NCJ Number
214060
Date Published
January 2006
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of the National Drug Intelligence Center’s National drug threat assessment for 2006, which reports on the availability, production, transportation, distribution, and demand for illicit substances in the United States.
Abstract
Overall, the assessment indicated that the abuse of marijuana, heroin, prescription narcotics, MDMA, GHB, and LSD has decreased in the United States during the past year. There are also indications that the availability of LSD and GHB, which are primarily used by adolescent populations, has significantly decreased along with a modest decrease in the availability of heroin. The availability of marijuana and methamphetamine, however, appears to have increased while the availability of cocaine has remained relatively stable. The domestic production of methamphetamine has decreased, but this decrease has been offset by increased production in Mexico, suggesting an unbalanced effort at eradication on either side of the border. Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and criminal groups have emerged as the primary transporters and distributors of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin in the Pacific, Southwest, and West Central regions of the United States and are the major distributors of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions of the country. Asian criminal groups are also responsible for the distribution of MDMA and Canada-produced marijuana, particularly in New York and Los Angeles, which are the two largest MDMA markets in the United States. Information is also offered on drug money laundering, drug transportation corridors, drug trafficking organizations, and the impact of drugs on society. It is estimated that the wholesale-level drug distribution in the United States generates between $13.6 billion and $48.4 billion annually. Between $8.3 billion and $24.9 billion in drug proceeds is smuggled out of the country by both Mexican and Colombian DTOs, primarily through South Texas. This drug threat assessment was based on information provided by over 3,400 State and local law enforcement agencies around the country. Information was provided via survey and personal interviews. Tables, figures, footnotes, appendixes, sources