NCJ Number
227624
Date Published
April 2009
Length
22 pages
Annotation
An assessment is presented providing an overview of the illicit drug problem in the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) region.
Abstract
Highlights of strategic drug threat developments in the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) region include: 1) the distribution and abuse of Mexican ice methamphetamine pose the principal illicit drug threat to the New Mexico HIDTA region; 2) some New Mexico-based drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are rerouting some drug shipments to new smuggling routes through Arizona and, to a lesser extent, California; 3) Mexican DTOS and criminal groups are using children from Mexico who attend school in the New Mexico HIDTA region to smuggle drugs from Mexico into New Mexico; 4) more methamphetamine laboratories were seized in New Mexico HIDTA counties in 2008 than in 2007, likely due to the decreased availability of ice methamphetamine produced in Mexico; and 5) Mexican DTOs use any means to smuggle illicit drugs into the region from Mexico, such as low-flying aircraft (i.e., ultralights). The future outlook in the illicit drug situation in the New Mexico HIDTA region indicates that Mexican DTOs will seek alternative routes to smuggle drugs to avoid confrontation with Mexican Government counterdrug forces and rival DTOs, shifting smuggling activities to New Mexico, the number of small-scale methamphetamine laboratories in the region will most likely increase, and illicit drug abuse, particularly heroin and methamphetamine in the region will remain at high levels. Figures, tables, and list of sources