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North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009 Questions and comments may be directed to Southeast/Florida/Caribbean Unit, Regional Threat Analysis Branch. National Drug Intelligence Center 319 Washington Street 5th Floor, Johnstown, PA 15901-1622 • (814) 532-4601 NDIC publications are available on the following web sites: INTERNET www.usdoj.gov/ndic ADNET http://ndicosa.adnet.sgov.gov RISS ndic.riss.net LEO https://www.leo.gov/http://leowcs.leopriv.gov/lesig/ndic/index.htm NATIONAL DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 031809 Product No. 2009-R0813-020 March 2009 North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009 This assessment is an outgrowth of a partnership between the NDIC and HIDTA Program for preparation of annual assessments depicting drug trafficking trends and developments in HIDTA Program areas. The report has been coordinated with the HIDTA, is limited in scope to HIDTA jurisdictional boundaries, and draws upon a wide variety of sources within those boundaries. NATIONAL DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area This page intentionally left blank. national DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER ii Drug Market Analysis 2009 North Florida Table of Contents Preface ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Strategic Drug Threat Developments ...........................................................................................................2 HIDTA Overview ..........................................................................................................................................2 Drug Threat Overview ..................................................................................................................................3 Drug Trafficking Organizations ....................................................................................................................5 Production .....................................................................................................................................................8 Transportation .............................................................................................................................................10 Distribution .................................................................................................................................................12 Drug-Related Crime ....................................................................................................................................13 Abuse ..........................................................................................................................................................13 Illicit Finance ..............................................................................................................................................14 Outlook .......................................................................................................................................................15 Sources ........................................................................................................................................................16 national DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER iii North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area This page intentionally left blank. national DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER iv Drug Market Analysis 2009 North Florida Preface This assessment provides a strategic overview of the illicit drug situation in the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), highlighting significant trends and law enforcement concerns related to the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs. The report was prepared through detailed analysis of recent law enforcement reporting, information obtained through interviews with law en- forcement and public health officials, and available statistical data. The report is designed to provide policymakers, resource planners, and law enforcement officials with a focused discussion of key drug issues and developments facing the North Florida HIDTA. Figure 1. North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area GEORGIA ATLANTIC NASSAU OCEAN DUVAL Osceola BAKER National Forest COLUMBIA CLAY FLORIDA ST. JOHNS ALACHUA PUTNAM FLAGLER NC SC AL GA MARION FL National Forest Area of North HIDTA County Florida HIDTA national DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER 1 North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Strategic Drug New York; and Savannah, Georgia, and for drugs transported south from Atlanta, Georgia, to drug Threat Developments markets throughout Florida. Jacksonville, which 1 • Mexican drug trafficking organizations has the largest population of any city in Florida, (DTOs) and associated Hispanic criminal is the primary drug market in the North Florida groups are the dominant transporters of HIDTA region. As such, drug trafficking activi- cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphet- ties in the Jacksonville area have a considerable amine in the North Florida HIDTA region. influence on drug markets in the entire region. These DTOs and criminal groups have gained The North Florida HIDTA region has a large control over much of the drug distribution in and increasing population that is racially/ethnically the region and in the entire state of Florida as diverse.2 The Hispanic population in the region, a result of their access to sources of supply which is the fastest-growing segment, increased and their well-established drug smuggling 74 percent from 78,901 in 2000 to an estimated routes from Mexico into the United States. 137,081 in 2007. (See Figure 2 on page 3.) Many • Sporadic shortages of powder cocaine and foreign nationals and/or immigrants have relocated slightly higher prices at the midlevel and to the region from drug source or transit areas such retail level were reported by several law as Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, al- enforcement agencies in the North Florida lowing drug traffickers to blend into local commu- HIDTA region during the second half of nities and conceal their illegal activities. 2008. Cocaine usually is readily available The North Florida HIDTA region has a highly throughout the region because of its proxim- developed transportation system, including major ity to reliable international sources of supply. roadways such as Interstates 10, 75, and 95, which However, large cocaine seizures in drug tran- link it to drug distribution centers in Atlanta and sit areas near the Southwest Border and in the Miami and to major eastern U.S. drug markets. Caribbean have resulted in sporadic cocaine (See Figure 3 on page 11.) Moreover, Jackson- shortages in the North Florida HIDTA region. ville is one of the principal ports of entry (POEs) • The diversion, distribution, and abuse of for travelers, mail, and cargo into the continental controlled prescription drugs (CPDs) such United States; millions of tons of commercial as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and diazepam truck and maritime freight and parcels as well are significant threats to the North Florida as high volumes of commercial and passenger HIDTA region. vehicles transit the HIDTA region daily. A large international airport, numerous international HIDTA Overview 1. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the estimated population of Jacksonville, Florida, was 805,605 in 2007 (the latest year for The North Florida HIDTA region encompasses which such data are available); the city of Miami, Florida, had Alachua, Baker, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, the second-highest estimated population—409,719—in 2007. Census data further indicate that in 2007 the estimated popula- Marion, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. tion of Duval County (Jacksonville), Florida, was 849,159, (See Figure 1 on page 1.) The North Florida HIDTA while the estimated population of Miami-Dade County (Miami), region, particularly Jacksonville, is a significant Florida, was 2,387,170. transshipment area for illegal drugs transported 2. According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2007 (the latest year for which such estimated data are available), Caucasians account north from Miami, Florida, to East Coast drug for 74 percent of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking markets such as Boston, Massachusetts; New York, Area (HIDTA) region’s population, followed by African Americans (20%), Hispanics (6%), Asians (2%), and other races (1%). national DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER 2 Drug Market Analysis 2009 North Florida Figure 2. Estimated Hispanic Population Increase in North Florida HIDTA Counties, 2000–2007 GEORGIA NASSAU 99% INCREASE 873 1,739 ATLANTIC DUVAL 60% INCREASE OCEAN BAKER 32% INCREASE Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach COLUMBIA 78% INCREASE 419 554 31,946 51,086 1,546 2,746 CLAY 103% INCREASE 3,244 7,861 6,059 12,318 St. Augustine ALACHUA 40% INCREASE ST. JOHNS FLORIDA PUTNAM 142% INCREASE Gainesville 46% INCREASE Major City* 12,493 17,473 4,168 6,088 Palm Coast 150,000 + 95,000 - 149,999 FLAGLER Other City of Interest 180% INCREASE Hispanic Population** MARION 2,537 7,108 93% INCREASE 2000 2007 Ocala Population Percent Change 2000 - 2007 100+ 15,616 30,108 75 - 99 50 - 74 32 - 49 *Census 2000 Population. parcel transshipment hubs, and a large commercial Threat Survey (NDTS) 2009, 19 of the 28 law seaport facilitate high levels of legitimate com- enforcement agency respondents in the North merce and drug trafficking activity. Florida HIDTA region report that cocaine is the greatest
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