amount seized by officers and agents in the El Centro Area surpassed seizure amounts in the McAllen Area. Seizure data indicate that most cocaine is seized by officers at POEs. The Calexico POE has been the primary POE for cocaine seizure amounts since 2007, when it supplanted the Laredo POE. The amount of cocaine seized by agents in sectors has accounted for approximately 34 percent of the seizure total since 2005.2 Agents in the McAllen Sector have seized the largest quantities of the drug since 2005.
   
• (LES//FOUO) Methamphetamine: The amount of methamphetamine seized along the Southwest Border increased significantly in 2009 after steadily declining from 2005 to 2007, when it reached the lowest annual total during the 5-year period. The San Diego Area has been the primary area for methamphetamine seizure amounts since 2005, accounting for more than 40 percent of the amount seized each year since 2006. Methamphetamine seizure data indicate that most methamphetamine is seized by officers at POEs. The San Ysidro POE has been the primary POE for methamphetamine seizure amounts since 2006. The amount of methamphetamine seized by agents in sectors accounted for only 14 percent of total methamphetamine seizure amounts from 2005 through 2009.3 The primary sectors for methamphetamine seizures varied among El Centro (2006), Laredo (2005 and 2008), McAllen (2007), and San Diego (2009) over the past 4 years.
   
• (LES//FOUO) Heroin: Heroin seizure amounts have increased overall since 2005, with 2009 amounts being the highest during the 5-year period. The San Diego Area has been the primary area for heroin seizure amounts since 2006. Most heroin is seized at POEs. Officers at the San Ysidro POE seized the most heroin from 2005 through 2007; however, most of the drug was seized at the Nogales and Otay Mesa POEs in 2008 and the Otay Mesa POE in 2009.4 The primary sectors for heroin seizure amounts have varied each year since 2005; however, the El Paso (2006), Laredo (2005 and 2007), and McAllen (2008 and 2009) Sectors were the primary sectors for seizures over the past 5 years.

End of page.