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MARCH 2021 DEA-DCT-DIR-008-21

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UNCLASSIFIED PMS 320 PMS 505 UNCLASSIFIED PMS 377 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION 2020 NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

This product was prepared by DEA’s Strategic Intelligence Section. Comments and questions may be addressed to the Office of Intelligence Programs at [email protected]. For media/press inquiries call (571) 776-2508.

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UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 2020 NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

Letter from the Acting Administrator |2 Scope and Methodology |3 Executive Summary |4 Illicit & |7 |19 |29 CONTENTS Controlled Prescription |37 Marijuana |47 New Psychoactive Substances |59 OF Transnational Criminal Organizations |65 Drug Threat in U.S. Territories & in Indian Country |79 Illicit Finance |85 Appendix A: Map of DEA Field Divisions |91 Appendix B: Acronym Glossary |92 Appendix C: Data Set Descriptions |94 TABLE TABLE

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LETTER FROM THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR

It is my privilege to present the 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), a comprehensive strategic assessment produced by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Intelligence Program to inform U.S. policymakers and the American public about the threat posed by drug trafficking and associated transnational organized in the . Drug trafficking imperils the safety and security of all Americans. The criminals who engage in drug trafficking fuel the epidemic of drug abuse and in our country — and profit from it — while feeding the violence that plagues many of our communities. Although we have made progress in driving down the abuse of controlled prescription opioids, the United States continues to face challenges from both new and persistent threats. Availability and use of cheap and highly potent has increased, and methamphetamine has flooded into the United States across the southern border. Mexican transnational criminal organizations continue to supply most of the cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl smuggled into the country, while violent street dominate the retail sale and distribution of these illicit drugs at the local level. Every day, DEA works hand-in-hand with our international, federal, state, local, and tribal partners to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations in the United States and around the world. Together, DEA and our partners are confronting these threats head on, and have redoubled our efforts to keep Americans safe through increased focus on countering trafficking and enforcement initiatives such as Project Python and Operation Crystal Shield. The results of these efforts are staggering, with more than 28,000 pounds of methamphetamine and millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl seized, over 2,600 targets arrested, and hundreds of firearms taken off the streets. DEA is also committed to building partnerships with professionals to help turn the tide against the growing wave of overdoses that are occurring in our communities. Provisional data released by the Centers for Control and Prevention in December 2020 indicated that overdose continue to rise amid the global pandemic, causing unimaginable suffering and further complicating prevention, enforcement, and treatment efforts. Only by working together — law enforcement, public health officials, educators, and community advocates — can we develop and implement the innovative required to overcome this public health crisis.

Respectfully,

D. Christopher Evans Acting Administrator U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

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NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

The 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) is a comprehensive assessment of the threat posed to the United States by the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, the diversion and abuse of licit drugs, and the laundering of proceeds generated through illicit drug sales. It also addresses the role domestic groups, including organized violent gangs, serve in domestic drug trafficking. The most widely trafficked drugs are discussed in terms of their availability, consumption and overdose related deaths, production and cultivation, transportation, and distribution. The report provides strategic analysis of the domestic drug situation during 2019 and the first half of 2020. This assessment is prepared through detailed analysis of the most recent law enforcement, intelligence, and public health data available to counterdrug agencies through the date of publication. To evaluate the threat of illicit drugs, analysts considered quantitative and qualitative information. Qualitative information on , investigations, arrests, laboratory analyses, drug purity or , and price were considered. Qualitative information pertaining to the presence and level of domestic and foreign criminal activity, general trends in production or cultivation levels, involvement of organized criminal groups, and other related safety hazards, environmental effects, and associated criminal activity were also considered. The evaluation of the domestic use of illicit drugs was based on accepted data captured in national indicators.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs inflict tremendous harm upon individuals,amilies, f and communities throughout the United States. The violence, intimidation, , and financial carried out by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), criminal groups, and violent gangs pose a significant threat to our nation. The criminal activities of these organizations operating in the United States extend well beyond drug trafficking and have a profoundly negative impact on the safety and security of U.S. citizens. Their involvement in alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, and public corruption, coupled with the high levels of violence that result from these criminal endeavors, poses serious homeland security threats and public safety concerns. Mexican TCOs are the greatest drug trafficking threat to the United States; they control most of the U.S. drug market and have established varied transportation routes, have advanced communications capabilities, and hold strong affiliations with criminal groups and gangs in the United States. Illicit fentanyla—produced in foreign clandestine laboratories and trafficked into the United States in powder and pill form—is primarily responsible for fueling the ongoing opioid crisis. Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills continue to be trafficked across the country and remain significant contributors to the rates of overdose deaths observed across the country. As inexpensive, potent fentanyl continues to push into established heroin markets, fentanyl will augment, and in some cases supplant, white powder heroin in various domestic markets. Methamphetamine price and purity data, as well as law enforcement reporting, all indicate methamphetamine continues to be readily available throughout the United States. Seizures along with drug deaths involving methamphetamine continue to rise—purity and potency remain high while prices remain relatively low. Availability of cocaine throughout the United States remains steady, likely based on the high levels of cultivation and cocaine production in the Andean Region of . Leading indicators of cocaine availability, including laboratory analysis of cocaine exhibits, cocaine data, and price and purity of the drug, indicate that cocaine availability is steady. Controlled Prescription Drugs (CPDs)b remain a prevalent concern within the United States— availability remains constant while abuse levels decreased from the previous year. CPD diversion continues to decrease across most categories at the national level, but some states report an increase in the number of incidents. The number of opioid dosage units available on the retail market and opioid and losses reached their lowest levels in nine years. remains the most significant foreign source for marijuana in the United States; however, in U.S. markets, Mexican marijuana has largely been supplanted by domestic-produced marijuana.

a. The term “fentanyl” will be used throughout this document to mean illicit or clandestinely produced fentanyl unless otherwise specified. b. CPDs include, but are not limited to, opioids (e.g. Vicodin, OxyContin), (e.g. Valium, Xanax), (e.g. , Ritalin), and anabolic (e.g. Anadrol, Oxandrin).

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The demand market for New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) is typified by new substances constantly being created and marketed to users. Synthetic and synthetic are the most common classes of NPSs available and abused in the United States; however, there are many other classes of NPSs including opioidsc, , tryptamines, , and . The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on daily travel, U.S. border closings, closure of nonessential businesses, and the broad shelter-in-place orders temporarily posed new challenges to criminal organizations and their movement of drugs throughout the United States during the first half of 2020. Global drug markets reported fluctuations in pricing, availability, transportation, and distribution of illicit drugs during the initial stages of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Despite initial disruptions in drug smuggling, transportation, and distribution, TCOs operating throughout foreign countries and in the United States continued to test new methods and use existing techniques to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

c. Synthetic opioids, as a class of New Psychoactive Substances, include fentanyl-related compounds in addition to other synthetic drugs. Given the threat posed by fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances/fentanyl analogues, those substances are discussed in their own section of this report.

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ILLICIT OPIOIDS & HEROIN Overview reported the same in 2018, demonstrating fentanyl’s continued impact on the illicit drug Nearly 70 percent of all deaths market. in the United States in 2018 involved an opioid. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than In 2019, the majority of DEA Field Divisions —the category which includes indicated that heroin was easily obtained at any fentanyl—increased by 10 percent according time. DEA’s hybrid Caribbean Field Division— to data provided by the Centers for Disease with domestic and foreign offices—reported that Control and Prevention (CDC). While deaths while heroin remained moderately available involving heroin decreased by four percent, when compared to 2018, heroin seizures heroin continues to pose a serious public health throughout the entire Division declined in and safety threat. The domestic markets for 2019. DEA’s Miami and Houston Field Divisions heroin, fentanyl, and other illicit synthetic opioids reported that heroin was more available in their overlap, as these substances disproportionately area of responsibility (AOR) than in the previous affect the Great Lakes and Northeast regions reporting period. DEA’s El Paso, New Orleans, of the United States. Mexican TCOs have and San Diego Field Divisions reported that established clandestine laboratories in Mexico heroin availability within their respective AORs for the synthesis of fentanyl, and Mexican remained at the same moderate level as in authorities have encountered a rise in illegal 2018, meaning that heroin was generally readily fentanyl pill press and tableting operations. accessible. Likewise, Mexican TCOs are responsible for the Reporting from forensic laboratories across production and trafficking across the Southwest the United States continues to show a rise in Border (SWB) of the overwhelming majority of fentanyl availability while reports of heroin show the heroin available in the United States. a decline. In 2019, National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS)d crime laboratory Availability data (NFLIS-Drug)e reflected 100,378 fentanyl Fentanyl continues to be readily available across reports identified by forensic laboratories, the country with 17 of DEA’s 23 Field Divisions representing a 12 percent increase over 2018 indicating that fentanyl availability was high (See Figure 1). In 2019, there were 128,267 in 2019. Nearly all DEA Field Divisions that reports of heroin to NFLIS-Drug, a 13 percent reported high fentanyl availability in 2019 also d. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a DEA program that systematically collects results of forensic analyses, and other related information, from local, regional, and national entities. The program consists of three components (NFLIS-Drug, NFLIS-Tox, and NFLIS-MEC) that complement each other to provide a holistic picture of the drugs analyzed by the U.S. forensic community. e. NFLIS-Drug is a comprehensive information system that includes data from forensic laboratories that handle the Nation’s drug analysis cases. NFLIS- Drug includes information on the specific substance and the characteristics of drug evidence, such as purity, quantity, and drug combinations. NFLIS- Drug does not include data from handheld presumptive testing devices as these fall outside the scope of NFLIS eligible data.

UNCLASSIFIED 7 Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 8 i. h. g. f. largest amountsofheroin increase from 2018, withthe of heroin in2019, a30percent Divisions seized6,951 kilograms markets arelocated. DEAField the largestwhite powder heroin regions,where and Northeast in theGreatLakes, Midwest, in theUnited States, especially Heroin availability remainshigh presence intheU.S. drugmarket. thus maintainingasignificant opioidinNFLIS-Drug, reported remains themostfrequently noticeably increased,heroin Even asfentanyl availability has Pennsylvania (See Figure 2). New Jersey, New York, ,and with themostheroin reports: most fentanyl arealsothesamestates reports state level. and heroin markets atthe remainintertwined NFLIS-Drug datafor 2019 shows thefentanyl 2018. decrease from 148,177 ofheroin in reports Retrieved July10, 2020 Source: National Forensic Information Laboratory System-Drug Figure 1. Fentanyl to Reports NFLIS-Drug, 2014 –2019Figure 1. separately from fentanyl-related compounds. related substancessubject to emergency controls asdefined in 21 CFR 1308.11(h)(30). For thepurposesfentanyl of thisreport, isdiscussed Fentanyl-related compounds include any substance related inchemical structureto fentanyl, suchasacetyl fentanyl, and thefentanyl- , The five states thatsubmitted in2019 themostheroin reports were, indescendingorder: , Ohio,New Jersey, Pennsylvania, andNew York. York. The five states thatsubmitted themost in2019fentanyl reports were, indescendingorder: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, andNew For moredetailed andtheircaveats information onthedatabases usedinthisreport pleaseseeAppendixC.

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT f Four ofthe five states withthe g , h

Source: DEA Figure 2. Heroin Reports toFigure 2.HeroinReports NFLIS-Drug by State, 2019 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 3,138 kilogramsoffentanyl andfentanyl-related least 2015. DEArecorded seizurestotaling reached thehighestrecorded levels sinceat Pennsylvania. In2019, DEAfentanyl seizures heroin seizedincludeNew Jersey, ,and compounds Other states withlargequantities of distribution hubintheUnited States. the mostsignificantheroin market and United States. New York isregarded as to domesticmarkets throughout the for theonward movement ofheroin astransshipmentpoints also serve for heroin sourced from Mexico and points areallmajorentry and New York. California, and seized inTexas, California, Arizona, i (FRCs) in2019. States withthe Illicit Opioids & Heroin 9 that U.S.-based drug that U.S.-based public health resources resources health public already afflicted in areas of heroin- levels with high overdoses. involved and Special Testing DEA’s Laboratory’s Research Signature Fentanyl (STRL) (FSPP) Program Profiling analysis conducted on wholesale seizures (generally seizures one than greater that kilogram) indicate is rarely mixed heroin at the with fentanyl This wholesale level. the likelihood points to DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

as , , and , which procaine, as caffeine, but also decreased the increased their profits heroin to fentanyl Adding purity of their product. greatly increase their to distributors allows quality. while maintaining product profits trafficking organizations (DTOs) and dealers and are trafficking organizations (DTOs) at the with heroin mixing fentanyl responsible for consumption. retail for regional and local levels into of fentanyl Combining only a small quantity by maximize profitability dealers to allows heroin supplies. heroin extending heroin level on retail Analysis conducted Domestic the Heroin under the STRL seizures by that Mexico- (HDMP) indicates Program Monitor markets heroin retail dominates heroin sourced This same States. the United throughout with mixed analysis further that heroin indicates substances, mostly fentanyl, controlled other level. is increasingly widespread at the retail have distributors heroin level retail Historically, such with or “cut” heroin mixed UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 3. DEA Fentanyl Seizures by State, 2019 State, by Seizures DEA Fentanyl 3. Figure Source: DEA Source: overdose deaths, straining law enforcement and enforcement deaths, straining law overdose in white powder heroin markets continues markets heroin powder in white of fentanyl-involved result in higher rates to in the Northeast (New , New Jersey, Jersey, in the Northeast England, New (New (St. Louis, Philadelphia) and Midwest York, New Chicago). The increased presence of fentanyl a significant portion of the pre-established including in DEA Field Divisions market, heroin enforcement and public health officials report enforcement is either supplanting or has surpassed fentanyl The domestic market for fentanyl overlaps overlaps fentanyl for The domestic market heroin powder with most of the major white in select areas, law However, markets. states into the rest of the country. the rest of the into states reporting (See Figure 3). This concentration seizures in these areas and fentanyl of heroin SWB the ongoing trafficking from demonstrates in the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Northeastin the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, DEA to according States, areas of the United greatest amount of fentanyl seized in 2019 were were seized in 2019 amount of fentanyl greatest located or were along the SWB, either clustered Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 10 The amountofmixturesmay beunderreported percent to ofthemixturesreported NFLIS-Drug. and fentanyl accounted for approximately 27 Of theillicitfentanyl combinationsfound, heroin threats posedby other drugs(SeeFigure4). in theopioidcrisis,butalsoexacerbating the contributing to fentanyl’s involvement not only to inmixtureswith other beobserved drugs, to NFLIS-Drugin2019—butreports itcontinues entity —approximately 58percent offentanyl Fentanyl asasingledrug reported isoften j. United States andborder restrictionsissuedby theUnited States andMexico. associated withfluctuatingstateincluded supplyuncertainty lockdown orders throughout the Pandemic-related challengesfor DTOs traffickingheroin, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioidshave potency drug neededto generate highamountsofrevenue for drugtraffickers, reflecting fentanyl’s high experienced suchlittlechangeduringthepandemicdueto therelatively smallervolumes ofthe Orleans, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia,andSanDiego.Itispossiblethatfentanyl availability as aresultoftheCOVID-19 pandemicincludeElPaso, Chicago,Denver, Houston, Louisville,New littletodivisions reported nomarket heroin priceincreases change.DEAFieldDivisionsreporting pandemic, while10 priceincreasesfor DEAFieldDivisionsreported heroin. Theremainingfield and thatfentanyl’s —reported availability haddecreasedasaresultoftheCOVID-19 As ofJune2020,seven DEAFieldDivisions—Chicago,Houston, Louisville,New England,St.Louis, Illicit OpioidsandCOVID-19 Potency isdefinedasthemeasureofdrugactivityin terms ofthedosagerequired to aneffect onthebody.exert

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: National Forensic Information Laboratory System-Drug Retrieved July10, 2020 j andtherelatively smallquantities neededfor to users experience itseffects. Figure 4.Fentanyl to Combination Reports NFLIS-Drug, 2014 –2019

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED protocols. thatofthesampling FSPPreports due to reporting variations inlaboratory otherwise. the mixturesareintentionally doneoroccur examined. Thesedatadonot reflectwhether with heroin in22percent ofall fentanyl exhibits weight); incomparison, fentanyl was mixed kilograms ofpowders examined (8percent by heroin accounted for 94 kilograms ofthe1,066 of 2019 seizurestested, fentanyl mixed with Illicit Opioids & Heroin 11 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Heroin was only surpassed by the number of by surpassed only was Heroin the category SOOTM, deaths attributable to and legal opioids that includes illicit fentanyl prescription. The drugs in this by available in more involved opioids categorysynthetic were accounted deaths and overdose than 31,000 reported heroin overdose deaths decreased in decreased deaths overdose reported heroin Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, , Connecticut, DC, and Washington, and , Wisconsin, . and Texas, in California, increased of the countryThe remainder reported stable rates. overdose heroin of while the rate analysis reveals Further alone heroin deaths involving overdose from (dropping 20 percent decreased almost of the rate 5,928 in 2018), to in 2017 7,391 fentanyl deaths with overdose heroin-involved (rising from almost 12 percent present increased Figure (See 9,038 in 2018) to in 2017 8,091 heroin-involved decline in an overall 5). Despite second in the was deaths, heroin overdose category. drug of any deaths number of overdose UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Prevention Disease Control for Centers Source: Figure 5. Heroin-Involved Overdose Deaths With and Without Fentanyl, 2013 – 2018 Fentanyl, Without With and Deaths Overdose 5. Heroin-Involved Figure between 2017 and 2018. In 2018, the CDC the CDC In 2018, 2018. and 2017 between CDC reported that heroin-involved overdose overdose CDC reported heroin-involved that percent four just over by deaths dropped deaths continue to increase related to synthetic synthetic to increase related deaths continue to The (SOOTM). than methadone opioids other Drug-poisoning data shows that heroin-involved that heroin-involved Drug-poisoning data shows off as overdose deaths are leveling overdose seven DEA regional laboratories. DEA regional seven Consumption ConsumptionDrug Drug and and Deaths Deaths Overdose Overdose intelligence purposes. FSPP data is not intended intended FSPP data is not purposes. intelligence rather a share but is U.S. market reflect to the from STRL to submitted of samples snapshot developed at the STRL allow in-depth reporting allow at the STRL developed link seizures for to attempt on seizures in an of fentanyl and fentanyl-related exhibits exhibits and fentanyl-related of fentanyl throughout seizures made obtained from methodologies Analytical States. the United Program performsThe FSPP analyses chemical in-depth DEA’s Fentanyl Signature Profiling Profiling Signature Fentanyl DEA’s Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 12 Figure 6.Overdose Deaths Involving SyntheticOpioids Otherthan Methadone, 2005–2018 k. demonstrate fentanyl’s continuedinvolvement with consistently highrates ofopioidabuse River. Simultaneously, increasesinstates United States, suchaswest oftheMississippi expanding into other regionsinthe prevalence to whileitsuseappears be in areaswithtraditionalwhite powder heroin Overdose dataindicates fentanyl usecontinues United States. of the in theGreatLakes andNortheast deaths arestillthemostconcentrated instates crisis continues.Overall, fentanyl-involved astheopioid widespread across thecountry Fentanyl useandoverdose deathsaremore with theriseinfatal overdoses. and production have not riseninconjunction fentanyl, asrates for licitfentanyl prescriptions likely attributableto increasedavailability ofillicit approximately 10 percent from 2017 to 2018, increased Figure 6).Deathsinthiscategory for 67percent ofopioid-involved deaths(See Hawaii was theonlyU.S. state fentanyl-laced not to report 2020. counterfeit pills,asofJanuary

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: Centers for DiseaseControl andPrevention

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED counterfeit pills. states deathsrelated reported to fentanyl-laced increase compared to April2018, when 22 2020.Thisisasignificant pills through January deaths attributed to fentanyl-laced counterfeit Safe Medicines. foraccording from to thePartnership areport presence offentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, 2020,49states identifiedthe As ofJanuary no licitproduction ofpillscontaining fentanyl. prescription opioiduserpopulationsasthereis TCOs distribute seekingto fentanyl further into pills intheUnited States islikely dueto Mexican deaths. Thespreadoffentanyl-laced counterfeit asbeinginvolvedthe country indrugpoisoning mentioned inopensource across news reporting the United States in2019 and2020,are become morewidelyavailable throughout Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pillscontinuedto with heroin and/orprescriptionopioids. in overdoses anddeathsinmarkets saturated k Moreover, 38states reported Illicit Opioids & Heroin 13

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Mexico, coupled with an increase in fentanyl coupled with an increase in fentanyl Mexico, the impacted likely States, use in the United there has However, decrease in cultivation. to flows been no observed reduction in heroin Production Production 92 for origin accounted of Mexican Heroin analyzed of heroin weight of the total percent year consecutive the seventh under the HSP, as the primary has been identified that Mexico in the encountered heroin of origin for source Government U.S. to According States. United in 2019 in Mexico cultivation estimates, percent a 27 at 30,400 hectares, recorded was hectares reported in the 41,800 decrease from production heroin pure potential Similarly, 2018. tons metric 106 from percent 27 decreased by (See Figure in 2019 tons 78 metric to in 2018 in farmers poppy prices paid to 8). Low UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Synthetic Opioids Other Than Methadone by State, 2018 State, by Methadone Than Other Opioids Synthetic Figure 7. Age Adjusted Rates of Overdose Deaths Involving Involving Deaths Age of Overdose Adjusted Rates 7. Figure Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Control Disease for Centers Source: States shaded in these types of maps as “data unreliable” or “data suppressed” either have problems with the reporting per problems of the deaths that makes shaded in these types of maps as “data unreliable” or “data suppressed” either have States issues. data privacy reported deaths violate that reporting would a rate so few report unreliable to or else have rates 100,000 l. domestic market at the wholesale level. domestic market Therefore, HSP data is not representative of representative HSP data is not Therefore, trends in the indicates share, but rather, market portion of the heroin seized throughout the portion seized throughout of the heroin for is tested year given in any States United the HSP. area, through signature, or source origin (South America, Mexico, Southeast , origin (South America, Mexico, Only a Asia) are determined. and Southwest science of the HSP entails multiple, detailed science of the HSP entails multiple, detailed which the purity, chemical analyses through and geographical processing cutting patterns, heroin samples that originate from seizures from that originate samples heroin The States. made in the United and purchases wholesale level in the United States. Under this Under States. in the United wholesale level annual in-depth conducts STRL DEA’s program, 600 and 900 chemical analyses of between DEA uses data from the HSP as an indicator of the HSP as an indicator DEA uses data from at the available the geographic origins of heroin The Heroin Signature Program (HSP) Program Signature The Heroin Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 14 in thedirect supplyoffentanyl shipped indicating Chinalikely plays asmaller role seizures viaairroutes have decreased, weight andpurity. Conversely, fentanyl the SWB, have beenincreasinginboth byreported theDEAFieldDivisionsalong SWB POEsby CBP, aswell asseizures of HomelandSecurity. Seizuresatthe Protection (CBP),andtheU.S. Department from U.S. Customs DEA, andBorder and forensic analysisofdrugexhibits decreased substantially, according to reporting of fentanyl directlyfrom Chinato theU.S has U.S. fentanyl market isincreasingwhilesupply Since atleast2019, Mexican TCOs’ supplyto the exhibits. compound detected inamajorityoftheseheroin HDMP, fentanyl remainedtheleadingsynthetic retail-level heroin exhibits analyzedunderthe fentanyl andvarious FRCs were in observed respectively. Althoughthepresenceofboth averaging 47 percent and45percent purity, types ofheroin available attheretail level) Mexican blacktarheroin (themostprevalent varied by type,withMexican white powder and purities for heroin attheretail (street) level According to HDMPdatafor 2019, theaverage (POEs)remainedsteady in2019.of Entry the United States, asseizuresofheroin atPorts 2014 –2019 Figure 8.Potential Pure HeroinProduction inMexico, Source: U.S. Government Estimates

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Kilograms Seized, 2013 toKilograms Seized,2013 2020to date Figure 9.Southwest Border HeroinSeizures Total

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection event, shipmentsoffentanyl andFRCs directly class schedulingofFRCs inMay 2019. this After and ,whichledto Chinaimplementing its engagement between U.S. Government agencies trend islikely attributableto therobust bilateral companies basedinChina.Thisdownward avoid international chemicalcontrols. down thesynthesischaintochemicals further sources ofsupply, andmoving to precursor TCOs arediversifying chemical theirprecursor both powder andpillforms. Additionally, these production ofwholesalequantities offentanyl in (CJNG)appeartoCartel beincreasingthe andtheJaliscoNewSinaloa Cartel Generation significantly involved in fentanyl production. The indicates thatMexicanDEA reporting TCOs are fewer new FRCs. domestic law enforcement areencountering from Chinato theUnited States decreasedand the United States from chemical seized from parcel shipmentsto percent mark typicalofthefentanyl purities thatexceeded the90 of the508exhibits analyzedhad of 7.8 percent in2018. Onlyfive percent from theaverage purity pure in2019, anincreaseof11.5 the FSPPaveraged 8.7percent powder exhibits analyzedthrough into theUnited States. Fentanyl (as ofMay2020)

Illicit Opioids & Heroin 15 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

China. Although 4-AP a direct replacement is not (4-ANPP) 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine in for 4-AP can be converted the synthesis of fentanyl, 4-ANPP chemical reaction. into in a one-step The emergence of this chemical demonstrates in Mexico the continued efforts traffickers by Heroin concealed in vehicle concealed in vehicle Heroin bumper chemical and pharmaceutical industries. on these precursors vary Legal controls from seizures enforcement Law country country. to chemicals and 2020 include many in 2019 in China and Mexico. which are uncontrolled and States in the United enforcement Law are reportingMexico increased seizures of 4-anilinopiperidine (4-AP) which is a List I 2020, as of May States chemical in the United or in either Mexico controlled but is currently not UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 10. Opioid Concealment Methods Concealment Opioid 10. Figure Heroin concealed and extracted from a fire extinguisher a fire from and extracted concealed Heroin Fentanyl-laced pills concealed Fentanyl-laced in luggage DEA Source: of law enforcement, and diversion from the from and diversion enforcement, of law legitimate commercial shipments, mislabeling commercial legitimate and the attention controls avoid shipments to Mexico, primarily from sources originating sources primarily from Mexico, made on the in China, including purchases smuggling chemicals hidden in open market, TCOs use a combination of methods to obtain to use a combination of methods TCOs in production fentanyl chemicals used for existing drug trafficking infrastructure in the drug trafficking existing States. United capabilities for fentanyl production, adaptations production, fentanyl capabilities for restrictions on , and to the United States for the near future because for States the United of these organizations’ increased capacity and Mexican TCOs will almost certainly have the will almost certainlyTCOs have Mexican in market fentanyl on the direct impact greatest Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 16 total CBPfentanyl seizuresatthe SWB compared Patrol. Thisrepresents a62percent increasein were seizedbetween POEs by theU.S. Border fentanyl were seizedatPOEsand148 kilograms seized attheSWB in2019; 1,060 kilogramsof a combined 1,208kilograms of fentanylreported has increased39percent (SeeFigure9).CBP 2020, theamountofheroin seizedattheSWB kilograms in2018. From 2013 to mid-year seized by CBPin2019 compared to 2,317 relatively stablewith2,580kilogramsofheroin Heroin seizuresattheSWB remained highbut lesseramountsinto theUnitedtransport States. the SWB. on commercial Couriers airlines the United States issmuggledoverland across The majorityofheroin andfentanyl available in Transportation/Distribution • processing methods inMexico. more sophisticated clandestinelaboratories and fentanyl. alsoindicates theuseof DEAreporting chemical controls to continueproducing illicit and Chinato bypass international precursor

South Korea, before arrivinginMexico. and transited through Quingdao,China,andBusan, The containershipmentoriginated inShanghai,China, legitimateof containing bagspowdered shipment soap. containing thechemicals were hiddenamongst a ofEnsenada,BajaCalifornia, Mexico. Thebags Port piperidone (NPP)from acontainershipmentatthe of 169.5 andN-Phenethyl-4- kilogramsof4-AP In May 2020,Mexican officialsseizedacombination NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: Santa Clara, California Department of Health Source: SantaClara,California Department Fentanyl Containing Counterfeit Figure 11. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED to hideheroin, fentanyl, bulkcurrency, andother thatareusedby DTOsconcealed compartments POVs retrofitted areoften of transport. with identified asthemostcommonlyusedmodes rental vehicles, andtrucks/tractor trailers vehiclesopioids, withpersonally-owned (POVs), illicit most predominantmethod oftransporting viatheinterstatetransportation system isthe their drugshipments(SeeFigure10). Land manner ofconcealmentmethods to hide opioids into theUnited States anduseall heroin,to fentanyl, transport andother illicit Mexican TCOs employ avariety ofmethods least FiscalYear (FY)2016. the SWB have beensteadily increasingsinceat to 2018 (745 kilograms).Fentanyl seizuresat established market for these pillsto increase the that traffickers aretakingadvantage ofan as “Mexican Oxy”or“M30s”—demonstrate other, and increasinglyreferred to onthestreets stamped with“M”ononesideand“30” onthe The selectionofthesetablets—blue, round, to thestreet market for opioids(See Figure11). pills thathave beenregularlydiverted for years to counterfeit abrandoflicit30mgoxycodone operations. TheTCOs have consistently chosen ofdomesticpillpressing decreasing reports pills into theUnited States, likely resultingin substantially greater amountsoffentanyl Mexican TCOs appearto betrafficking movement ofdrugshipments. arealsousedto facilitate services delivery the andparcel Bodycarriers and shuttleservices. illicit opioids,suchasairlines,buses,trains, commercial to forms transport oftransportation TCOs usealternative andlessfrequent illicit drugloadschallengingfor law enforcement. available to TCOs makes often thedetection of sizesandshapesreadily modifications of varying contraband. Thecountlessdifferent aftermarket Illicit Opioids & Heroin 17 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

profit margins by increasingly mixing fentanyl fentanyl by increasingly mixing margins profit come to may DTOs heroin. distributed into fentanyl. to an as simply heroin view will remain the primary of TCOs source Mexican the smuggled into and fentanyl heroin supply for using precursors primarily States, United overdose deaths in the United States in the near in the near States deaths in the United overdose itself or by either availability fentanyl as term, drugs—particularly in with other mixed heroin— deaths overdose persist. However, continues to stabilize or continue alone may heroin involving cost, high The low in the near term. decline to may of fentanyl and ease of acquisition potency, the drug switch to users to encourage heroin supplies be disrupted. should future heroin is the dominant supplier of heroin As Mexico restrictions additional States, United the entering border the U.S.-Mexico across or limits on travel impact pandemic concerns will likely due to particularly those using couriers DTOs, heroin the into smuggle heroin to or personal vehicles be a possibility may Another States. United as DTOs heroin for decrease in the price level dealers maximize associated and street-level Outlook Outlook stabilized, and while high, has availability, Heroin in heroin-involved with a decline corresponds do not when those deaths deaths overdose opioids. synthetic or other fentanyl also involve the primary remain of will likely source Mexico States the United transported to heroin origin for and Mexican powder white Mexican and both be the most continue to will in major available heroin types of prevalent and fentanyl The heroin markets. heroin U.S. already intertwined, continue to will markets, to fentanyl with mix heroin as traffickers grow revenues. supplies and maximize heroin stretch opioids will likely synthetic and other Fentanyl high numbers of drug to contribute continue to UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED was consistent with amounts involved in significant with amounts involved consistent was and sales operations. distribution personal use, to eliminate the need for future street- the need for eliminate personal use, to seized, however, The quantity transactions. level victim purchased fentanyl online from a supplier in online from fentanyl victim purchased that the decedent stated China. A subject close to for of fentanyl a large stock the victim had purchased than five pounds of fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, U-47700, U-47700, fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, pounds of than five the apartment. from and valeryl Subsequent fentanyl that the overdose determined information investigative In September 2019, DEA’s San Diego Field Division DEA’s 2019, In September an apartment responded to in San Diego, California, seized more and a fatal drug overdose investigate to • fentanyl though in smaller volumes and with smaller volumes though in fentanyl years. occurrences than previous fewer tested over 90 percent pure. In 2019, U.S. law law U.S. In 2019, pure. 90 percent over tested seize China-sourced continued to enforcement services. China-sourced fentanyl typically services. fentanyl China-sourced generally and is smuggled in small volumes the dark web, with delivery web, accomplished the dark parcel mail and commercial international by continue to order fentanyl, FRCs, and other and other FRCs, fentanyl, order continue to directly from opioids, such as U-47700, synthetic including via the Internet in China manufacturers Fentanyl distributors in the United States also States in the United distributors Fentanyl revealed that 14 percent and 10 percent of the of the percent and 10 percent that 14 revealed contained respectively, sampled, exhibits tablet of fentanyl. lethal a potential fentanyl (71 exhibits out of 269 total exhibits). In exhibits). 269 total out of exhibits (71 fentanyl FSPP analysis and 2017, in 2018 comparison, that 26 percent of illicit fentanyl tablet exhibits exhibits tablet of illicit fentanyl that 26 percent dose of lethal contained a potential examined fentanyl tablet exhibits containing a potentially containing a potentially exhibits tablet fentanyl is increasing, according dose of fentanyl lethal seizures revealed Analysis of 2019 FSPP. to TCO illicitly manufactured fentanyl production production fentanyl manufactured illicitly TCO the number of illicit Simultaneously, techniques. FSPP revealed that approximately 71 percent percent 71 that approximately FSPP revealed with Mexican are consistent tablets of these profit margins with fentanyl. In addition, when In addition, fentanyl. with margins profit DEA’s of these tablets, the contents analyzing Illicit Opioids & Heroin 2020 18 opioid markets. and theUnited States to supply lucrative U.S. use theirextensive infrastructureinboth Mexico sourced from China, andthey willcontinueto

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

METHAMPHETAMINE Overview the Northeast. DEA seized 53,079 kilograms of methamphetamine nationwide in 2019, an Methamphetamine seizures, price, and purity increase of 55 percent from 2018 (34,270 data as well as law enforcement reporting all kilograms). Methamphetamine seizures occur to indicate that methamphetamine continues to be varying degrees in nearly every state. readily available throughout the United States. Reporting from the majority of DEA Field Most of the methamphetamine available in Divisions indicated methamphetamine the United States is clandestinely produced in availability was high throughout the Mexico and smuggled across the SWB. Drug United States. In 2019, 17 DEA Field Divisions poisoning deaths involving methamphetamine reported high methamphetamine availability, continue to rise as methamphetamine purity and six divisions reported increasing and potency remain high while prices remain methamphetamine availability compared to the relatively low. previous reporting period. The outbreak of COVID-19 has disproportionately Methamphetamine reports to NFLIS-Drug affected methamphetamine markets compared increased two percent between 2018 and to other drugs of abuse. Many DEA Field 2019—there were 424,926 reports in 2018, Divisions report changes in pricing for and 433,740 reports in 2019. However, overall methamphetamine at the wholesale and retail methamphetamine reports have increased levels. However, based on reports of limited significantly since 2014, when there were impact to overall supply of precursor chemicals 247,546 reports, marking a 75 percent increase and finished methamphetamine, TCOs likely since that time. NFLIS-Drug data also indicates capitalized on the pandemic in order to drive up methamphetamine reports represent an methamphetamine’s generally low price and in increasingly larger portion of the total number of turn, their profits. all drug reports—increasing from approximately nine percent of all reports submitted in 2009 to Availability approximately 24 percent in 2018. Methamphetamine is available throughout the United States, with the highest availability in Purity, Potency, and Price the West and Midwest regions of the country, Seizures sampled through the DEA as well as a strong presence in the Southeast. Methamphetamine Profiling Program (MPP) However, in recent years, methamphetamine has continue to have high purity and potency, become more prevalent in areas that historically reflecting high availability of methamphetamine. were not major markets for the drug, particularly In the first half of 2019, methamphetamine

UNCLASSIFIED 19 Methamphetamine 2020 20 m. legitimate companies, and thendiverted by theTCO andsmuggled to theclandestinelaboratories. primarily from ChinaandIndia.Chemicalshipments aremislabeledattheorigin,shippedto through theuseofindustrial scalelaboratories uncontrolled Theinvolvement pre-precursors. ofMexican TCOs inmethamphetamine production is United States and Mexico, thoughTCOs have soughtto bypass restrictionsthrough theuseof depending ontheprocess. Many ofthesechemicalsareregulated aslisted chemicalsinthe Methamphetamine isproduced usingmultiplemethods, whichuseavariety ofdifferent chemicals Methamphetamine Chemicals Precursor 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)), andphenethylaminescaffeine (including3, category, whichincludesother drugssuch as poisoning deathsarecounted underthisbroader to increase.Methamphetamine-involved drug psychostimulants withabusepotential continues The numberofdeathsintheCDCcategory Overdose Deaths and Drug Consumption purity and97.5 percent potency (SeeFigure12). sampled through theMPP averaged 97.2 percent Source: DEAMethamphetamine Profiling Program

large laboratories, whichgenerallyaccountsfor multi-kilogramquantities ofmethamphetamine, aremost likely from industrialscalelaboratories. multi-kilogram quantities dependingonamountsshipped across theborder. Currently, methamphetamine produced from medium,large, orextra- An industrial scale laboratory refersAn industrialscale laboratory to itsabilityto manufacture kilogramquantities ofmethamphetamine that can rangefrom 100 gramsupto

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Controlled Examples: • • • Figure 12. Methamphetamine Purity and Potency Methamphetamine Figure 12. Nitroethane Benzaldehyde Methlylamine UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED m that rely upon the importation ofthesechemicals, thatrelyupontheimportation • • Not Controlled Examples: Formaldehyde psychostimulant drug-poisoningdeathsinthe to theCDC,in2018, therewere 12,676 and cathinones(e.g.). According use. traditionally associated withmethamphetamine expansion into areas and user bases thatare not be dueto increasedavailability andmarket number ofdeathsfrom psychostimulants may (1,302) (SeeFigure13). Thesteadily increasing percent increasesincethelowest pointin2008 increase from 2017 (10,333), andan874 United States, representinganearly23percent

Methamphetamine 21 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

increased competition among among competition increased TCOs groups. TCO different the markets new are exploring and methamphetamine, for are quantities increasing The the SWB. coming across price of methamphetamine a rise with begin to may although expansion, market markets prices in established low. remain consistently In mid-2014, a new forensic profile had emerged profile forensic a new In mid-2014, the U.S.-Mexico analyzed from samples from locations. This newer U.S. and other border P2P recipe to an alternate is linked profile which starts method, called the nitrostyrene as the key and nitroethane with benzaldehyde was identified profile precursors. This forensic actions ultimately banned and banned ephedrine and actions ultimately the country from in entirely on Mexico the restrictions in 2008. Despite continue TCOs precursor chemicals, Mexican of methods finding alternative by adapt to of the precursor with many manufacture, in China and companies from chemicals sourced methamphetamine produce TCOs . Mexican which amination method, using the reductive (P2P) the precursor phenyl-2-propanone employs the to According of pseudoephedrine. instead analyzed in of samples 99.2 percent DEA MPP, using this were produced the first half of 2019 produce are able to TCOs Mexican method. pure and that is highly methamphetamine which produce, to while less expensive potent, the decline of domestic to has contributed production. Shortly after of the Combat the enactment in (CMEA) Epidemic Act Methamphetamine similar legislation introduced 2006, Mexico ephedrine and regulating precursors, notably legislative pseudoephedrine. The series of UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Source: National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease for Health Statistics/Centers for Center National Source: and Prevention Control DEA laboratory system. sampling plan, and is not representative of all representative plan, and is not sampling the to submitted samples methamphetamine is synthetically produced—unlike and morphine produced—unlike is synthetically sources. from cocaine, which are extracted of the MPP is only reflective The MPP data set MPP is unable to determine the source origin of the source determine MPP is unable to because the drug samples methamphetamine identifies the method used to manufacture to manufacture used identifies the method as tracking purity as well methamphetamine, the trends. However, related and other levels samples to establish trends associated with establish trends associated to samples seized of methamphetamine the manufacture The MPP further States. primarily in the United The DEA MPP provides an in-depth chemical The DEA MPP provides methamphetamine analysis of selected DEA’s Methamphetamine Profiling Profiling Methamphetamine DEA’s (MPP) Program methamphetamine trafficking, which has led to trafficking, which has led methamphetamine which has led to a significant supply of which has led to The market. in the U.S. methamphetamine in are also involved TCOs majority of Mexican United States. Mexican TCOs regularly produce produce regularly TCOs Mexican States. United of methamphetamine, large quantities producers and suppliers of low cost, high and suppliers of low producers in the available purity methamphetamine Foreign Production Production Foreign Foreign be the primary continue to TCOs Mexican Production Production Figure 13. Psychostimulant-involved Drug Poisoning Deaths, Poisoning Drug 13.Figure Psychostimulant-involved – 2018 2007 UNCLASSIFIED 2020 NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT as the primary production method, at the Precursor Restrictions and Pricing Can time, for the majority of samples seized and Influence Production Methods analyzed from the U.S.-Mexico border as well as DEA reporting suggests precursor chemical throughout the United States. availability and price drive the P2P production technique used by Mexican methamphetamine MPP data reflects that the newer P2P- manufacturers. In October 2015, the nitrostyrene method decreased in prominence Government of Mexico formally controlled during the first half of 2019, representing only the P2P precursor chemicals benzaldehyde 11 percent of samples analyzed, a one percent and nitroethane, which caused an over 300 decrease from the second half of 2018. Older percent increase in pricing of chemicals on the phenyl- (PAA) profiles represented 39 black market. While there are many different percent of analyzed samples, a decrease nine methods to produce methamphetamine, production follows a predictable pattern of percent from the second half of 2018. Profiles n chemical reactions and ingredients. Rather that contained a mixture of both P2P methods than wait on shipments of preferred precursor increased by five percent from the second chemicals or restricted chemicals, significant half of 2018, and represented 37 percent of methamphetamine producers will shift methods analyzed samples. This shift may be in reaction and/or chemicals depending on what materials to precursor chemical restrictions and seizures are readily available to maintain supply and focusing on the newer nitrostyrene methods, production. Identifying, targeting, and restricting which are contributing to the profile’s shrinking necessary precursors could slow production, drive prices up, and force producers to shift percentage of samples. The remainder of production methods. samples (13 percent) could not be placed into a P2P method sub-category.

Figure 14. Number of Domestic Methamphetamine Laboratory Incidents, 2000 – 2019

Source: El Paso Intelligence Center, National Seizure System

n. A “mixed” profile is defined as a chemical signature containing indicators of both the nitrostyrene profile and the phenylacetic acid profile.

22 UNCLASSIFIED Methamphetamine 23

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reported to the El Paso the El Paso reported to o laboratories seized in the United States were were States seized in the United laboratories two capable of producing small laboratories ounces or less of methamphetamine. In the early 2000s, domestic methamphetamine In the early 2000s, domestic methamphetamine in the laboratory seizures increased yearly in 2004 with and peaked States United 23,700 methamphetamine approximately laboratory incidents Seizure (EPIC) National Center’s Intelligence (NSS). Domestic methamphetamine System has decreased annually since 2004, production 2007 from in production spike with a moderate that has since declined significantly 2010 to with 890 seizure incidents of methamphetamine the lowest NSS in 2019, reported to laboratories In & 15). (See Figures 14 reported years 19 in of all methamphetamine 84.8 percent 2019, UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Source: El Paso Intelligence Center, National Seizure System National Center, El PasoSource: Intelligence Figure 15.Figure Methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory Including Incidents Laboratories, Dumpsites, and Chemical/Equipment Seizures, by State, 2019 State, by Seizures, Chemical/Equipment and Dumpsites, Laboratories,

Incidents include Dumpsites, Chemical Only, or Equipment Only Seizures, and Laboratory Seizures. or Equipment Chemical Only, Incidents include Dumpsites, o. methamphetamine produced on an industrial produced methamphetamine scale in Mexico. Domestic producers have been unable to keep keep been unable to have Domestic producers cost of the lower or quality up with the quantity reduced domestic methamphetamine production production reduced domestic methamphetamine ingredients. restrictions on key placing by Clandestine methamphetamine laboratory Clandestine methamphetamine the decrease across seizures continue to The enactment of the CMEA States. United DomesticDomestic Production Production monitored the movements of new related related of new the movements monitored precursor chemicals. been created, DEA reporting been created, has documented as as well the establishment of this formula and sodium cyanide to make an oil called make to and sodium cyanide has marker benzylnitrile. While no forensic DEA reporting also indicates a potential new new DEA reporting a potential also indicates utilizing benzyl chloride method production PAA Methamphetamine 2020 24 a containersuchasplastic sodabottle. packs) areusedasingredients andmixed inside fluid,andcold batteries, camp fuel,starting pseudoephedrine/ephedrine tablets, lithium or even .Commonhouseholditems (i.e. many casescancausefires,seriousinjuries, easy to conceal,yet dangerous, often andin production cycle, makingitsmall-scale and two ouncesorlessofmethamphetamine per ofthissizegenerallyproduceslaboratory known as“one-pot” or“shake and bake.” A were small-capacityproduction laboratories, methamphetamine laboratories seized in2019 establishments. Many ofthedomestic mobile homes,campgrounds, andcommercial residences, motel andhotel rooms, apartments, laboratories canbeset upanywhere: private according Clandestine to NSSreporting. clandestine laboratories inthe United States, most frequently manufactured drugseizedin However, methamphetamine remainsthe

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Figure 16. and BorderProtection U.S.Customs Southwest Border Methamphetamine Seizures, 2013 –2019 Seizures, 2013 Methamphetamine UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED such as using human couriers, parcel services, parcelsuch asusing humancouriers, services, andconcealmethamphetamine,to transport SWB. Traffickers employ various techniques is commonlytrafficked overland across the China andIndia,finished methamphetamine viamaritimeshipmentsfromtransported While methamphetamine areoften precursors 2019 (73,351 kilograms). percent between 2018 (41,396 kilograms)and methamphetamine seizuresincreased 77 kilograms) (SeeFigure16). Total nationwide 2018 (39,268kilograms)to 2019 (68,355 along theSWB increased74 percent from United States. Methamphetamine seizures majority ofmethamphetamine entering the pointforThe SWB the remainsthemainentry control retail distributionintheUnited States. Mexican anddomesticcriminal groups typically methamphetamine distribution,whileboth U.S. state. Mexican TCOs control wholesale Methamphetamine seizuresoccurinevery Distribution Transportation and Methamphetamine 25 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

the majority of conversion laboratories in 2018. in 2018. laboratories the majority of conversion has seized conversion enforcement Law farther the SWB, in states from laboratories there region. In 2019, primarily in the Midwest seized in Florida, laboratories conversion were and (See Figure 18). Kentucky, , Source: El Paso Intelligence Center, National Seizure System National Center, El PasoSource: Intelligence Laboratories Laboratories Conversion Conversion conversion Methamphetamine either convert are used to laboratories crystal into methamphetamine powder recrystallize or to methamphetamine crystal back into in methamphetamine laboratories methamphetamine—conversion production. methamphetamine used for are not of 2018, with the exception 2019, 2000 to From laboratory seizures the majority of conversion of had The state occurred in California. Methamphetamine in solution seizures in seizures in solution Methamphetamine to 2015 from increased have states SWB NSS, there the EPIC to According 2019. of 8,890 kilograms approximately were in solution seized in methamphetamine increase a 348 percent in 2019, states SWB According kilograms in 2015. 1,986 from EPIC NSS reportsto and Domestic Highway reporting, 66 seizures were there Enforcement solution, in some type of of methamphetamine in 2018. incidents 57 up from 18.Figure Methamphetamine Conversion Laboratory 2019 United States, in the Incidents UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

methamphetamine. discovered after complaints of chemical odors. of chemical after complaints discovered as as well tire rims were Among the seized items to conceal and transportmodified fuel tanks used Force seized 17 kilograms of methamphetamine and kilograms of methamphetamine 17 seized Force in solution. methamphetamine of nearly 38 liters laboratory was conversion A methamphetamine In May 2020, DEA’s Austin, Texas Resident Office Resident Texas Austin, 2020, DEA’s In May Task Area (HIDTA) Drug Trafficking High Intensity (RO) Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Watch Center Watch Area Drug Trafficking Intensity Source: Gulf Coast Blue Lightning Operations Center/High Center/High Blue Lightning Operations Gulf Coast Source: seizures from HIDTA DHE Initiative from HIDTA seizures is rarely sold on the streets. Methamphetamine in Solution 17. Figure methamphetamine from the solution in which it from methamphetamine in solution form Methamphetamine is dissolved. powder or crystal forms. This smuggling method or crystal This smuggling method powder forms. the extract laboratory to a conversion requires water, and alcoholic beverages (See Figure and alcoholic beverages water, it is more easily smuggled, more difficult 17); than in and can be less expensive detect, to Methamphetamine can be dissolved in a can be dissolved Methamphetamine fluids, fuels, including vehicle of liquids, variety MethamphetamineMethamphetamine in in Solution Solution • methamphetamine and other contraband into contraband into and other methamphetamine States. the United in solution. Methamphetamine concealed in solution. Methamphetamine in vehicles natural voids in tires and other smuggling for popular methods are other widely used technique with either packaged with either packaged technique widely used or methamphetamine methamphetamine of methamphetamine in privately owned owned in privately of methamphetamine remains a tank concealment Fuel vehicles. and commercial conveyances. Commonly, Commonly, conveyances. commercial and transporttraffickers shipments multi-kilogram Methamphetamine 2020 26 methamphetamine pillsintotal (SeeFigure19). 2015 to 2019, 128seizuresof NSSreported from only11 intheprevious year. From 115 to seizuresreported NSSin2019, up to NSShave increaseddramaticallywith Seizures ofmethamphetamine pillsreported available/marketed as a wholesale-level product. to new ornichemarkets ratherthanbeing pills containingmethamphetamine marketed individuals domesticallymanufacture counterfeit andencounters, it islikelynature ofreports that in sometypeofpillform. Dueto thesporadic havingreported encountered methamphetamine substance. Ten ofDEA’s 23FieldDivisions methamphetamine presentorastheprimary have beencounterfeit pharmaceuticalswith that resembleMDMAtablets, whileothers Many incidents have involved pillforms in several states in2019 andinto 2020. Methamphetamine inpillform hasappeared Pill Form in Methamphetamine Methamphetamine inPill FormMethamphetamine Figure 19.EPIC NSS Seizure Totals for Source: El Paso IntelligenceSource: ElPaso Center, National SeizureSystem

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED forms. Counterfeit MDMAtablets may also user population,by thedruginatypical offering thoseintheCPD particularly traditional users, to make methamphetamine appealing to non- innovations illustrate thedetermination ofDTOs As withother drugsofabuse,theseproduct Source: Northwest HighIntensity DrugTrafficking Area Containing Methamphetamine Containing (Top) and Counterfeit Tablets (Bottom) Figure 20. Legitimate Adderall Tablets in Washington seizedpillsofthistype. the Clark-Vancouver Regional DrugTask Force State ,DEA’s MiamiField Division,and methamphetamine. In2019, theMichigan analysisinthesecaseswaslaboratory substance identifiedin 20). Theprimary legitimate prescription Adderall (SeeFigure pills boresimilarcoloringandmarkings of and alsoinWashington State in2019. These encountered previously inMichigan, Florida, • butrathermethamphetamine.MDMA, oil bottle andinacoconutoilbottle were not the multi-colored/various shapedpillsinafish analysisindicatedluggage. Laboratory that MDMA inpillform from theindividual’s approximately five poundsofsuspected outsideWashington,Airport D.C.andseized individual arrivingatDullesInternational • Counterfeit Adderall tablets have been In May 2020,authoritiesstopped an Methamphetamine 27 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Additionally, TCOs are likely to continue to to continue to are likely TCOs Additionally, or establish markets existing expand to attempt in non- offering methamphetamine ones by new such as tablets. traditional forms currently The price of methamphetamine drugs of abuse other to compared remains low pandemic, of the COVID-19 the impact despite the but has seen price increases during pandemic ongoing pandemic. As the COVID-19 pricing and crisis continues, fluctuations in continue with all drugs will likely availability market of abuse, with the methamphetamine affected. disproportionately Outlook Outlook produce, continue to to are likely TCOs Mexican high- transport, high-purity, and distribute SWB the across methamphetamine potency continue to and will likely States the United into as precursor methods adapt their production become restricted, chemicals become or cost-prohibitive. unavailable, temporarily declining continue will likely production Domestic in Mexico produced as methamphetamine and higher cost, higher purity, remains a lower alternative. potency continue to will likely laboratories Conversion stable presence, increase, or at least maintain a in solution remains an as methamphetamine transportation concealment and effective option. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

illicit methamphetamine in Mexico before the before in Mexico illicit methamphetamine crisis began. Assertions of limited availability do not appear appear not do Assertions availability of limited of inventory a reportedtwo-year credible, given to charge higher prices as the crisis prolonged higher prices as the crisis prolonged charge to diminished. States and supplies in the United sought to intentionally price gouge customers by by price gouge customers intentionally sought to in order holding shipments of methamphetamine increase pricing. DEA reporting that some TCOs also indicates the pandemic on aspects of production and the pandemic on aspects of production particularly further supplies, to chemical supply, to increase the price of methamphetamine the price of methamphetamine increase to Additionally, of the pandemic. the onset prior to of the effects exaggerated have may TCOs TCOs flexibility in determining pricing. DEA in determining flexibility TCOs already looking were reporting TCOs indicates supply chain and methamphetamine production production methamphetamine supply chain and the allowing be minor or negligible, appears to While the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected affected have pandemic may While the COVID-19 obtain precursor short-term ability to TCOs’ on the impacts long-term chemicals, lasting COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Impact Pandemic Pandemic COVID-19 COVID-19 methamphetamine in traditional forms, and pill traditional forms, in methamphetamine sporadically reported. remain forms more expensive product with a cheaper, more with a cheaper, product more expensive seizes consistently drug. DEA easily obtained be an attempt at attracting a non-traditional non-traditional a at attracting attempt be an a or replacing supplementing by user base Methamphetamine 2020 28

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COCAINE Overview prices in an effort to maximize short-term profits in anticipation of a shortened supply as the Production, trafficking, and abuse of cocaine pandemic progressed. Though availability and consistently pose a threat to the safety and pricing of cocaine has varied in certain locations security of citizens and law enforcement, from in the United States during the pandemic, the the production zones in South America to overall cocaine supply chain remains intact. transportation and distribution networks in the United States. Domestic availability is steady, Availability likely driven by high levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production in the Andean Region of A steady supply of cocaine was available South America, and deaths from drug poisoning throughout U.S. domestic markets in 2019. involving cocaine have increased every year Despite some reports of diminished supply since 2013. during the spring of 2020, cocaine availability remained stable, although some price Impact of COVID-19 on fluctuations were reported across DEA Field Cocaine Trafficking to the Divisions in the early stages of shelter-in-place United States orders due to the pandemic. All 23 DEA Field Divisions reported that cocaine was easily The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted multiple obtained throughout 2019. Ten field divisions nodes of the cocaine trafficking supply line, yet reported cocaine availability was high, and 13 has not significantly reduced the overall supply reported cocaine availability was moderate. The to the United States. In —the primary only division reporting a change from 2018 was source country of cocaine in the the Louisville Field Division, where availability of United States—the pandemic has not significantly the drug changed from high to moderate. affected TCOs’ abilities to produce and smuggle cocaine, as of October 2020. COVID-19 related There were 196,721 cocaine reports submitted restrictions in South, Central, and to NFLIS-Drug in 2019, a 14 percent decrease have not significantly impacted the flow of from the 229,803 reports submitted in 2018. In cocaine to the United States. While these 2019, the number of cocaine reports to NFLIS- restrictions led to fewer opportunities for TCOs Drug was the lowest number reported in the past to engage in drug trafficking activities via air and six years and is less than half of the amount land, the impact has generally not extended to reported at the peak in 2006 (640,141 reports). maritime activity. Moreover, TCOs adapted and Still, of the top 25 most frequently identified have continued smuggling large quantities of drugs in NFLIS-Drug, cocaine ranked third cocaine into the United States. Domestically, overall in 2019, behind methamphetamine and traffickers faced uncertainty and likely increased / (THC).

UNCLASSIFIED 29 Cocaine 2020 30 p. that total metric tons ofcocaineeachyear. cocaine samples taken from allwholesale-level domestic seizuressubmitted to allDEAlaboratories dataset (over 47,000 exhibits since1998) for strategic intelligence analysisthatreflectsrandom snapshot ofcurrent cocaineprocessing andtraffickingtrends.TheCSPalsoprovides asubstantial and investigative CSPdataisnot intended to reporting. reflect U.S. market share,butisrathera United States. Theseforensic findingsareconsistent withall available law enforcement intelligence CSP analysishasconsistently indicated thatColombian-origincocainedominates themarket inthe a confidencelevel exceeding 96percent. origin ofthecocaleaf,down to thesub-regionalgrowing regionusedto produce acocaineexhibit with hydrochloride (processing scientificmethods candetermine method). State-of-the-art thegeographic processed into cocainebase(geographicalorigin),andhow cocainebasewas converted into cocaine Analytical methodologies developed attheSTRL give evidence ofhow andwherethecocaleafwas reagents, andother materials seizedfrom SouthAmericanillicitcocainelaboratories areexamined. number ofcocaineexhibits seizedfrom around theworld. Additionally, samples ofsolvents, from bulk seizuresmadethroughout theUnited States. Theprogram alsoexamines asmaller Each year through theCSP, oncocaineexhibits in-depthchemicalanalysesareperformed obtained DEA’s CocaineSignatureProgram (CSP) deaths arecoded underICD-10 multiplecause codeT40.5. unintentional (accidental overdose), intentional ( orhomicideby drug),anddeathsofundetermined intention. Cocaine-involved drugpoisoning Drug poisoningdeaths includethefollowing ICD-10 X85,Y10-Y-14. X60-X64, underlying causecodes:X40-X44, Drugpoisoningdeaths include

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cocaine ofColumbia, inthe United 2010 States and theDistrict –2018 Figure 21. TotalFigure 21. Number ofDeaths fromDrug Poisoning Involving p UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Cocaine 31

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Polydrug cocaine combinations, particularly cocaine combinations, Polydrug are a serious concern cocaine with SOOTM, the increase in drug to contributed and have the cocaine over poisoning deaths involving involving Drug poisoning deaths years. past four deaths 167 increased from cocaine and SOOTM (See Figure in 2018 8,659 deaths to in 2010, and increase. In 2017 22), a 5,085 percent the number of drug poisoning deaths 2018, rates from drug poisoning involving cocaine, per cocaine, involving drug poisoning from rates (15.9), in Delaware were population, 100,000 Rhode Island (14.2), of Columbia the District (10.7), MarylandMassachusetts (11.4), (13.1), (9.4), (9.8), Vermont (9.9), Ohio Jersey New Four (8.5). and Pennsylvania Connecticut (9.1), Ohio, Jersey, New states—Massachusetts, U.S. among the ten were and Pennsylvania—that drug deaths from overall with the most states also among the were cocaine poisoning involving death age-adjusted with the highest states ten cocaine, involving drug poisoning from rates states Those four population. per 100,000 3,733 deaths, or for accounted collectively drug from of all deaths 25 percent approximately States cocaine in the United poisoning involving in 2018. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 22. Drug Poisoning Deaths Involving: Cocaine Involving: Deaths Poisoning 22. Drug Figure and a SOOTM; Cocaine without a SOOTM, 2010 – 2018 2010 SOOTM, a without Cocaine SOOTM; a and Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disease Control for Centers Source: (741), Massachusetts (716) and (716) Massachusetts (741), death the highest age-adjusted In 2018, (711). Ohio (1,105), Pennsylvania (1,045), New Jersey Jersey New (1,045), Pennsylvania Ohio (1,105), Texas (768), Michigan (867), Illinois (771), involving cocaine in 2018, in descending order, order, in descending cocaine in 2018, involving deaths), Florida (1,221), (1,276 York New were cocaine have increased about 251 percent percent increased about 251 cocaine have with the states The U.S. 2018. to 2010 from drug poisoning number of deaths from greatest third year in a row that such deaths exceeded such deaths exceeded that in a row year third drug poisoning involving Deaths from 10,000. number of deaths from drug poisoning involving drug poisoning involving number of deaths from is the and 2018 year, cocaine increased every of Columbia, according to CDC estimates (See CDC estimates to of Columbia, according the and 2018, 2012 Between Figure 21). throughout the United States. In 2018, there In 2018, States. the United throughout drug poisoning deaths from 14,666 were and the District states cocaine in U.S. involving Cocaine abuse is a serious concern for law law is a serious concern for Cocaine abuse officials and public health enforcement presence in the U.S. drug market. drug in the U.S. presence Consumption ConsumptionDrug Drug and and Deaths Deaths Overdose Overdose Sustained cocaine production at record levels levels at record production cocaine Sustained cocaine’s overall stabilizing is likely in Colombia Cocaine 2020 32 threat associated withintentional mixingof of ahabitualopioiduser. Thereisatangible reactions inthosewholacktheopioidtolerance user and/orseller, whichcanleadto adverse for street salewithouttheknowledge ofthe or other SOOTM may bepackaged together mixture ofsubstances.Cocaineandfentanyl shared space,whichcanresultinunintentional processedmultiple drugsareoften inthesame distribution ofmorethanonedrugatatime— specializing inthepackaging, saleand Because many DTOs arepolydruginnature— with thereferenced data. combinations, thoughthiscannot beconfirmed may beattributableprimarilyto cocaine-fentanyl United States in2014. Therefore, thesedeaths as theonset ofthefentanyl epidemicinthe began to dramaticallyincreaseatthesametime poisoning deaths involving cocaine and a SOOTM involving cocainewithoutaSOOTM. Drug than thenumberofdrugpoisoningdeaths involving cocaineandaSOOTM were greater

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: U.S. Government Estimates Figure 23.Colombia:Coca Cultivation and Potential Pure Cocaine Production, 2010 –2019 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED the world—, Colombia,andPeru—had three majorcocaine-producing countriesof world’s cocaineissourced. In2019, the South America,from wherealmostallofthe production remainatrecord highlevels in Coca cultivation andpotential purecocaine Production use ofcocaineandSOOTM times. atdifferent cocaine withsmallelementsofSOOTM), ordual only smallelementsofcocaine(oringestion combinations, ingestionofSOOTM containing attributed to intentional useoftruedrug spikes inoverdose deathsareprimarily information itis difficult to distinguishwhether cocaine andSOOTM, butwithoutadditional production were highestinColombia2019, coca cultivation andpotential purecocaine to USGestimates. Ofthethreecountries,both of approximately 1,886 metric tons, according cultivation andpotential purecocaineproduction approximately 326,180 hectares(ha)ofcoca

Cocaine 33

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

The amount of cocaine seized in the The amount of cocaine seized in in comparison in 2019 increased States United enforcement law U.S. to according 2018, to cocaine CBP information, to agencies. According from decreased slightly, seizures along the SWB kilograms 10,653 to kilograms in 2018, 10,662 CBP Nationwide (See Figure 24). in 2019 from percent, cocaine seizures increased 70 moving it through and Mexico, and Mexico, America Central through it moving States the United smuggling it into and then including Traffickers, Border. Southwest the over also transport TCOs, Dominican through cocaine maritime primarily via Corridor, the Caribbean TCOs Mexican methods. and aerial smuggling cocaine transportation dominate throughout on local criminal but rely States, the United distribution. After retail-level for groups Dominican trafficking Colombian, or Mexican, organizations transport the cocaine into and groups criminal local U.S. States, United mid-and retail-level facilitate gangs street and the production distribution. Moreover, mainly handled distribution of is gangs. and street criminal groups local U.S. by UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Southwest Border Cocaine Seizures, 2010 – 2019 2010 Seizures, Cocaine Border Southwest Figure 24. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Nationwide and Nationwide U.S. Customs Border Protection and 24. Figure Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border and Customs U.S. Source: TCOs continue to obtain multi-ton shipments of obtain multi-ton to continue TCOs traffickers, South American cocaine from powder to the United States, Colombian TCOs maintain Colombian TCOs States, the United to Mexican and supply. its production over control other trafficking group is positioned to challenge positioned is trafficking group other TCOs While Mexican them in the near term. distribution of cocaine the wholesale dominate Mexican TCOs control cocaine trafficking in the cocaine trafficking control TCOs Mexican continue as no to is likely which States, United of coca—continued in 2019. of coca—continued and andTransportation Transportation DistributionDistribution higher coca yields; higher potential cocaine higher potential higher coca yields; per hectare profits and higher farmer production; tons in 2019 (See Figure 23). The strategic The strategic (See Figure 23). in 2019 tons the USG in recent years by trends documented in Colombia; cultivation coca –increased overall potential pure cocaine production increased increased production pure cocaine potential metric 936 to in 2018 tons metric 877 from increased slightly, from 208,000 ha in 2018 to to ha in 2018 208,000 from slightly, increased the estimated Additionally, ha in 2019. 212,000 the origin for the majority of the cocaine in the of the cocaine majority the origin for the in Colombia Coca cultivation States. United Cocaine 2020 34 r. q. Similarly, NSS dataindicates the amountof kilograms) to 2019 (27,312.79 kilograms). less thanthreepercent, from 2018 (26,585 nationwide CBPseizures increasedalittle on June17, 2019. Excluding thatseizure, Pennsylvania, destinedfor Antwerp, , onthe containers approximately 17,928 kilogramsfrom cargo primarily attributed to therecord seizureof cocaineseizuresis The increaseinreported in 2018 to 72,856 kilogramsin2019. United States increasedfrom 61,966 kilograms NSS, theamountofcocaineseizedin seizures in2019. According to EPIC’s datasets indicate similartrendsfor cocaine in 2019 (SeeFigure24). Other law enforcement 26,585 kilogramsin2018 to 45,241 kilograms Date ofinformation: June 8,2020 Date ofinformation: May 15, 2020

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: DEA MSC Gayane Figure 25. DEA Reported Domestic Cocaine Seizures Figure 25.DEAReported Domestic inPhiladelphia, by U.S. State orTerritory, 2019 q

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED of cocaineseizures.These seizuresindicate state largestamount orterritory withthefourth Pennsylvania thethird. Ricowas the U.S. Puerto greatest amountofcocaineseizedin 2019 and of cocainesmuggling.California hadthesecond the CaribbeanCorridorfacilitates alargevolume seizures by weight in2019. Florida’s proximity to territory withthe largestamountofcocaine (See Figure25).Floridawas theU.S. state or orseaports with high-trafficinternational airports along theSWB andCaribbeanCorridor, orthose byseized reported theDEAoccurredinstates patterns. 2019 generallyfollowed previously established DEA state andterritory-level cocaineseizuresin approximately 11 percent from 2018 to 2019. cocaine seized (54,913.45kilograms) decreased r Thegreatest amountofcocaine

Cocaine 35

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Traffickers less frequently utilize the Western Western utilize the less frequently Traffickers to Corridor and the Caribbean Vector Caribbean States. the United for cocaine destined smuggle of cocaine percent 16 approximately In 2019, departing the Western transited South America and Central America toward Caribbean Sea noncommercial between split evenly Mexico, aircraft and illicit (See Figure maritime vessels of documented eight percent 26). Roughly departing South America cocaine movements Islands in 2019, the Caribbean toward moved (See Figure 26). vessels go-fast mostly aboard small amounts of cocaine are Additionally, Panama. Colombia to from overland moved UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

and the Caribbean, Calendar Year 2019 Year Calendar Caribbean, the and Figure 26. Cocaine Movement to Mexico, Central America, Central Mexico, to Movement 26. Cocaine Figure Source: U.S. Government of known and suspected drug seizure and movement events. Date accessed: June 9, 2020. Date events. and movement drug seizure and suspected known database of Government U.S. Source: 2019. December 31, cutoff date: Information United States transited the EPAC, mostly aboard mostly aboard the EPAC, transited States United (See Figure 26). vessels go-fast about 74 percent of cocaine documented of cocaine documented percent about 74 the departing South America toward Eastern Pacific (EPAC) to smuggle cocaine from to smuggle cocaine from (EPAC) Pacific Eastern In 2019, States. the United South America to database of known and suspected drug and suspected database of known Traffickers events. seizure and movement in the routes predominantly utilize maritime directly to the United States from South America from States United the directly to Government a U.S. to according in 2019, multiple countries. Less than one percent of Less than one percent multiple countries. shipped was cocaine movement documented The vast majority of cocaine destined for the of cocaine destined for majority The vast or one initially transits through States United cocaine destined for the continental the continental destined for cocaine States. United that traffickers continue to use Puertoto as Rico continue traffickers that for in the Caribbean transit location a major Cocaine 2020 36 the U.S. markets. TCOs areableto consistently supplycocaineto production estimates inSouthAmerica,these markets. Based ontheexisting cultivation and and theUnited States to supply lucrative cocaine use theirextensive infrastructureinboth Mexico United States, andMexican TCOs willcontinueto South American-origincocainesmuggledinto the intermediatethe primary source ofsupplyfor prices willlikely stabilize.Mexico willremain drug markets duringtheCOVID-19 pandemic, insomeU.S.per kilogramofcocainereported Colombia. Despite theinitialpricingincreases availability driven by record production levels in continue to remainathreat,withcontinued Cocaine traffickinginthe United States will Outlook

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

CONTROLLED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (CPDs) Overview Availability Controlled Prescription Drugs (CPDs) remain DEA reporting in 16 of 23 Field Divisions a prevalent concern within the United States— indicates high CPD street availability for 2019. availability remains constant although abuse All DEA Field Divisions reported the same levels decreased from the previous year.s DEA availability except DEA’s Seattle Field Division Field Divisions consistently report high CPD which reported a drop from high availability in availability on the street within their AORs. CPD 2018 to moderate availability in 2019. diversion continues to decrease across most Prescription opioids were involved in nearly categories at the national level, but some states 15,000 U.S. deaths in 2018, averaging 41 report an increase in the number of incidents. each day, according to the CDC (See Figure 27). The number of opioid dosage units available on Prescription opioids were involved in 32 percent the retail market and opioid thefts and losses of all deaths; however, there was reached their lowest levels in nine years. a notable 13.5 percent decrease in prescription

Figure 27. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription Opioids, Number Among All Ages, 1999 – 2018

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2018 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released January, 2019. s. CPDs include, but are not limited to, (e.g. Vicodin, OxyContin), depressants (e.g. Valium, Xanax), stimulants (e.g. Adderall, Ritalin), and anabolic steroids (e.g. Anadrol, Oxandrin).

UNCLASSIFIED 37 Controlled Prescription Drugs 2020 38 and teaching institutions)decreasedfrom 2018 treatmentprograms,, practitioners, nationwide attheretail level (hospitals, that thenumberofdosageunitsdistributed Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) reveals Although DEA’s Automation and ofReports 100,000 peoplethanin2017. largest decreasewith4.1 fewer deathsper 100,000 peoplewhilealsopresentingthe prescription overdose deathrate at13.1 per 2018, West Virginiaexperienced thehighest 17 states In decreasingnumbers. reported increase ofprescriptionopioiddeaths,and None ofthestates asignificant observed total 232,000deathsfrom 1999 to 2018. deaths in1999 to 15,000 deathsin2018 witha deaths have increasedfrom justunder4,000 that U.S. prescription-involved opioidoverdose rise over thepasttwo decades.TheCDCreports and diversion ofthesedrugshascontinuedto decreased from theprevious year, CPDmisuse Even thoughprescription-involved opioiddeaths opioid-involved deathrates from 2017 to 2018.

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: DEA’s Automation andConsolidated of Reports System Orders Figure 28.Top Retail Drugs Sold to Controlled Prescription Domestic Level 2010 inBillionsofDosage Units, Purchasers –2019 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DEA alsotemporarily allowed DATA-waived and outsideoftreatmentclinics. disorder, allowing for distributionofmethadone individuals inneedoftreatmentfor opioiduse measurestotemporary permitbetter accessto 2019. Duringthepandemic,DEAenacted seven mostdistributed CPDsfrom 2017 through dependence, replacedmethadone inthetop buprenorphine, amedication used to treat opioid continual presenceover theyears, while (brand nameRitalin)—have maintaineda stimulants— andmethylphenidate other CPD,whichremainsasteady trend.Two dispensed atmorethantwicetherate ofany 28). andoxycodone products were the seven mostdistributed CPDs(SeeFigure to 2019, opioidscontinueto rankasfive outof receive medicationassisted treatment. allows for patientswithanopioidusedisorder to greater accessandavailability ofbuprenorphine than requiring visit.Authorizing anin-person patients following telephone consultation,rather topractitioners prescribe buprenorphine to new Controlled Prescription Drugs 39 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

prescribing rate at its lowest point in 13 years. years. 13 point in at its lowest prescribing rate 51.4 was prescribing rate nationwide The 2018 residents, which U.S. prescriptions per 100 U.S. 58.6 prescriptions per 100 from dropped the prescribing rate However, residents in 2017. and varycontinues to state-by-state. the highest opioid have continued to although 2018, to 2017 from prescription rates prescriptions per 100 below dropped the rate (See Figure states both residents for U.S. 100 opioid the lowest have and Hawaii York 30). New Opioid prescription rates continue to decrease continue to Opioid prescription rates with the 2018 since the peak in 2012, UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disease Control for Centers Source: Compared to All Other Opioid CPDs in Billions of Dosage Units, 2010 – 2019 Units, Dosage in Billions of CPDs All Other Opioid 2010 to Compared Figure 30. States with Five Highest and Five Lowest Opioid Prescribing Rates, 2018 Rates, Prescribing Opioid Lowest Highest Five and Five with 30. States Figure Source: DEA’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System Orders System Reports of and Consolidated Automation DEA’s Source: Figure 29. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone Prescription Drugs Sold to Retail Level PurchasersLevel Retail Prescription to Sold Drugs Oxycodone and Hydrocodone 29. Figure sold to retail level purchasers for 2019 (See 2019 for purchasers level retail sold to Figure 29). dropped below ten billion dosage units since billion dosage units since ten below dropped products and oxycodone Hydrocodone 2010. of all CPDs 78 percent approximately comprised manufactured and distributed in 2019. This in 2019. and distributed manufactured signifies the first time that opioid prescriptions remain significant. ARCOS data indicated indicated data remain significant. ARCOS CPDs were 9.7 billion dosage units of opioid available on the legitimate market continued market on the legitimate available the numbers since peaking in 2011, decline to While the amount of prescription opioids While the amount of prescription Controlled Prescription Drugs 2020 40 , ,, quota by 15 percent for fentanyl, morphine, DEA increasedthe2020 aggregate production scientific research, andinventory. exports, reasons includingcommercial medicalneeds, (See Figure31) canbeexplained by several versus quantities provided to retail distributors betweendifference thequantities manufactured combat opioidandpharmaceuticalabuse.The and communityeducationoutreachto law enforcement, diversion control enforcement, is likely of attributable to thecombinedefforts of pharmaceuticalsavailable intheillicitmarket each year since2016. Thedecreasingamount distributors have declinedby roughly 15 percent steady since2017. Opioidssoldto retail from 2016 to 2017 andhave remainedrelatively Opioid manufacturing levels dropped significantly per 100 U.S. residents,respectively. prescribing rates at34and33.4prescriptions

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Figure 31. Opioids* Manufactured, at the Retail and Distributed Level,Figure 31. 2016 –2019

(grams) Source: Centers for DiseaseControl andPrevention * Codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, andoxymorphone 2016 2017 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED production andtransportation. increasingly impacted workforce would strain internationalorders, response,andan varying shutdowns. Reinstated stay-at-home mandatory COVID-19 conditionsleadto widespread global manufacturing andsupplychainshould and to stave apotential off disruption to the during theCOVID-19 pandemic,ifneeded, manufacturers to replyto elevated licitdemand These adjustmentsallow moreflexibility for forms andavoid potential production shortages. ingredients neededto manufacture dosage ensure theavailability ofactive pharmaceutical their estimated net disposalintheirinventory to manufacturers to not exceed 65percent of to exceed thecapwhichnormallyrestricts bulk manufacturers whichallowed them granted anexception to all DEA-registered during theCOVID-19 pandemic.DEAalso to accountfor increasedmedicaldemand , ephedrine,andpseudoephedrine 2018 2019 Controlled Prescription Drugs 41 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

of buprenorphine and . and naloxone. of buprenorphine is the that buprenorphine The SAMHSA states to treat opioid dependency first disperse or prescribe, that a practitioner may must that a practitioner methadone unlike clinic. NFLIS- a regulated inside administer identify the specific prescription relievers pain relievers identify the specific prescription then whether used in the past year, they during that misused that pain reliever they it measured the codeine example, period. For codeine amongst the misuse percentage hydrocodone reference, For use percentage. such as Vicodin or Lortabproducts represent of the most commonly misused subtype percent at two overall prescription pain relievers population. Comparatively, U.S. of the total and Substance Abuse the U.S. Services (SAMHSA) reports Administration that users misused of oxymorphone 28.4 percent of percent and 28.3 products oxymorphone users misused buprenorphine buprenorphine and Drug Administration The products. include products buprenorphine approved all variations and Zubsolv, Suboxone, Bunavail, stimulants, and about 6.4 million who misused misused who 6.4 million and about stimulants, in that or tranquilizers prescription the most were Misused pain relievers period. with drugs of prescription type abused commonly 695,000 for and 18 over for 9.3 million in 2018 Respondents 12-18. adolescents aged main purpose pain as the identified relieving 63.6 at misuse percent. drug behind prescription prescription misuse were Other reasons behind (9.2 tension relieve percent), high (10.6 get to with cope sleep (4.5 percent), improve percent), addiction (4.0 percent), emotions or feelings (2.5 and drug experimentation (3.2 percent), These numbers relatively remained percent). data. 2017 from steady to in 2018 respondents The NSDUH asked UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

management as restrictions for the COVID-19 the COVID-19 management as restrictions for wane. pandemic begin to However, these flexibilities could lead to abuse could lead these flexibilities However, accountability and or misuse without proper care for patients while abiding by state and state by patients while abiding care for their homes. leaving avoid to orders federal to ensure practitioners ensure could prescribe medicine to allowed without direct contact. These extensions to needed medical practitioners flexibility the via copy or photograph rather than an original or photograph via copy telemedicine also relaxed DEA copy. from seven days to 15 days and practitioners days 15 to days seven from prescription send a follow-up to allowed were a follow-up paper copy of an emergency oral of an emergency paper copy a follow-up extended the was prescription to controlled substances. DEA also provided two two also provided substances. DEA controlled Schedule II oral prescriptions: for exceptions provide practitioners to for the requirement pandemic. DEA granted state reciprocity for for reciprocity state granted pandemic. DEA practitioners who dispense to neighboring states appropriately assist medical professionals and medical professionals assist appropriately COVID-19 the unprecedented patients during Prescription Drugs Prescription certain swiftlyDEA adjusted to guidelines and DEA’s Response to COVID-19: COVID-19: to Response DEA’s 9.9 million who misused prescription pain million who misused prescription 5.1 relievers, age of 12 reporting misuse 18.1 from which dropped within the past year, This number includes million persons in 2018. the second most abused illicit substance after the million Americans over marijuana with 16.9 dipped from the previous year, but remained year, the previous dipped from use of CPDs rendered them high. Illegitimate The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and National Survey The 2018 that CPD abuse Health (NSDUH) indicated Drug Consumption ConsumptionDrug Drug Controlled Prescription Drugs 2020 42 v. u. t. most recentlymisusedCPDsfrom afriendor prescription painreliever obtainedtheir users thatjustoverreports half(51.3 percent) of illicit usethreatens U.S. communities. NSDUH pharmaceuticals from thelegitimate market into Diversion oflawfully madecontrolled Transportation/Distribution time framewas significant. percent increaseofbuprenorphine duringthat fromoxycodone 2014 reports to 2019, sothe27 decrease ofhydrocodone, methadone, and 32). minor drop from 2018 to 2019 (SeeFigure laboratories increasedeachyear except a federal,from state, allparticipating andlocal Drug datareveals thatbuprenorphine reports Figure 32. Controlled Prescription Drugs Substance Reports to Reports NFLIS-Drug, 2014 –2019 Drugs Substance Figure 32.ControlledPrescription and any possiblepresumption thatthesedrugswere ultimately usedfor illicit purposes. based onany new information thatissubsequently received. orlossofcontrolled Thereisnodirect correlationbetween substances theft reported submitted sentback for inhardcopy correction orreports reports to toremember thesenumberscanchange, thelocalfieldoffice.Itis important on internal interpretation ofprovided data.Lastly, to thedatacontainsonlywhathasbeenreported theelectronic TLRsystem. Itmay not contain limitations before analyzing or publishingTLRdata.DEAassumesnoliabilityfor based analysis,conclusions, orpolicydecisionsofthird parties information issusceptibleto futureupdates andcorrections,without notice, asnew information isobtained. Recipients shouldbeaware ofthese isacompletegenerated reports andaccurate record ofwhatDEAregistrantsprovided to requirements. This TLRinaccordance withreporting as alossisrecovered. Thesystems andrequirements alsodonot capturedisposalsofcontrolled substances.Theinformation containedinTLR losses ofcontrolled substances(21 C.F.R. §§1301.74 and1301.76). Registrants arerequired ifthedrugoriginally reported to amend reports DEA’s and Database(TLR)isacollectionofinformation by LossReporting thefts requirement reported registrantsunderregulatory to Theft report NFLIS-Drug doesnot distinguishbetween licitpharmaceuticalsandillicitlymanufactured drugs.Thus,thedatapresented may containboth. iscounteddocumented separately occurrenceofadrug,whereaseachreport andadded to theNFLIS-Drugdata. equatesIn reference intheNFLIS-Drug database.Onesinglereport to to one thedata’sunitofmeasure,onecountrepresentssinglereport

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT u NFLIS-Drug reported a50to NFLIS-Drugreported 67percent Source: National Forensic Information Laboratory System-Drug –Retrieved July10, 2020 t

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED relative for free,inexchange for payment, or amount for thepastnineyears (SeeFigure33). million unitsin2019, whichmarks thelowest decrease. 19.5 milliondosageunitsandhascontinued to narcotics unaccounted for peaked in2011 with that thenumberofdosageunitsopioid Database,revealsformerly theDrugTheft/Loss Database, LossReporting The DEATheft Robberies and Thefts prescription from asingledoctor. with mostobtainingthepainrelievers through a by stealing themfrom ahealthcareprovider, their painrelievers through prescription(s)or Over athirdvia theft. obtained ofCPDusers v This amount further declinedto 6.1 Thisamountfurther Controlled Prescription Drugs 43

6.1 401 2019 2019 The state The state w 7.0 662 2018 2018 9.4 884 2017 2017 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

9.7 835 2016 2016 9.8 872 2015 2015 transport vehicle, and break-in burglary, as burglary, transport and break-in vehicle, incidents of as losses in transit. In 2019, well theft increased in 48 (or suspected) employee Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. states, of Alabama and the District of Columbia both both of Alabama and the District of Columbia nearly double the number of experienced but stayed 2018, to 2017 from armed robberies of California The state in 2019. consistent at 82, reported the highest number of robberies the decrease from a 29 percent which marked and Maryland maintained Texas year. previous significant saw yet high number of robberies, and decrease a 54 percent 2018; dips from (See Figure decrease, respectively 56 percent an increased number saw 35). Only six states including 2019, to 2018 from of robberies four from and Massachusetts 11 to zero from 10. to loss of CPDs also occurs robberies, In addition to theft customer (or suspected), employee through discrepancy, packaging theft (or non-employee), etc.), hijacking of weather, (fire, disaster The state of Michigan reported only four of Michigan reported only four The state percent a decline of 91 in 2019, robberies 44 in 2018 reportedfrom armed robberies altered. were the categories before 836 12.4 2014 2014 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 738 11.6 2013 2013 801 13.1 2012 2012 712 19.5 2011 2011 Figure 34. Total Number of Robberies, 2010 – 2019 2010 of Robberies, Number 34. Total Figure 771 12.5 2010 2010 Opioids Opioids Robbery*Robbery* *Armed Robberies reported from 2010 to 2018; All Robberies 2019 to date to 2019 All Robberies 2018; to 2010 reported from *Armed Robberies DEA Source: Source: DEA Source: Figure 33. Number of Dosage Units for Opioid Thefts/Losses Opioid – 2019 Units Dosage of Number 33. Figure for 2010 Millions, in The DEA Theft Loss Reporting Database categories fluctuated from 2018 to 2019, thus altering how the data is presented. The reader should take The reader should take the data is presented. how thus altering to 2019, 2018 The DEA Theft from fluctuated Loss Reporting Database categories Robbery” In became “Robbery” and “Night Break In” became “Break In Burglary.” “Armed 2019, to 2018 From categories. caution when comparing added in 2019. Discrepancy” was addition, “Packaging w. believed to have stolen various controlled controlled various stolen have to believed prescription drugs. advantage of the civil unrest during the summer of the civil unrest during advantage local pharmacies and are target of 2020 to indicated an uptick in thefts, an uptick indicated burglaries, and/ that occurred during the protests or robberies took June 2020. Looters through May in late that Occurred in 2020 DEA Field Divisions from received Information Rise in Pharmacy Looting During the Rise in Pharmacy Looting and Social Unrest Pandemic COVID-19 Figure 34). However, this trend applies only to this trend applies only to Figure 34). However, as certain witnessed states the national level increases in 2019. robberies in 2017. In fact, 2019 saw the lowest the lowest saw 2019 In fact, in 2017. robberies (See in the past nine years number of robberies of prescription , decreased over 45 over of prescription medications, decreased the high of 884 armed from in 2019 percent Database, the total number of prescription drug number Database, the total in the loss of a variety which resulted robberies, According to DEA’s Theft Loss Reporting DEA’s to According Controlled Prescription Drugs 2020 44 incidents reported in2016.incidents reported this numberhasdecreasedfrom a highof339 number ofbreak-in burglariesat248; however, in 23states. California thehighest reported Rhode Island.Break-in burglariesincreased states: Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, New York, and non-employee) incidentsonlydecreasedinfive (or suspected) (or incidents.Customer theft experienced aslightdecreaseinemployee theft Alaska andDelaware aretheonlystates that

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Figure 36.Top Ten States In Transit, for Drugs Lost Controlled Prescription 2019 Source: DEA Figure 35.Top Ten States for Drug Robberies, Controlled Prescription 2019 Source: DEA UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED to another withinthesupplychain.There has being misplacedwhilemoving from onepoint Lost intransitdescribescontrolled substances inTransitLost accounted for morelossesintransitthanany for thesixthstraightyear. Overall, Arizona of Columbia.Missouriexperienced anincrease occurring inthestate ofTexas andtheDistrict number ofincidents,withthegreatest increases District ofColumbiaexperienced increasesinthe CPDs. In2019, 22states, Rico,andthe Puerto fromis self-reported any facility thatmanages 2017 through 2019 (SeeFigure36).Thisdata been adecreaseinlosttransitincidentsfrom Controlled Prescription Drugs 45 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED threat into 2021. 2021. threat into pivoting to abusing illicit substances with waning substances with waning abusing illicit to pivoting be a significant to prove may CPD availability increasing number of counterfeit pills resembling pills resembling counterfeit of number increasing be prescription medications and users who may of overdose deaths. Continued information deaths. Continued information of overdose against enhanced enforcement sharing aided by The diversion. CPD pill mills has lowered as significant threats to the United States as States United to the as significant threats in large numbers be involved CPDs continue to CPD availability and abuse will most likely persist likely and abuse will most CPD availability being diverted, destroyed, or truly lost. being diverted, destroyed, Outlook Outlook other state with 17,514 incidents from 2014- from incidents with 17,514 state other units are if these dosage It is unclear 2019. Controlled Prescription Drugs 2020 46

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MARIJUANA Overview decline from over 287,000 kilograms in 2018. CBP marijuana seizures along the SWB have Marijuana remains illegal under federal law and decreased more than 81 percent since 2013, is the most commonly used illicit drug in the when almost 1.3 million kilograms were seized. United States. The national landscape continues Lesser volumes of marijuana are smuggled to evolve as states enact voter referenda and into the United States from and the legislation regarding the possession, use, and Caribbean. cultivation of marijuana and its associated products. The prevalence of marijuana use, the Availability demand for potent marijuana and marijuana products, the potential for substantial profit, and Marijuana is widely available and cultivated the of little risk entice diverse drug in all 50 states. In 2019, the majority of DEA traffickers and criminal organizations to cultivate Field Divisions indicated marijuana availability and distribute illegal marijuana throughout the was high in their respective areas, meaning United States. marijuana is easily obtained at any time. Only four DEA Field Divisions—Atlanta, Caribbean, Mexico remains the most significant foreign El Paso, and New Jersey—indicated marijuana source for marijuana in the United States; availability was moderate, meaning marijuana however, in U.S. markets, Mexican marijuana has is generally readily accessible. DEA’s Atlanta largely been supplanted by domestic-produced Field Division was the only division that reported marijuana. In 2019, CBP seized nearly 249,000 marijuana was less available compared to the kilograms of marijuana along the SWB, a previous reporting period.

Figure 37. Reports of Cannabis/THC to NFLIS-Drug, 2014 – 2019

Source: National Forensic Laboratory Information-Drug – Retrieved July 10, 2020

UNCLASSIFIED 47 Marijuana 2020 48 the number of NFLIS-Drug data reports in2019.the numberofNFLIS-Drugdatareports THC was secondonlyto methamphetamine in submitted in2018. reports 344,382 Cannabis/ Drug data,a21 percent decreasefrom the 270,677 submitted to marijuanareports NFLIS- 2019 (SeeFigure37). In2019, therewere forensic laboratories continuedto declinein to NFLIS-DrugdatabyCannabis/THC reports

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: National Forensic Information-Drug Laboratory –Retrieved July10, 2020 Figure 38. Cannabis/THC Reports toFigure 38.Cannabis/THC Reports NFLIS-Drug by State, 2019 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED of July2020. state-approved marijuanameasurespassedas marijuana. Figure39reflectsthecategories of relating to the use, possession, and cultivation of approved avariety ofmeasuressince1996 Substances Act (CSA).Individualstates have was later replacedwiththe1970 Controlled existed sincethe 1937 MarijuanaTax Act, which The federal prohibition onmarijuanahas Marijuana remainsillegalunderfederal law. Measures State-Approved Marijuana Marijuana 49 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 39. Current State-Approved Marijuana Status – July 2020 July – Status Marijuana State-Approved Current 39. Figure Source: DEA Source: federal crop insurance and USDA research grants, and gives hemp producers water rights and water producers hemp grants, and gives research insurance and USDA crop federal the into incorporated was of 2018 Act Farming The Hemp the national banking system. access to on December 20, 2018. law signed into was which of 2018, Act Improvement production. States and Native American tribes may regulate hemp production by submitting plans by production hemp regulate American tribes may and Native States production. both eligible for producers hemp Department the U.S. The bill makes to of Agriculture (USDA). cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 or not, cannabinoids, isomers, growing acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether on a dry basis. The bill more than 0.3 percent weight concentration of not tetrahydrocannabinol and tribal of hemp state allow to of 1946 Act also amended the Agricultural Marketing 0.3 percent by removing it from Schedule I of the CSA. defined as the plant Cannabis is Hemp it from removing by 0.3 percent extracts, part L. and any sativa that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, of H.R. 5485 - Hemp Farming Act of 2018 Act H.R. 5485 - Hemp Farming concentration of no more than with THC hemp legalized industrial of 2018 Act Farming The Hemp Marijuana 2020 50 laws, whichblurthelinesbetween whatislegal created unique vague andoften orevolving for usemarijuanahas recreationalorpersonal with medicalmarijuana, eachstate allowing state-approved producers andretail stores. As markets aresuppliedby agrowing numberof State-approved use recreationalandpersonal retailers. illicitly ratherthanthrough state-licensed by state-licensed growers andsold isdiverted profit. Additionally, somemarijuanaproduced not legalatthestate level, thusincreasingtheir inmarketsor allofit,often wheremarijuanais using whatthey purchase orgrow, they sellsome marijuana orproducts. Instead of marijuana allowances to produce oracquire individuals andorganizationsexploit medical to theillicitmarket inseveral ways. Some State-approved medicalmarijuanaisdiverted states that have legalizedmarijuana. establishing large-scaleillicitgrow operationsin involved indomesticmarijuanaproduction, often polycrime andpolydrug organizationsare for distributionacross theUnited States. Many growing large quantities ofmarijuanaintended growing alimited numberofplantsto DTOs nationwide. Thesegroups rangefrom individuals A myriad ofDTOs cultivate illicit marijuana trafficked into the United States. markets, aswell asforeign-produced marijuana traffickers obtainsuppliesfrom allthree and arebestdescribedindependently. Drug markets. Thesemarkets operate differently and state-approved use/recreational personal state-approved medicalmarijuanamarkets, operating intheUnited States: illicitmarkets, There arethreetypesofmarijuanamarkets U.S. Marijuana Markets

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED that dispensary customers canpurchasethat dispensary per law limitstheamountofmarijuana anticipated by state governments. businesses andundercut the taxrevenues techniques to shelter profits from marijuana organizations utilizelong-standingblackmarket revenue streams,includingfrom TCOs. These marijuana businessesflows from illicit indicates thatfinancialbacking for some level approval, law enforcement reporting Although many marijuanamarkets have state- for federal law enforcement. state legalization,whilepresentingchallenges for criminalslookingtoopportunities exploit approved markets overlap. often Thiscreates under state law andwhatisnot. Illicitandstate- hemp . marijuana plantsinterspersed throughout the large hemp grows aresometimes usedto hide acrosstransported state lines.Additionally, scale marijuanagrows andmarijuanaloads issued hemp documentationascover for large- enforcement officials,traffickers usetheir state- and traffickingmarijuana. According to law by ofDTOs members illegallyproducing grow operationsthatareowned andoperated significant numberofhemp businessesand is legalunderstate law have revealed a some states inwhichmarijuanaproduction marijuana. For example, investigations in enforcement, instates thatlegalized particularly at thefederal level challengedlaw hasfurther The 2018 Farm Billlegalizinghemp production referred to as“looping.” amounts to andsellontheillicitmarket— divert on thesameday, individualscanacquire larger purchases ofmarijuanaorproducts transaction. However, by makingmultiple Marijuana 51

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

strains with high THC content, most of which strains with high THC content, the University Data from CBD content. low have Program of ’s Potency in THC potency average that in 2019, shows marijuana traditional and concentrated both still at a high 2018—although decreased from 40). (See Figure level Increasing Potency PotencyIncreasing Increasing continue and availability production As domestic and of marijuana potency rise, the THC to as increases products concentrate marijuana legalized marijuana that have Most states well. with the limits on THC potency, placed not have (CBD)- with of those states exception only provisions. smokable promote ads routinely Print and online THC or more of 30 percent marijuana at levels Some marijuana dispensaries. in retail available with products boast marijuana concentrate High levels 90 percent. exceeding THC levels the marijuana to limited is not of THC potency also have growers Black market industry. of plant capitalized on the wide availability UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

and Concentrated Marijuana, 1995 – 2019 Marijuana, Concentrated and Figure 40. Average THC and CBD Potency of Traditional of Traditional CBD Potency THC and 40. Average Figure Source: University of Mississippi of University Source:

obtain it from areas in the United States where States areas in the United obtain it from is legal. medical and/or recreational marijuana United States mainland to the U.S. Virgin Islands the U.S. to mainland States United marijuana users generally In the USVI, (USVI). THC and oftendesire marijuana with a higher Marijuana is also shipped via mail and express and express Marijuana is also shipped via mail consignment shipping services the from markets throughout the Midwest and East Coast, and East Coast, the Midwest throughout markets higher price. where marijuana commands a marijuana as well. This further This marijuana as well. incentivizes drug operating large-scale trafficking organizations in customers to sell to in these states sites grow and other states that have legalized marijuana, legalized that have states and other illicit in prices for decline creating an overall market marijuana production continues to grow grow continues to marijuana production market Colorado, Oregon, Washington, in California, specifically in states that have legalized the drug, that have specifically in states black Meanwhile, markets. saturated has led to Both state-licensed and illicit domestic and illicit state-licensed Both increase and to continue production marijuana production, marijuana Expanding diversify. DomesticDomestic Production Production Marijuana 2020 52 plants. as $5.4millionUSCinthattimefrom those100 every 100 plantscultivated, earningasmuch up to 1,800 poundsofmarijuanaperyear for equipment, andresources areableto produce organizations withsubstantialexperience, indicates drugtrafficking DEA reporting black market price. can commanddoubleoreven tripletheaverage where marijuanaisnot legal,meaninggrowers “legal” plants.Pricesarehigherinstate markets earn $19,200 -$24,000 USCperyear from six per pound,meaninggrowers canpotentially quality indoormarijuanais$800-$1,000 USC year. Theaverage blackmarket pricefor high produce roughly 24 poundsof marijuanaina cycle. Therefore, sixmarijuanaplants can pound ofmarijuanaperplant90-day growing the proper equipment canproduce upto one Agrowerlittle risk. withsomeexperience and drugtraffickersoffers substantialprofit with at thestate level, growing marijuana for profit marijuanacultivationWhere personal islegal Profits Criminal OrganizationsandMarijuana approved marijuanalegality. marijuana withintheparameters ofstate- unknown how many peoplemay becultivating grows withthestate. Consequently, itislargely marijuana patientsarerequired to register home allowed to cultivate andwhether ornot medical medical andrecreationalplantsanindividualis State laws widelywithregard to vary how many the nationwide marijuanatraffickinglandscape. referredoften to as“homegrows,” haschanged State-approved private marijuanacultivation, Indoor Grow Operations

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Marijuana Grows DTO-operated Residential Figure 41. . provided thegrow isnot located inaresidential andcanlegallygrow upto 99plants, can stillget higherplantrecommendationsfrom within aresidence,medicalmarijuanapatients in 2018 limitshomegrows to 12total plants remains asanoutlier. Whileastate law enacted many canbeseedlings.Amongthose,Colorado on how many canbematureplantsandhow stipulations range of6to 12plantswithvarying The restallow for private grows inthegeneral residents from growing theirown marijuana. marijuana, aboutone-third prohibit private Of thestates withsomeform oflegalized amounts of water light,creating andartificial Indoorgrows responders. and first require large to homeowners, utilitycompanies, neighbors, marijuana greenhouses presents significant risks The conversion into ofresidentialproperties space. grows canbefound inwarehouses orindustrial large medicalmarijuanagrows andcooperative locatedoften inresidentialhouses,thoughsome growing seasons.Personal homegrows are marijuana regardless ofclimate conditionsor outdoor cultivation. Indoorgrows canyield along withprivacy andsecuritycompared to Indoor cultivation provides year-round harvests, Source: DEADenver FieldDivision Marijuana 53 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

accounted for most of the increase. The number for accounted rose sites grow outdoor from eradicated of plants (a 45 FY 2019 to FY 2018 1 million from over by number of plants increase), while the percent more by rose sites indoor grow from eradicated increase). (a 22 percent than 172,000 Source: DEA Field Division DEA Los Source: DomesticDomestic Cannabis Cannabis Eradication/SuppressionEradication/Suppression ProgramProgram Domestic Cannabis DEA’s During FY 2019, (DCE/ Eradication/Suppression Program and local law with state SP), in coordination 4 over agencies, documented enforcement million plants and 363,098 pounds of processed outdoor and indoor 5,287 marijuana seized from (See States the United throughout sites grow Figures 43 and 44). This reflects a 30 percent to compared plants eradicated increase in total sites grow (2.8 million plants). Outdoor FY 2018 by poisoning and destroying natural habitats. habitats. natural and destroying poisoning by report, Refuge National Wildlife the In a 2017 and the Klamath , California, in System to are dangerous Basin reported these sites and are the public in general, to and employees cultivation find and reclaim. Illicit to expensive water statewide threatens of marijuana also resources. Grow Marijuana 42. Illicit Outdoor Figure UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED permeate the landscape and endanger wildlife the landscape and endanger wildlife permeate from the illegal cultivation of marijuana. Large of marijuana. the illegal cultivation from that waste of toxic tons operations produce grow negative environmental impacts. Millions of impacts. environmental negative acres of public lands are at risk of devastation to discover and eradicate. and eradicate. discover to significant have sites Large outdoor grow are difficult to access and expensive to maintain. to maintain. expensive to access and are difficult enforcement law are challenging for These grows Marijuana cultivation on public lands is Marijuana cultivation legalization. Grows state undiminished despite areas that on public lands are often in remote public lands, and are frequently co-mingled public lands, and are frequently and natural vegetation. crops among legitimate Outdoor grows are conducted in a variety in a variety are conducted Outdoor grows multiple-acre to backyards from of settings, firefighters or police officers responding to the to or police officers responding firefighters residence in an emergency. Operations Operations Grow Grow Outdoor Outdoor explosive materials, such as propane and such as propane materials, explosive subfloors; booby butane; holes cut into to hazards all pose clear traps; and weapons electrical systems with loose and entangled electrical systems fertilizerswires; flammable chemicals; and order to supply multiple high-power grow lights grow high-power supply multiple to order units. Altered and industrial air-conditioning Illegal growers often cut holes in floors and Illegal growers tubes, install ventilation to in order walls exterior in with electrical systems as tamper as well structural damage. Moisture, condensation, structural damage. the residence. throughout and mold can spread creates a significant fire hazard. a significant creates often homes sustain severe Marijuana grow the city’s power system, which drives up the up which drives system, power the city’s and customers legitimate for price of power transformers and blackouts. Trafficking groups groups Trafficking and blackouts. transformers directly into illegally wiring by power often steal high demand on local utilities. Neighborhoods Neighborhoods utilities. on local demand high blown experience grows or many with large Marijuana 2020 54 Program Source: DEA’s Domestic CannabisEradication and Suppression and FY2019FY 2018 and Outdoor Grow Sites by DCE/SP, Marijuana Seized at Indoor Harvested Number ofPounds Figure 44. ofBulk Program Source: DEA’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression and FY2019FY 2018 Plants Eradicated by DCE/SP, Figure 43.Number ofMarijuana accounting for almosthalf(46percent). were 3,210 weapons seized,withCalifornia (5 percent). From theeradicationsites, there percent), Colorado(5percent), andOklahoma was alsoinCalifornia, followed by Arizona(18 percent) ofthebulkprocessed marijuana seized were eradicated inthatstate. Over half(54 increase from FY2018, when1.8 millionplants percent (3.19 million)were inCalifornia, an Of thetotal numberofplantseradicated, 79 followed by (90). Colorado(118) andMaryland California topped indoorgrows, thelistat644 Kentucky (583)andOhio(477). Likewise, grows, upfrom 889inFY2018. Next were California topped thelistat1,344 outdoor

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UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED discovered alongwithpsilocybinmushroom wherein THCextraction laboratories were southern California noted several instances other illicitdrugs.In2019, DEAofficesin seizedinconjunctionwith Marijuana isoften criminal activitythroughout theUnited States. thescopeoftheir thatfurthers millions ofdollars trafficking andproduction. Marijuanagenerates international money laundering,andpolydrug criminal activity, includingfinancialfraud, marijuana production arealsoinvolved inother Many DTOs andTCOs involved inlarge-scale Operations MarketBlack Production Criminal Organizations and • • grows orillicit fentanyl pillpressoperations. supremacist group andoutlaw motorcycle . this organizationincludedanaffiliate ofawhite THC concentrate. Thesourcesofsupplyfor containing65-85percent and 400vape cartridges of methamphetamine, 366poundsofmarijuana, enforcement seizedapproximately 4.5kilograms search warrants executed inDecember2019. Law Kentucky andTennessee culminated withfederal marijuana distribution organizationoperatingin An investigation into amethamphetamine and Mexican money launderers. DTOs. Several ofthearrested DTO were members money launderingorganizationwithtiesto Mexican of anongoinginvestigation into adrugtrafficking and $762,000 inU.S. currency(USC)were seizedaspart of marijuana,several firearms,andapproximately oil, 120poundsofTHC-infusedgummies,135 pounds the Chicagoareawere arrested and32poundsofTHC ofaDTOIn April2020,eightmembers operatingin

Marijuana 55 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

an intense high. an intense using volatile Extraction laboratories and such as butane , cause explosions continue to hexane, and fires, resulting in and structural damage (See Figure 47). It is advertised as the strongest It is advertised as the strongest 99 up to of hash, containing form THC. THCA is a biosynthetic percent precursor of THC and is extracted undried from methods using various cannabis plants. It is typically clear in the with a texture in color, or white or oil. THCA of crystals,form powder, it is heated. THC when to converts The substance is typically dabbed achieve to (i.e. inhaling the vapors) Source: DEA San Diego Field Division DEA San Diego Source: remove impurities from concentrated marijuana. marijuana. concentrated from impurities remove as to referred sometimes process, This removal with a THC product can produce “winterization,” 46). purity or higher (See Figure 90 percent acid (THCA), a Schedule Tetrahydrocannabinolic state-licensed in both I drug, is available the illicit market. and markets marijuana retail Figure 46. Illicit Concentrated Marijuana Concentrated Illicit 46. Figure Distillation Laboratory are Clandestine distillation laboratories in enforcement law by increasingly encountered to equipment sophisticated which use California, UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

manufactured candy and food products products manufactured candy and food (See Figure 45). shipped from California to South Carolina were were Carolina South to California shipped from included marijuana and The packages interdicted. legitimately THC edibles that mimicked numerous In April 2020, multiple drug-laden parcels that were that were In April 2020, multiple drug-laden parcels Source: Charleston County Sheriff’s County Office Charleston Source: Figure 45. THC-infused Candy and Cereal and Candy 45. THC-infused Figure might mistakenly consume them. might mistakenly • leafy marijuana. Additionally, such products such products leafy marijuana. Additionally, who to children pose a significant health risk forms of marijuana present challenges to law law challenges to of marijuana present forms and parents, as they educators, enforcement, and ingest than traditional conceal are easier to and gummy candies, as well as topical lotions, lotions, as topical candies, as well and gummy and patches. These potent tinctures, capsules, vape devices. Marijuana concentrates are Marijuana concentrates devices. vape cookies, brownies, like also in edible products the United States. Marijuana concentrates concentrates Marijuana States. the United and e-cigarettes through often are ingested THC extraction laboratories continue to produce produce to continue laboratories THC extraction , hash such as marijuana concentrates gained popularity in have oil, and kief, which Extracts and THC Extraction THC Extraction and and Extracts Extracts Labs Labs Marijuana Concentrates/ Concentrates/ Marijuana Marijuana Marijuana 2020 56 discovered astheresultofafireor explosion. and another 26percent were reported/ laboratories were listed atresidentiallocations 48). Four percent extraction ofthereported 14 percent were inOregon(SeeFigure reported the laboratories were inCalifornia, reported and laboratories were to reported NSS;81 percent of For calendaryear 2019, atotal of180 extraction Laboratory Figure 47. THCExtraction Clandestine Source: DEALos AngelesFieldDivision

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Figure 48.BHO/THCExtraction Laboratories SeizedintheUnited States, 2019 Source: El Paso IntelligenceSource: El Paso Center, National SeizureSystem UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED states with majorlandborder crossings or patterns. Thehighestseizuresoccurredin generally followed previously established State-level DEA(net weight) marijuanaseizures changing marijuanalegallandscape. likely causedby thechallengespresented by the Figure 49).Thedecreaseinseizuresismost 2015 when886,200kilogramswere seized(See marijuana seizureshave beendecliningsince to 309,012 kilogramsin2019. Overall, DEA by 30percent from 441,037 kilogramsin2018 weight nationwide marijuanaseizuresdeclined According to DEAdrugseizuredata,total gross Distribution Transportation and by ArizonaandColorado. levels, consistent withprevious years, followed and Texas hadthelargestmarijuanaseizure approved markets (SeeFigure50).California large recreationalormedicalmarijuanastate- as well as instateshigh trafficseaports, with Marijuana 57

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United States at various points along the shared at various States United planes. The use of commercial parcel services parcel commercial use of The planes. trafficking for especially is also common which are of marijuana, forms concentrated containers, small or in envelopes, concealed parcels. flattened Marijuana Marijuana Foreign-Produced Foreign-Produced the smuggled into Marijuana is also and in smaller Mexico, from States United Canada and the Caribbean. from volumes is typically classified as Mexico Marijuana from or “low-grade” marijuana, “commercial-grade” in than marijuana produced lesser in quality and Canada. High-grade States the United Canada, which marijuana is transported from the into 2018, legalized marijuana in October UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 50. DEA State-Level Marijuana Seizures in Kilograms, 2019 in Kilograms, Seizures Marijuana 50. DEA State-Level Figure Source: DEA Source: trailers, vehicle hauler trailers, trains, and buses trailers, vehicle personal and commercial as through as well Domestically produced marijuana is transported marijuana Domestically produced semi-trucks, tractor- vehicles, rented in POVs, trafficked from states where production is legal is legal where production states from trafficked is not. where production states or through to Source: DEA Source: is often States in the United Marijuana produced Figure 49. DEA Nationwide Marijuana DEA Nationwide 49. Figure – 2019 2015 in Kilograms, Seizures Marijuana 2020 58 • in 2018 to 248,585 kilogramsin2019. decreased 13 percent from 287,398 kilograms The total weight seizedby CBPalongtheSWB decline asdomesticproduction increases. seizures alongtheSWB have continuedto According to CBPinformation, marijuana distribution throughout theUnited States. stored inwarehouses alongtheborder priorto smuggled into theUnited States, itisoften across theSWB. Oncemarijuanahasbeen Backpackers alsowalk loadsofmarijuana aerial vehicles/drones, andcatapults. subterranean tunnels,smallboats,unmanned commercial vehicles, buses,railsystems, are smuggledinto theUnited States viaPOVs, Large quantities offoreign-produced marijuana and theUSVI. however, production Rico isincreasinginPuerto marijuana supplierto localCaribbeannations; Jamaica continuesto bethelargestCaribbean Canada. at Akwesasne, bordering New York State and border, through theMohawk particularly Nation seized inLaredo, Texas 5,779marijuana totaling kilograms of packages 1,344 Figure 51. Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Laredo Sector

(See Figure51). the World Trade Bridge from Mexico into Laredo,Texas marijuana hiddeninthecabofatractor-trailer crossing In June2020,authoritiesseized779 kilogramsof NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED and perception ofriskby potential users likely to increaseasstate legalizationcontinues Domestic useofmarijuanaremainshighandis Outlook • • producing andtraffickingTHCoil. United States, TCOs inMexico have begun marijuana concentrate products inthe In responseto anincreaseddemandfor compete withdomestic-produced marijuana. quantities andmay increaseinquality to to betrafficked into the United States inbulk Marijuana produced inMexico willcontinue polydrug traffickingandpolycriminal operations. enhancetheir substantial profits that willfurther marijuana production andtrafficking,earning TCOs willcontinueto expand theirillicit Despite widespreadstate legalizationmeasures, recreational marijuanamarkets. current marijuanalaws to establishmedical or likely increaseasmorestates adoptorchange production andtraffickingofmarijuanawill continue to enticepotential Domestic users. products, andtrendyparaphernaliawilllikely high-potency marijuana,marijuanaconcentrate continues to decrease.Thehighavailability of driven by aCanadiancitizen. and packaged into 48bundleshiddeninasemi-truck POE discovered 788kilogramsofmarijuanapressed Huron, Michigan atthePort In April2020,CBPofficers theTHCoilthrough Arizona’swesttransporting desert. totaling 607 pounds.Ineach case,backpackers were corridor,of THCoiloccurredinArizona’swest desert Between May 2019 2020,five seizures andJanuary

UNCLASSIFIED

NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES (NPSs) Overview many substances quickly rise to popularity and then fall out of use or are no longer available. New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) are a Some of these changes are likely due to diverse group of synthetic substances that are regulatory controls on specific NPSs, which have purported to have similar effects to controlled been successful in discouraging NPS use and substances. The NPS market is typified by availability among the general population. new substances constantly being created and marketed to users, most often as legal The majority of DEA Field Divisions indicated alternatives to controlled substances. Synthetic NPS availability was low or moderate throughout cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones are the the United States. In 2019, 11 of 23 DEA Field most common classes of NPSs available and Divisions reported NPS availability was moderate abused in the United States; however, there are and nine reported NPS availability was low, many other classes of NPSs including opioidsx, with only three divisions reporting high NPS phenethylamines, tryptamines, benzodiazepines, availability. Of the 23 divisions, two reported and piperazines. NPS availability increased between 2018 and are commonly applied to plant material or 2019 and two divisions reported NPS availability suspended in an oil and are designed to be decreased between 2018 and 2019. NPS smoked or used in e-cigarettes. Synthetic availability across the United States remained cathinones are usually powder or crystal largely unchanged in 2019 in comparison to substances, typically consumed in powder, 2018.The number of NPSs worldwide stabilized tablet, or capsule form. In addition to these at around 500 substances identified per year classes of NPSs, designer benzodiazepines and between 2015 and 2017, according to a report synthetic opioids garnered significant national from the United Nations Office on Drugs and attention in 2019 for their presence in overdoses Crime (UNODC). and deaths. Synthetic Cannabinoids Availability According to NFLIS-Drug, in 2019 there were The NPS market continues to feature new 18,591 synthetic reports, which substances belonging to a multitude of chemical represents a 21 percent decrease compared structural classes, which are responsible for to the 23,416 synthetic cannabinoid reports in overdoses across the country, thus posing a 2018. The most commonly occurring synthetic significant risk to communities. While some cannabinoid in the United States in 2019 was substances are encountered year after year, 5F-MDMB-, which represented 31 percent x. Synthetic opioids, as a class of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), include fentanyl-related substances in addition to other synthetic drugs. Given the threat posed by fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances/fentanyl analogues, those substances are discussed in their own section of this report.

UNCLASSIFIED 59 New Psychoactive Substances 2020 60 counterfeit prescription pills. or vape pensandaresometimes pressed into available inanoilform for useine-cigarettes devices. Synthetic cannabinoids arealso smoked incigarettes, pipes,andother inhaled. Thesesubstancesarecommonly Synthetic cannabinoidsaremostcommonly April 2017. controlled substanceundertheCSAsince aScheduleI a positionalisomerof5F-AMB, is controlled asaScheduleIsubstance I oftheCSAinApril2019. 4F-MDMB-BINACA 5F-MDMB-PICA was officiallyplacedinSchedule to NFLIS-Drugdata(See Figure 52). reports respectively, ofthetop 10 synthetic cannabinoid representing 16 percent and14 percent, fluoro-MDMB-PICA and4F-MDMB-BINACA, occurring synthetic cannabinoidsin2019 were to NFLIS-Drugdata.The next mostcommonly of thetop 10 synthetic cannabinoidsreports

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: National Forensic Information Laboratory System-Drug –Retrieved July10, 2020 Figure 52.Ten Frequently Most Reported Synthetic Cannabinoids to NFLIS-Drug by Percentage, 2019

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 5F-MDMB-PICA Sold as “Herbal Hookah” 5F-MDMB-PICA Figure 53.Synthetic Cannabinoid • Source: DEA federal prisonsusinganetwork ofinmates. synthetic cannabinoidsinto atleast 13 different seizure was related to aDTO suspected oftrafficking were This soaked inasolutioncontainingFUB-AMB. envelopes andbelieved thatatleast someofthem envelopes. insidethe Officers examined thepapers Haute federal prisoncontainingtwo legalsized analyzed anexpress package seizedfrom theTerre 2020,DEA’sIn February MississippiRO Gulfport,

New Psychoactive Substances 61

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NPS varieties or medical providers becoming or medical providers NPS varieties treatments for with proper increasingly familiar them need for these substances, lessening the centers. control contact to increases and decreases in calls to poison to increases and decreases in calls multiple reasons, occur for centers control such as the short-lived some popularity of UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED to NFLIS-Drug by Percentage, 2019 Percentage, by NFLIS-Drug to Poison Control Centers for Synthetic Cannabinoids, 2011 – 2019 2011 Cannabinoids, Synthetic Centers Control for Poison Figure 55. Ten Most Frequently Reported Synthetic Cathinones Synthetic Reported Most Frequently 55. Ten Figure Figure 54.Figure ofAssociation American the to Calls Exposure of Number Source: National Forensic Laboratory Information System-Drug – Retrieved July 10, 2020 July 10, – Retrieved System-Drug Laboratory Information Forensic National Source: Source: American Association of Poison Control Centers Control Poison of American Association Source: a 42 percent decrease from 2018. The sharp The sharp 2018. decrease from a 42 percent Figure 54). This is an 85 percent decrease from decrease from Figure 54). This is an 85 percent and 7,792 AAPCC calls in 2015 the record-high 1,157 calls to poison centers across the country across poison centers calls to 1,157 (See cannabinoid exposure synthetic regarding The American Association of Poison Control Control The American Association of Poison there were (AAPCC) reportsCenters that in 2019 New Psychoactive Substances 2020 62 y. United States. scheduling statusboth internationally andinthe from international aswell sellers, astheir popularity every year based ontheiravailability Historically, NPSs riseandfall different in andflualprazolam. the country: noted for causingoverdoses anddeathsacross and 2020therewere two other NPSsthatwere most available intheUnited States, in2019 cathinones arefar andaway thetypes ofNPSs Although synthetic cannabinoidsandsynthetic Other Emerging NPSs • provide. reportedly andclubscenesbecauseoftheenergy or soldassubstitutes for MDMA for useinthe cathinones arecommonlymisrepresented and/ smoke them.Many orinsufflate synthetic (sniff) pill orcapsuleform, butsometimes will users Synthetic cathinonesareusuallyconsumedin August 2018. N-ethylpentylone inScheduleIoftheCSA schedulingordera temporary controlling DEApublished I substanceundertheCSA. isomer ofpentyloneandistherefore aSchedule percent (SeeFigure55).Eutyloneisapositional synthetic cathinonewas N-ethylpentylone at19 to NFLIS-Drug.Thesecondmostcommon in 2019 was eutyloneat58percent, according syntheticmost frequently reported in2018.decrease from the13,226 reports The cathinones In 2019, therewere 9,575 ofsynthetic reports Synthetic Cathinones Synthetic cathinones arestimulantsmeantto produce similar effects as amphetamine orecstasy.

variety andstamps. ofcolors in aheatsealedpackage containing24 pillswitha dark web supplier. Thepillswere ordered andarrived obtained20suspected eutylonepillsfromService a andtheU.S. Postalthe U.S. Secret Inspection Service In April2020,DEA’s Savannah, GeorgiaRO alongwith NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT y to NFLIS-Drug,a28percent UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Midwest through April2020. numerous casesandfatal overdoses inthe tablets. Thedrughasbeendetected in counterfeit eightmilligramhydromorphone of themostpopularbeinginform ofillicit can beencountered innumerous forms, one threat ofoverdose to Isotonitazene users. fentanyl, meaningthedrugposesasignificant isotonitazene may besimilarinpotency to Available scientificdatademonstrates that with thetraditionalopioidabusepattern. TheabuseofisotonitazeneCSA. isconsistent isotonitazene asaScheduleIsubstanceofthe order2020, DEAissuedatemporary to place highly potent ScheduleIsubstance.InAugust similar inchemicalstructureto , a Isotonitazene isapotent synthetic opioid Tablets Flualprazolam Containing Figure 56.IllicitCounterfeit marketplaces anddark web marketplaces. purchase often users thedrugthrough online since atleast2017 and,similarto isotonitazene, drug hasbeenmarketed asaresearch chemical Convention onPsychotropic Substances.The to addflualprazolam to ScheduleIVofthe 1971 Nations CommissiononNarcotic Drugsdecided to alprazolam.AsofMarch 2020,theUnited onset ofaction,similar with arelatively short Flualprazolam isadesignerbenzodiazepine Source: DEA New Psychoactive Substances 63 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Production Production and do not in laboratories created NPSs are production. for plant material any require precursors different requires Each variety These synthesize. to and chemical processes in China and widely available substances are Therefore, countries. Asian and European other the NPS purchase traffickers most U.S.-based UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Source: DEA Source: Figure 57. Seized Synthetic Cannabinoids in Packages and Oils and in Packages Cannabinoids Synthetic Seized 57. Figure Schedule I controlled synthetic cannabinoids, including 5F-ADB, synthetic 5F-MDMB-PICA,Schedule I controlled FUB-AMB, and ADB-FUBINACA. one, five, and ten-gram quantities, along with $45,000 USC (See Figure 57). Throughout the 57). Throughout along with $45,000 USC (See Figure quantities, ten-gram and one, five, trafficking multiple individuals were that the indicted laboratoryanalysis revealed investigation, reportedly utilized multiple warehouses in Palm Desert, California, as storage facilities for their for facilities Desert,reportedly in Palm as storage utilized multiple warehouses California, over and seized warehouses these agents searched In 2019, cannabinoid trafficking operation. containing envelopes in silver thousands of packets cannabinoids from 30 kilograms of synthetic Further reporting revealed the cannabinoids were purchased from an online website which an online website from purchased were the cannabinoids reportingFurther revealed assessed individuals were indicted incense. The four cannabinoids as herbal synthetic marketed individuals These store. in the convenience suppliers be the of the cannabinoids available to in connection with the investigation and seized seven kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids and over cannabinoids and over kilograms of synthetic and seized seven in connection with the investigation $400,000 USC. admitted to local emergency rooms after having consumed quantities of synthetic cannabinoids of synthetic consumed quantities after having local emergency rooms to admitted warrants search executed enforcement law In December 2017, the gas station in Warrenton. from in bodily and death. The charges stemmed from an investigation beginning in April 2017 beginning in April 2017 an investigation in bodily injury from and death. The charges stemmed at a gas station in store a convenience cannabinoids from of synthetic distribution the retail into had been individuals reporting that several indicated enforcement Local law Virginia. Warrenton, Indictment of Synthetic Cannabinoid Traffickers in Virginia Cannabinoid Traffickers Synthetic Indictment of cannabinoids that resulted distributing synthetic for indicted individuals were 2020, four In March substance, knowingly or unknowingly, are at an or unknowingly, substance, knowingly and/or death. overdose increased risk for is a relatively newly trafficked designer trafficked newly is a relatively usersbenzodiazepine, who are abusing the (See Figure 56) and is often marketed as an 56) and is often(See Figure marketed As flualprazolam . alternative Flualprazolam is commonly sold in the form the form sold in is commonly Flualprazolam bar tablets alprazolam counterfeit of illicit New Psychoactive Substances 2020 64 synthetic cannabinoids. business regulationshave targeted stores selling illicit drugmarkets aslaw enforcement andlocal increasingly moved to street salesintraditional they areconsumingorselling.Saleshave knows exactly which cannabinoidorcathinone neither theusernordistributor/trafficker K2) andcathinones(bathsalts),indicatingthat names to refer to synthetic cannabinoids(spice, anddistributors usegeneric users willoften throughout theUnited States. At thestreet level, distributed ingasstationsandsmoke shops officials. Synthetic cannabinoidsarecommonly from domesticlaw enforcement andcustoms consumption inanattempt to avoid scrutiny mislabeled ordescribedasnot for human frommail carriers intentionally China,often trafficked to the United States viacommercial Wholesale quantities ofNPSsareusually Distribution Transportation and product. from afew gramsto ten ormoregramsof sales, witheachpacket containinganywhere are packaged into individualfoil packets for material. Oncedry, thesynthetic cannabinoids ), oritcanbesprayed plant onto dry plantmaterial (usuallydamiana solution ondry mixers distribute thesynthetic cannabinoid acetone, to create aliquid solution.Cement powders into asolvent, typicallyethanol, or garages, andinwarehouses. Traffickers dissolve found inresidentialspaces,suchashomesand Domestic cannabinoidprocessing facilities are and packaging domestically. through to mailcarriers finalprocessing perform already synthesizedandhave themshipped

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED substances may increase thethreatposedby and overdose deaths,indicatingthatthese 2019 and2020dueto theirpresenceinabuse flualprazolam, have gainednationalattention in popularity. Two new NPSs—isotonitazene and substances aredeveloped andrisequickly in popular substancesarecontrolled, other new will likely remainstable.Asmany previously types ofNPSavailable intheUnited States, and synthetic cathinones,thetwo primary availability ofboth synthetic cannabinoids same level ofthreat asother illicitdrugs.The deaths, thoughNPSsareunlikely to posethe causing occasionalspikes inoverdoses and NPSs continueto poseanationwide threat, Outlook drugs continuesto rise. NPSs inthenearterm ifthepopularityofthese UNCLASSIFIED

TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations Overview independent DTOs, and working in conjunction with transnational gangs, U.S.-based street Mexican TCOs continue to control lucrative gangs, prison gangs, and Asian money smuggling corridors, primarily across the SWB, laundering organizations (MLOs). Mexican and maintain the greatest drug trafficking TCOs export significant wholesale quantities of influence in the United States. The two largest fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, organizations, the and the and marijuana into the United States annually. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), show The drugs are delivered to user markets in the signs of expansion in Mexico, demonstrating United States through transportation routes and their continued influence even compared to distribution cells that are managed or influenced other Mexican TCOs. These TCOs expand their by Mexican TCOs, and with the cooperation and criminal influence by engaging in business participation of local street gangs alliances with other organizations, including (See Figure 58).

Figure 58. United States: Areas of Influence of Major Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations by Individual Cartel

Source: DEA

UNCLASSIFIED 65 Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 66 of theiroperations(SeeFigures58and59). that allows for maximumflexibility andresiliency havingmost cartels apolydrugmarket approach trade influencingthe United States market, with intermediaries. dominate Thecartels thedrug indirectlythrough inMexicoleaders orreport United directlyto States TCO thateitherreport distribution cellsincitiesacross the and LosRojos. TheseTCOs maintaindrug andLaLinea,FamiliaCartel Michoacána, Zetas, Guerreros Juarez Unidos, GulfCartel, Leyva delNoreste Organization,Cartel andLos the United States: CJNG,Beltran- SinaloaCartel, as having thegreatest drugtraffickingimpact on thefollowingDEA considers nineMexican TCOs United States TCOs Currently Active inthe Significant Mexican Most Source: DEA

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Figure 59.United States: Areas ofInfluence ofMajor Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations by DEAFieldDivision

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED maintaining distributionhubsinvarious cities. cocaine, andmarijuanaintheUnited States by amounts offentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, anddistributes exports wholesale Cartel added advantage over itsrivals. TheSinaloa to other Mexican TCOs, providing thegroup an most expansive international footprint compared Additionally, maintainsthe theSinaloaCartel borders.near Mexico’s southernandnorthern the Pacific Mexico Coastinnorthwestern and along various regionsinMexico, particularly states andcontrols drugtraffickingactivityin has significantpresencein 15 ofthe32Mexican established TCOs inMexico. TheSinaloaCartel isoneoftheoldestandmost The SinaloaCartel are primarilysmuggledinto theUnited States Illicit drugsdistributed by theSinaloaCartel ► Sinaloa Cartel

Transnational Criminal Organizations 67

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Guerreros Unidos UnidosGuerreros Guerreros (GU) (GU) Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) (BLO) Organization Organization Beltran-Leyva Beltran-Leyva Los ZetasLos Zetas Cartel Cartel and and del del ► ► ► networks to move drug shipments into the shipments into drug move to networks back drug proceeds return and to States United Mexico. to northeastern Mexico. From there, members From northeastern Mexico. drugs through smuggle the majority of their illicit Eagle the areas of Laredo, Texas; in the SWB of Coahuila, states and the Mexican Texas; Pass, CDN’s Leon, and parts of Tamaulipas. Nuevo by leadership structure has been weakened efforts conflicts; and internal enforcement law the carteland able to is still operational however, territories. of drugs in their flow the control is a cartel Unidos based in the Guerreros Its presence in the of Guerrero. state Mexican a high degree of violence. GU region creates and BLO from group originally a splinter was in the heroin has become increasingly involved partnershiptrade. The cartel has a working with the CJNG and uses the same transportation a once was Organization The Beltran-Leyva or the deaths and, despite powerful group leaders years, in recent various arrests of in Mexico throughout function continues to manner than the cartela less structured on its loose relies BLO operated. historically access to cartelsalliances with larger for corridorsdrug smuggling the SWB. along members primarily traffic heroin, BLO cocaine, and marijuana. methamphetamine, NoresteNoreste (CDN) (CDN) faction, and their most prominent Los Zetas a presence in have Cartel del Noreste, UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

CartelCartel Nueva Nueva Jalisco Jalisco ► and cocaine. Mexican TCOs, the CJNG is a polydrug trafficking TCOs, Mexican and distributing large manufacturing group, methamphetamine, heroin, amounts of fentanyl, confrontations with Mexican government government Mexican with confrontations most major cartels. and rival Like security forces of its drug trafficking activities is characterized of its drug trafficking activities is characterized engage in violent willingness to the group’s by utilizes that influence for the distribution of large utilizes that influence of drugs. The CJNG’s rapid expansion quantities including Tijuana, Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo. including Tijuana, Juarez, and Nuevo the busiest over The CJNG also has influence port the Port of Manzanillo, and in Mexico, United States by accessing various trafficking various accessing by States United corridors in northern along the SWB Mexico on the border between the Unites States and States the Unites between on the border the The CJNG smuggles illicit drugs into Mexico. states with most of its growth and territory and territory with most of its growth states locations strategic and being in central Mexico CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel being the two CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel being the two CJNG has a in Mexico. most dominant TCOs 32 Mexican significant presence in 23 of the referred to as Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as Jalisco New to referred cartels—with growing is one of the fastest Generación (CJNG) (CJNG) Generación Generación Generación, also The Cartel Jalisco Nueva

demonstrated ability to run clandestine fentanyl run clandestine fentanyl ability to demonstrated Sinaloa Cartelsynthesis labs in dominant areas in Mexico. primary fentanyl threat to the United States States the United threat to primary fentanyl their Cartel the Sinaloa due to is most likely POEs and controls Arizona and California area area Arizona and California controls POEs and The States. the United corridorssmuggling into through crossing points located along the SWB. the SWB. along points located crossing through to assigned gatekeepers The cartel employs Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 68 arrests of members. arrests ofmembers. duetomore regularlythanother cartels frequent heroin trafficking. Thegroup’s leadership rotates where they areactive. LosRojos is involved in GU, generatingviolenceintheMexican regions Los Rojos isasplinter group ofBLO, similarto drugtraffickingactivities. the cartel’s also works withother smallergroups to further operations. LFMhassometiesto theCJNGand to feuding cartel and successful law enforcement operational capacityhasdegradedrecentlydue in thestate ofMichoacán,Mexico. Thegroup’s La Familia Michoacána’sorganizationalbaseis methamphetamine, cocaine,andmarijuana. this corridorto smuggleshipmentsofheroin, and ElPaso, Texas. Thesedrugtraffickers target between CiudadJuarez smuggling opportunities near theSWB. Thisareahasprofitable territorial influenceisinthestate ofChihuahua greatesttrafficking activities.Thesecartels’ to impact theUnited States through theirdrug not asexpansive they asother cartels, continue are two groups oncepowerful and,although andthefaction unitLaLinea The JuarezCartel Brownsville, Texas, areas. into theUnited States neartheMcAllenand on heroin loads andcocaineby transporting focusesGulf Cartel itsdrugtraffickingactivities workingmembers inthatregionofMexico. The of Zacatecas, andmay have allianceswithCJNG the Mexican state ofTamaulipas andinthestate of holds itspowerThe GulfCartel baseinparts

► ► ► ► Los Rojos La Familia (LFM) Michoacána and La Linea Juarez Cartel Gulf Cartel NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED domestic influence. Mexican TCO withsecond-mostwidespread TheCJNGcontinuesto bethe the Northeast. along theWest Coast,intheMidwest, andin influence, withitsmostdominantpositions maintainsthewidestnational The SinaloaCartel years ofsuccessfulactivityintheUnited States. the organizationuponreturning to Mexico after aregivenmembers high-rankingpositionswithin Mexican TCO. Insomecases,U.S.-based TCO the United States priorto employment by a ties. U.S.-based TCO may members residein figuresinMexico, throughcartel often familial United States canbetracedbackto leading Mexican TCO operatinginthe members Structure and Characteristics gangs—who arenot directly affiliated with markets whilesmallerlocalgroups andstreet of wholesalequantities ofillicitdrugsto U.S. coordinate anddistribution thetransportation U.S.-based Mexican TCO generally members shipments. smaller some areas,andthey transport often groups is increasingin of thesetransportation work for multipleMexican TCOs. Thenumber “contractors” whomayindependent, third-party drug shipmentswithintheUnited States are most cases,individualshiredto transport unaware of other aspects ofanoperation.In are aware oftheirspecificfunction,butare operational security. Operators inthechain function asasupplychainto maximize TCO operationsintheUnited States typically drug proceeds, ormoney laundering.Mexican consolidationof distribution ortransportation, assigned to specificfunctions, to include:drug cellsandare various compartmentalized U.S.-based Mexican TCO affiliates compose

Transnational Criminal Organizations 69 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Impact of COVID-19 of COVID-19 Impact Impact Violence Violence Activity Activity Laundering Laundering Money Money ► ► ► the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to their drug to with regard pandemic the COVID-19 activities. Most trafficking and drug production the Sinaloa Carteland the CJNG significantly, artificially pandemic to inflate used the COVID-19 DEA to According methamphetamine. pricing for of methodologies to counter law enforcement enforcement law counter to of methodologies illicit proceeds efforts and confiscate identify to use TCOs and Mexico. States in the United in transportmembers the border to cash across couriers. They small aircraft, and by vehicles, shell and legitimate also use wire transfers, and business accounts, funnel accounts, in remitters structured deposits with money while concealing the money move to order also TCOs Mexican the illicit proceeds. of routing furtheruse cryptocurrencies to criminal their engage in Asian MLOs Furthermore, enterprise. on behalf of the the laundering of drug proceeds TCOs. Mexican outlook operational long term TCOs’ Mexican by significantly impacted not and capacities were remains in Mexico violence While drug-related violence spillover there is minimal a concern, Mexican as U.S.-based States, in the United inter-cartel members from generally refrain TCO and increased detection avoid violence to TCO- Mexican enforcement. law by scrutiny acts of violence do occur in partsrelated of particularly States, along the SWB; the United and mainly are less frequent they however, incidents. ‘trafficker-on-trafficker’ with associated billions of dollars generate TCOs Mexican drugs in the sale of illegal annually through The cartels utilize a variety States. the United

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Drug Smuggling and and Smuggling Smuggling Drug Drug ► ultralight aircraft and unmanned aerial systems ultralight aircraft and unmanned aerial systems conduct airdrops. to (drones) aerial methods to transport to aerial methods illicit drugs across include the use of These methods the SWB. backpackers and couriers, when smuggling backpackers the into areas of the SWB remote drugs across various also exploit TCOs Mexican States. United POEs. Mexican TCOs rely on traditional drug rely on traditional drug TCOs POEs. Mexican such as the use of smuggling methods, trains, passenger buses, and maritime vessels vessels trains, passenger buses, and maritime official maritime clandestinely or through Mexican TCOs also transport TCOs drugs into illicit Mexican cargo commercial aboard States the United concealed compartments or commingled with goods on tractor-trailers. legitimate routes for transportation for and the most common routes smuggling illicit drugs involves employed method with POEs in passenger vehicles U.S. through in Mexico and lead into safe houses on the U.S. houses on the U.S. safe and lead into in Mexico major highway exploit TCOs side of the border. passenger vehicles as well as via underground as via underground as well passenger vehicles tunnels originate tunnels. These cross-border smuggling techniques. Cartels transportsmuggling techniques. bulk and polydrug loads via commercial quantity, Mexican TCOs transport TCOs the majority of illicit Mexican moving States, the United into drugs entering of wide array using a SWB the across product Methods Methods Transportation Transportation transport level. retail drugs at the directly with local criminal groups and gangs and gangs groups with local criminal directly and distribute to States the United across Mexican TCOs—typically handle retail-level retail-level handle TCOs—typically Mexican collaborate TCOs times, Mexican At distribution. UNCLASSIFIED 2020 NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT reporting, both the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG may also have been withholding regular shipments of methamphetamine into the United States, which allowed the cartels to increase the wholesale price. Although DEA reporting suggests Mexican TCOs may have encountered initial difficulties obtaining precursor chemicals at the onset of the pandemic, there are likely no long term significant impacts from COVID-19-related government restrictions. Therefore, there will likely be no significant long term impacts on the availability or the capability for Mexican TCOs to obtain the necessary precursor chemicals to produce synthetic drugs.

Mexican TCOs’ financial situations have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, as DEA reporting suggests that the pandemic has affected both the global and domestic illicit financial networks that the TCOs use. These disruptions include the transportation of bulk currency, the processing performed by illicit money brokers, the operations of Asian MLOs (specifically Chinese money laundering networks), and trade-based money laundering.

70 UNCLASSIFIED Transnational Criminal Organizations 71 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

destined for consumption in the United States, States, in the United consumption destined for smuggling are responsible for TCOs Mexican the and its distribution throughout it into directly work TCOs Mexican States. United often of supply, with Colombian sources The Gulf Clan relies on drug trafficking activities The Gulf Clan relies on drug trafficking maintain and a military-style to framework Since emerging in the mid-2000s, operability. throughout the Gulf Clan has expanded northern regions mainly by Colombia and other Though GAOs. capitalizing on the demise of rival Gulf Clan it maintains a national reach, the base lies in its birthplace power region of Urabá this strategic in northwest From Colombia. quantities location, the Gulf Clan sends multi-ton nearby to of cocaine via maritime conveyances countries in Central America and other Panama on a regular basis. Mexican Mexican with with Collaboration Collaboration TCOsTCOs the production control While Colombian TCOs and shipment of the majority of cocaine Large-scale Colombian TCOs TCOs Colombian Colombian Large-scale Large-scale Organizations Armed Criminal various Recently, or GAOs) Armados Organizados (Grupos of the Revolutionary and dissident factions Armadas of Colombia (Fuerzas Armed Forces have de Colombia or FARC) Revolucionarias the drug trade in Colombia. dominated TCO with an Colombian The most significant Gulf is the drug market on the U.S. impact Clan del as Los Urabeños, Clan, also known functions as and Clan Úsuga. This TCO Golfo, criminal a highly structured and centralized GAO the largest into evolved that has enterprise presence. national in Colombia with a cohesive UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

TCOs will remain dominant in the international will remain dominant in the international TCOs future. the foreseeable cocaine trade for smuggling has decentralized and fragmented, smuggling has decentralized and fragmented, Colombian years, particularly in the past few United States to assist in laundering drug assist to States United Although illicit Colombian cocaine proceeds. and heroin. Colombian TCO members also Colombian TCO and heroin. presence in the maintain a physical Northeast and East Coast drug markets, using Northeast and East Coast drug markets, to flights and air cargo couriers on commercial smaller wholesale amounts of cocaine move Some smaller Colombian TCOs maintain direct Some smaller Colombian TCOs primarily to States, the United pipelines into local TCOs receive and transport the receive them into local TCOs States. United Colombian TCOs also route cocaine and heroin cocaine and heroin also route Colombian TCOs the Caribbean Corridor where shipments through the Central American corridor and Mexico for for Mexico the Central American corridor and States. the United into smuggling eventual of cocaine and smaller quantities of heroin to to of heroin of cocaine and smaller quantities through drugs who smuggle those TCOs, Mexican American TCOs to export multi-ton quantities quantities export multi-ton to American TCOs Large- year. Colombia every of cocaine from quantities sell multi-ton scale Colombian TCOs United States. Principally, large-scale Colombian Principally, States. United and Central closely with Mexican work TCOs markets. Mexican TCOs dominate the wholesale the dominate TCOs Mexican markets. the into distribution of Colombian cocaine control the production and supply of cocaine, the production control and rely on partnerships TCOs with Mexican U.S. Colombia to smuggle cocaine from to in the United States and tested by the CSP is of by tested and States in the United continue to Colombian TCOs Colombian origin. illicit drug market. According to DEA’s CSP, CSP, DEA’s to According market. illicit drug of the cocaine seized percent 91 approximately OverviewOverview U.S. the influence to continue TCOs Colombian Colombian Transnational Criminal Organizations Organizations Criminal Criminal Transnational Transnational Colombian Colombian Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 72 to theUnited States, primarilyto eastern and wholesale quantities ofcocaineandheroin Smaller ColombianTCOs directlysupply smaller Small-scale Colombian TCOs secured. canbe until maritimeoraerialtransportation in remote areasofVenezuela andEcuador andstore largequantities ofcocaine transport to neighboringcountries.ColombianTCOs oftheirdrugtraffickingactivities sizable portion Government, ColombianTCOs have a shifted successful counterdrug by theColombian efforts Central America,andtheCaribbean.Dueto for cocaineshipmentsboundfor Mexico, and Venezuela astransshipmentpoints Colombian TCOs continueto useEcuador backpackers. Colombiatoconnects northwest Panama, using cocaine over landacross theDarienGap,which Less commonly, ColombianTCOs transport andcommercialaircraft, airandseacargo. self-propelled private semi-submersibles, speedboats (go-fast vessels), fishing vessels, of maritimeandaerialmeansincluding and theCaribbeanCorridor, usingavariety through Mexico, theCentralAmericanCorridor, Colombian TCOs largecocaineshipments export Transportation Colombian TCOs of illicitdrugproceeds. movement ofcocaineandthesouthboundflow and ColombianTCOs for thenorthbound Central AmericanTCOs work withboth Mexican for cocaineorders orillicitmoney movements. representatives inMexico to asbrokers serve shipments. Similarly, ColombianTCOs maintain , andVenezuela to coordinate cocaine sending Mexican representatives to Colombia,

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED often placedinU.S.-basedoften bankaccountsand and New York. Oncereceived, thesefundsare including Boston, Chicago,Houston, Miami, the receiptofdrugproceeds invarious U.S. cities Colombia-based money coordinate launderers Law enforcement indicates Cali, reporting TCOs, Mexican TCOs, orother criminalgroups. money movements on behalf of larger Colombian Smaller U.S.-based ColombianTCOs handleillicit these regions. source ofsupplytothe primary other TCOs in most ofthesemarkets, as increasinglyserving Coast; however, Mexican TCOs now dominate wholesale markets intheMidwest andEast previously dominated cocaineandheroin drugmarkets.northeastern ColombianTCOs transfer theirproceeds internationally. bycryptocurrencies ColombianTCOs inorder to has alsobeenevidence oftheutilization in areaswhereColombianTCOs operate. There been anincreaseinthepresenceofAsianMLOs prominent aswiththeMexican TCOs, therehas and trade-basedactivity. Althoughnot as who profit from foreign exchange transactions on international networks ofmoney launderers money laundering(TBML).ColombianTCOs rely Market Peso Exchange (BMPE)andtrade-based TCOs laundertheirdrugproceeds are theBlack The principalmechanismsby whichColombian United States, CentralAmerica,andMexico. USC annuallythrough thesaleofdrugsin generate andreceive asmuch$10 billion indicates thatColombianTCOsDEA reporting Money Laundering Activities payment for products andservices. wire transferred externally undertheguiseof Transnational Criminal Organizations 73 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Dominican traffickers in the Northeast in the Dominican traffickers is of of white majority Colombian origin, while the vast Mexico in origin between varies heroin powder the specialize in and Colombia. Dominican TCOs are also They distribution of cocaine and heroin. in the distribution of fentanyl involved heavily Dominican TCOs have expanded their expanded have Dominican TCOs command and control have capabilities to and zone countries originating in source the transportation of multi-ton orchestrate the Caribbean through of drugs quantities with final destination of Northeastern cities in Dominican and in . States the United multi-kilogram quantities also obtain TCOs wholesalers, from of cocaine and heroin local for break down subsequently which they customers cases, the In many sales. street gangs are street Dominican TCOs supplied by a few with distribution amounts ranging from in pre-bagged multi-gram quantities kilograms to sales. street-level ready for form, ActivitiesActivities Trafficking Trafficking Drug Drug by majority of cocaine distributed The vast Areas of Influence Influence of of Areas Areas in Northeastin Northeast Concentrated Concentrated their strongest maintain TCOs Dominican of the Northeastinfluence in areas with a population, generally significant Dominican along the I-95 highway in cities located their conceal traffickers Dominican corridor. of activities behind the cover drug trafficking Dominican communities in established ethnic partsvarious of the Northeast,York where New Dominican TCO City serves as the main hub for activity in the Northeast. Connections Connections Trafficking Trafficking UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

criminal groups in the United States, such as States, in the United criminal groups TCOs. Puerto Rican, Colombian, and Mexican Dominican TCOs are often able to remain are often able to Dominican TCOs outside threats. Dominican TCOs from insulated with different ethnic collaborate are willing to By relying on these networks of family members, of family By relying on these networks acquaintances, friends, and hometown friends and family members of Dominican friends and family citizens of Dominican descent. nationality or U.S. compartmentalization of their criminal activities. compartmentalization of their criminal activities. of are typically comprised Dominican TCOs TCO independently maintains its own internal internal maintains its own independently TCO organized structure with an identified leader ensuring roles, in designated and subordinates unstructured network of independent groups of independent groups unstructured network Each Dominican without a centralized hierarchy. Dominican TCOs typically operate as an typically operate Dominican TCOs and the Dominican Republic. Structure Structure Organizational Organizational to have cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl shipped and fentanyl cocaine, heroin, have to Colombia, the Northeast Mexico, directly to from and retail markets across the Northeast across and markets and retail parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. Dominican suppliers in collaboration with foreign work TCOs drugs are distributed throughout the greater the greater throughout drugs are distributed secondary to hubs area, or routed metropolitan destined for Dominican TCOs in the Northeast Dominican TCOs destined for where the City, York in New initially arrive distribution of heroin and fentanyl in certain and fentanyl distribution of heroin areas of the Northeast. also engage in They sales in the Northeast. Illegal drugs street-level These TCOs are supplied by Mexican and and Mexican by are supplied These TCOs wholesale and dominate Colombians TCOs, of cocaine and white powder heroin in the in heroin powder and white of cocaine States. Northeastern of the United corridor Overview Overview the distribution dominate TCOs Dominican Dominican Transnational Criminal Organizations Organizations Criminal Criminal Transnational Transnational Dominican Dominican Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 74 dealers involveddealers inretail distribution.Dominican Massachusetts, mainlysource Dominicandrug Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; andLawrence, TCOs basedinNew York City, New York; regions oftheU.S. EastCoast.Dominican organizations atthestreet level incertain as thecommand,control, andsupplierfor The higherechelonofDominicanTCOs serve Role inRetail Drug Market proceeds. laundering ofDominicanTCO drugtrafficking money launderingorganizationsto facilitate the Florida. Dominicantraffickers utilizeChinese directly from theDominicanRepublic to south private maritimevessels cocaine to transport York. Additionally, Dominicantraffickers utilize in Florida,Georgia,Philadelphia,andNew from theDominicanRepublic to U.S. ports multi-tonto kilogramsofcocaine transport of maritimecommercial cargocontainers Dominican TCOs exploit thevulnerabilities illegal drugsto theUnited States. Furthermore, andmaritimevessels toservices, transport traffickers utilizemail,commercial shipping as theMonaPassage, andsubsequently these Ricovia the80milestretch ofseaknownPuerto and heroin from theDominicanRepublic into small maritimevessels cocaine to transport south Florida.DominicanTCOs typicallyuse United States, and mainlyinto theNortheast ofcocaineintocommercial the airtransport Rico’s statusasaU.S. territory to facilitate Dominican traffickers take advantage ofPuerto NPSs. to includemarijuana,methamphetamine, and engage inregionalsupplyofother illegaldrugs in theUnited States. To alesserextent, they and CPDs,dueto thecurrentdemandfor opioids

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED profit. canexpand theirinventorythe Northeast and heroin for street sales,Dominicantraffickers in and retail sectors. Bydilutingcocaineand distribution to includethewholesale,mid-level, infrastructure to handleallfacets ofdrug have intheNortheast, TCOs, the particularly Transnational Criminal Organizations 75

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

companies established or co-opted by Asian by established or co-opted companies send cocaine and members are used to TCO and New Asia, , to methamphetamine Zealand. work closely with Canada-based Asian TCOs closely with Canada-based Asian TCOs work importto MDMA. and MDMA, tablet in both is typically either imported from form, powder in clandestine manufactured Canada or China to across in Canada, then smuggled laboratories States. the United the Northern into Border from States United the MDMA is also shipped to based in Europe. Asian TCOs TrendsTrends Trafficking Trafficking General General also traffic cocaine and Asian TCOs is used States The United methamphetamine. as a transit countryof cocaine some loads for to Asia and trafficked and methamphetamine reach Asian TCOs Asian TCOs. by cocaine and methamphetamine out to and the of supply in Mexico sources Los Angeles-based import/export States. United state-level marijuana legalization actions, some actions, some legalization marijuana state-level by grows marijuana operate overtly Asian TCOs private governing local regulations to adhering medical marijuana allowances. and cultivation of large amounts some produce Additionally, illegal residential grow marijuana in wholly hiding in plain sight. As a result, operations by in of marijuana produced significant amounts states to are diverted operations these grow on the is much more profitable where marijuana black market. TrendsTrends MDMA Trafficking MDMA Trafficking supply of MDMA the generally control Asian TCOs Asian TCOs U.S.-based markets. in most U.S. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

traditional and hydroponic and are frequently and are frequently traditional and hydroponic With in suburban neighborhoods. located in residential homes, primarily in the western in residential homes, primarily in the western are both These indoor grows States. United Asian TCOs have historically operated large, operated historically have Asian TCOs houses indoor marijuana grow sophisticated recruit diaspora community members to act as recruit diaspora community members to and drugs. money couriers for TrendsTrends Trafficking Trafficking Marijuana Marijuana in California and New York facilitate the facilitate York and New in California transshipment and importation of drug loads also Asian TCOs Asian TCOs. by orchestrated businesses to facilitate drug trafficking and drug facilitate businesses to concentrated laundering. Businesses money Asian diaspora communities in the United States States the United Asian diaspora communities in or establish co-opt to the world and around Asia-based crime bosses in , Macau, Kong, Asia-based crime bosses in Hong in use their contacts Asian TCOs and Taiwan. Asian TCOs are mostly small, independent are mostly small, independent Asian TCOs from with investment Some operate groups. drugs to and from the United States. States. the United and from drugs to Structure StructureOrganizational Organizational with Asian TCOs in Canada, Asia, and other in Canada, Asia, and other with Asian TCOs import locations to and exportinternational illicit have distribution networks stretching across the across stretching distribution networks have in concert work Asian TCOs U.S.-based country. laundering activities, working with Colombian with working laundering activities, conduct actively Asian TCOs TCOs. and Mexican U.S. coasts and activities on both drug trafficking extent, cocaine and methamphetamine. They They cocaine and methamphetamine. extent, money in international involved are also heavily of marijuana and 4-methylenedioxy- of marijuana a lesser (MDMA), and, to methamphetamine OverviewOverview in the trafficking specialize Asian TCOs Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations Organizations Criminal Criminal Transnational Transnational Asian Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 76 metropolitan areas.Outsideof the networks operate inand around mostmajor Within theUnited States, thelaundering bulk currencystorage andshipment. currencies,andevenBanking System virtual including TBML,theChineseUnderground money movement across avariety ofmethods, utilizing domesticAsianMLOs to facilitate drug have Mexican observed DTOs increasingly Mexican TCO Various members. DEAoffices standing launderingnetworks for U.S.-based Mexico. AsianMLOs provide accessto long- TCO andAsianMLO leaders headsbasedin appear to beagreements between Mexico-based increasing frequency. In somecases,there working inconjunctionwithHispanicDTOs with Asian money launderingorganizationsare Organizations Asian Money Laundering collaborating to move/launder money. money launderinggroups andMexican TCOs indicates anincreasein Chinese reporting money-laundering activities.Law enforcement domestic cash-intensive businesses to facilitate schemes. U.S.-based AsianTCOs relyon also useunderground bankingandmirroring international money movement. AsianTCOs Kong, usingfront companies to facilitate transfer offundsbetween ChinaandHong employed by AsianTCOs generallyinvolve the and DominicanTCOs. Money launderingtactics criminal groups, suchasMexican, Colombian, andsometimes workservices jointlywithother TCOs involved inmoney launderingcontracttheir in thelaunderingofillicitdrugproceeds. Asian Asian TCOs intheUnited States play akey role Role inMoney Laundering

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED countries. Zealand, and other Far EastandSoutheast Asian also operate inHongKong, Australia, New Moreover, beyond mainland China,AsianMLOs Mexico, aswell asinCentralandSouthAmerica. of drugtraffickers have beenidentifiedin United States, AsianMLOs operatingonbehalf Transnational Criminal Organizations 77 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

operations in the United States and abroad. States operations in the United and conveyance methods involving multiple multiple involving methods conveyance and nations. several organizations across criminal in the operating TCOs and Colombian Mexican Northeast working maintain their will likely for traffickers with Dominican relationships illicit drugs. As distribution of the retail-level remains a significant the Dominican Republic node in the Caribbean, it drug transshipment criminal opportunities offer will continue to for operating along the East Coast. Dominican TCOs a drug trafficking threat will remain Asian TCOs particularly States, in United of concern in the markets. established marijuana and MDMA their expand continue to will likely They and Colombian TCOs relationships with Mexican further laundering to their drug and money UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

diverse drug supply lines, smuggling routes, smuggling routes, drug supply lines, diverse of illegal drugs, particularly in the Northeast. ensure their sustainability These TCOs to self-sufficiency and accessibility through Dominican TCOs are positioned to maintain are positioned to Dominican TCOs distribution in the mid-level their leading role to U.S. markets, and the subsequent repatriation repatriation and the subsequent markets, U.S. to of drug proceeds. Caribbean, and the United States to broker and broker to States Caribbean, and the United the exportation of cocaine and heroin facilitate TCOs will most likely continue to maintain continue to will most likely TCOs Central America, the in Mexico, representatives remain the dominant cocaine wholesale supplier remain the dominant cocaine wholesale Colombian Further, States. in the United TCOs are expected to continue to collaborate collaborate to continue to are expected TCOs their products, who purchase TCOs with Mexican will TCOs primarily cocaine, while Mexican the production and supply of the majority of and supply the production Colombian markets. U.S. cocaine destined for corresponding profits in Colombia, Colombian in Colombia, corresponding profits dominance over maintain to are expected TCOs law enforcement. law and high cocaine production sustained Due to direct ties to street-level drug and money drug and money street-level direct ties to U.S. by arrests made seizures and drug-related distribution networks and continued interaction interaction and continued distribution networks This and gangs. groups with local criminal from TCOs Mexican relationship will insulate of Mexican TCOs. Mexican TCOs will continue to will continue to TCOs Mexican TCOs. of Mexican of expansion through States in the United grow No other criminal organizations currently criminal organizations No other that rival infrastructure to possess a logistical and distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, marijuana, of cocaine, heroin, and distribution markets. in U.S. and fentanyl methamphetamine, Barring significant, unanticipated changes significant, unanticipated Barring will TCOs Mexican market, the illicit drug to wholesale importation the dominate to continue OutlookOutlook Transnational Criminal Organizations 2020 78

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DRUG THREAT IN U.S. TERRITORIES & IN INDIAN COUNTRY

Overview With approximate populations of 3.2 million and 106,000 in 2020, respectively, Puerto Puerto Rico, the USVI, and Guam are Rico and the USVI are part of an island chain unincorporated, organized territories of the located along the eastern edge of the Caribbean United States with economies that are largely Sea, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Both dependent on tourism, commercial shipment are unincorporated, organized territories of services, or national defense spending. the United States, whose economies depend Travelers from some of these U.S. island largely on tourism. Both U.S. territories have territories are not subject to routine customs high unemployment rates (8.8 percent in Puerto checks upon entering the continental Rico and 12.1 percent in the USVI), according United States, making them attractive to illicit to 2020 estimates, and opportune geographic drug traffickers and money launderers. locations—midway between the United States High rates of unemployment and poverty and South America. In addition, both Puerto contribute to Native American communities’ Rico and the USVI are attractive transshipment issues with substance abuse and exploitation points, as cargo shipments between these U.S. by drug traffickers and TCOs. TCOs often territories and the continental United States smuggle drugs through reservations along U.S. are considered domestic and not subject to borders, and Native American criminal groups inspection. obtain drugs from traffickers moving through reservations or from TCO associates in nearby Drug Threat major cities. Cocaine is the principal drug threat in the Caribbean region, with Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico and the U.S. USVI serving as major transshipment points Virgin Islands between cocaine-producing countries in South The DEA Caribbean Field Division is responsible America and the continental United States. for supporting drug enforcement operations Cocaine is primarily transported to the islands in the Caribbean area, including domestic and via maritime vessels from Colombia, Venezuela, foreign locations. The geographical area of and the Dominican Republic. Traffickers almost responsibility of the DEA Caribbean Field Division exclusively use go-fast boats or fishing vessels extends from The Bahamas, down to Jamaica to transport cocaine to Puerto Rico, either in the Greater Antilles, eastward along the departing directly from Venezuela or transiting islands of the Lesser Antilles, to Guyana in the the Mona Passage from the Dominican Republic. northeastern tip of South America. Due to Dominican law enforcement successes

UNCLASSIFIED 79 Drug Threat in U.S./Indian Territories 2020 80 in Puerto RicoandtheUSVI.in Puerto According to law Marijuana isthemostconsumed illicitdrug 2018. fentanyl-involvedreported overdose deathsin have increased from 10 deathsin2015 to 70 However, fentanyl related Rico deathsinPuerto Fentanyl availability Ricoislow. inPuerto California to Rico. Puerto fentanyl from seizuressentviaparcel services minimalheroin-lacedDivision hasalsoreported maritime shipments.DEA’s CaribbeanField typically arrives commingled withcocaineon and theUSVI isofSouthAmericanorigin,which fentanyl. Theheroin trafficked Rico to Puerto USVI andoneseizureofheroin whichcontained increase inheroin usein2019 onSt.Croix, typically for resale. However, therewas aslight does not poseamajorthreat,as the demandis Rico andwidelyconsumed.IntheUSVI, heroin in almostalldrugpointsthroughout Puerto continental United States. Heroin isavailable toit isusedlocallyandalsotransported the Heroin availability Ricoismoderate; inPuerto are alsomajorconcernsintheCaribbeanregion. The smugglingandabuseofheroin andfentanyl Rico. British VirginIslands,and/orPuerto the Netherlands Antilles,St.Martin/Maarten, smaller fishing vessels, whichthentransit to the Venezuela. Theseshipsoffloadcocaine to USVI andmeet larger“mother ships”from the thatsmallerboatsdepart officials report continental United States. Law enforcement and eastern Rico,andthenonto Puerto the Virgin Islandsby islandhoppingto theUSVI Traffickers alsosmugglecocaineviatheBritish directly to Rico. Puerto traffickers prefer to trafficlargecocaineloads and U.S. CoastGuard interdiction efforts,

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED mostly aboard go-fast vessels. According to DEA moved toward theCaribbeanIslandsin2019, SouthAmerica documented cocainedeparting movement events, roughly eightpercent of of known andsuspected drugseizureand According to aU.S. Government database Rico arrivingfrom ColombiaandVenezuela. maritime cocaine smuggling ventures into Puerto increase incocaineseizuresfrom inbound DEA’s an CaribbeanFieldDivisionreports Transshipment to increaseover thepastseveral years. seizure-load sizesofmarijuanahave continued and other Caribbean island nations, seizures and enforcement from Rico,USVI, Puerto reporting New York, andMassachusetts. including Connecticut,Florida,Pennsylvania, body cavities to continentalU.S. destinations cocaine concealedwithinpassengerluggageor commercial Ricoto smuggle airlinesinPuerto and New Jersey. Additionally, traffickers utilize primarily Connecticut,Massachusetts, New York, to United Floridaandthenortheastern States, parcels mailed from Ricoandthe USVI Puerto United States. Traffickers concealcocainein smuggled onwards to thecontinental remains for localconsumption, butmostis heroin trafficked into RicoandtheUSVI Puerto It isestimated thatathird ofthecocaineand continental United States, Europe, andAfrica. Caribbean islandsfor destinationsinthe Dominican Republic, andneighboringEastern or Venezuela Rico,the andtransitingPuerto smuggling ventures originating inColombia the Caribbeancoordinate multi-ton maritime TCOs operatinginSouthAmericaand reporting,

Drug Threat in U.S./Indian Territories 81

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

visitors during FY 2019. Many of Guam’s violent Many during FY 2019. visitors drugs, abuse, lack of to crimes are linked economic opportunities, lack of educational and attainment. fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, shopping, fraudulent prescriptions, doctor pharmacy thefts, and illegal online prescription services. Guam Guam Guam is an organized and unincorporated in the located States, of the United territory North and Ocean; it is the largest Pacific Islands southernmost island in the Mariana and is an importantarchipelago military and States, the United between hub commercial In 2020, Guam’s population Asia, and Australia. people. The 168,000 an estimated was depends largely on tourism island’s economy spending, followed national defense and U.S. and transshipment services. construction by Bureau, the the Guam Visitors to According million 1.63 with over island had its best year, along the East Coast and finally to PuertoRico in and finally Coast the East along DTOs scrutiny. enforcement law evade to order also smuggle Republic the Dominican based in using human Puerto Rico by directly into heroin the between couriers on the ferry that operates and Puerto Rico. Dominican Republic distribution and for of CPDs The diversion are serious threats in Puertohealthcare a Prescription Rico. Puerto have Rico did not August (PDMP) until Program Drug Monitoring 2018 until September not it was however, 2017; Puertothat the PDMP in Rico was with PDMPs in the interconnect able to investigations diversion DEA States. United substances that the majority of controlled reveal are obtained through abused and diverted UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

take an indirect route to deliver heroin from from heroin deliver to an indirect route take cities major U.S. various to Caracas, Venezuela, trafficking routes from Venezuela to Puerto Rico. to Puerto Rico. Venezuela from routes trafficking to couriers instruct In some cases, traffickers Puerto Rico. established heroin have Puerto Rico-based DTOs Dominican and Puerto Rican DTOs dominate dominate Dominican and Puerto Rican DTOs distribution of cocaine in wholesale and retail trade throughout the region, including brokering the region, including brokering trade throughout maritime ventures. drug deals and coordinating are Dominican. Dominican DTOs are becoming are Dominican. Dominican DTOs and dominant in the drug more sophisticated Colombian, and Venezuelan traffickers traffickers Colombian, and Venezuelan during maritime serve crewmembers as boat captains operations, the majority of the Rican DTOs are involved with the illicit drug trade with the illicit are involved Rican DTOs While Dominican, in Puerto Rico and the USVI. Drug Trafficking Groups Groups Trafficking Trafficking Drug Drug and Puerto Colombian, Dominican, Venezuelan, retain control of the drug markets in the area. of the drug markets control retain controlled “drug point” locations used for “drug point” locations used for controlled use sale of illicit drugs. The DTOs the retail gain or to intimidation, violence, and murder in Puerto Rico are based in the public housing the island, with throughout located projects rates have declined every year since year declined every have homicide rates operating The majority of DTOs peaking in 2011. estimate that over 60 percent of 60 percent that over estimate violent crime and however, are drug-related; 52 murders per 100,000 people in 2018. people in 2018. 100,000 per 52 murders Puerto agencies in Rico enforcement Local law homicide rates in the United States. According According States. United in the homicide rates approximately averaged the UNODC, the USVI to Drug-related violence continues to pose a threat pose a threat to violence continues Drug-related in Puerto the USVI. Rico and public safety to the highest have Puertoand the USVI Rico Drug-related Crime CrimeDrug-related Drug-related Drug Threat in U.S./Indian Territories 2020 82 the continentalUnited States. methamphetamine reachingGuamindirectlyvia Mexican organizationsmay supplysome ofthe methamphetamine to theislandviacouriers. Filipino, andChinesetraffickers whosmuggle DTOs inGuamaretypically comprised ofKorean, Drug Trafficking Groups United States. via commercial airflightsfrom thecontinental amounts viapostalpackages ortransported Marijuana isalsoshippedto Guaminlesser growth inclose proximity to residentialdwellings. grow sites typicallylocated withinheavy jungle Low-quality marijuanaiscultivated inGuam,with 2018. decrease compared to 45kilogramsseizedin approximately 29kilogramsofcocaine,a During 2019, DEA’s GuamRO seized the 12kilogramsseizedin2018. methamphetamine, asignificantincreasefrom Guam RO seizedapproximately 30kilogramsof large profit margins.During2019, theDEA’s associates inGuam,whosellthedrugfor very mailmethamphetamineoften to criminal Guamanians residinginthecontinentalU.S. Washington, viapostalpackages orcourier. United States, primarilyfrom California and shipped to Guamoriginates from thecontinental to Guam.Mostofthemethamphetamine Methamphetamine posesthegreatest threat purchaseddegree andoften inclubsandbars. pharmaceuticals arealsoavailable to alesser ,aged population.MDMA, andillicit is resurgentandpopularwiththecollege- two principaldrugsusedinGuam.Cocaine Methamphetamine andmarijuanaarethe Drug Threat and Availability

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED illicit drugsavailable throughout IndianCountry. mostofthe transport independent dealers Native Americancriminalgroups and available inmajorcitiesnearthe reservations. region andisinfluenced by theillicitdrugs varies by The drugthreatinIndianCountry Indian Country goods. or personal drug suppliesandareusedto purchase vehicles proceeds arereinvested to purchase additional and other Asiancountries.Generally, the are sentviawiretransfer to SouthKorea, China, established bankaccounts.Similarly, proceeds United States orsentelectronically through Drug proceeds mailedbackto areoften the methamphetamine arethemostwidelyused drug traffickers. Whilemarijuanaand to substanceabuseandexploitation by Native Americancommunities’ susceptibility of resources. Thesefactors contribute to unemployment, chronic trauma,andalack and risksrooted inpoverty, highlevels of Native Americancommunitiesface challenges Figure 60). to datafrom (See theBureauofIndianAffairs law enforcementCountry programs according number ofdrugcasesopenedacross allIndian percent increasefrom FY2018 to FY2019 inthe 2013. InFY 2019, therewas anearly26 programs hasincreasedsubstantiallysince conducted law by enforcement IndianCountry The numberofdrugcasesandarrests drugs for distributionintheirhomecommunities. travelreservations longdistancesto obtain some instances,distributors residingonremote Mexican traffickers and other criminalgroups. In nearby citiesto purchase drugs,primarilyfrom These individualsandorganizationstravel to Drug Threat in U.S./Indian Territories 83 DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

national averages for similar crimes. DTOs similar crimes. DTOs for national averages their facilitate engage in these crimes to operations, while users generally engage in such supportcrimes to their drug use. areas. large amounts of illicit drugs also smuggle TCOs reservations that through States the United into Mohawk Canada, especially the St. Regis border commonly referred York, in New Reservation TCOs Nation at Akwesasne. Mohawk as the to of MDMA smuggle marijuana and thousands and multi-kilogram States the United into tablets the Canada through into of cocaine quantities reservation. and abuse of drugs The widespread availability coupled with drug trafficking in Indian Country, contribute operating in Indian Country, groups reservations. of crime on Due to high rates to the wide range of violent and property crimes engage, the crime rates in which traffickers on some reservations can be higher than the desert bordering Mexico and the highways that and the highways desert Mexico bordering major metropolitan connect the reservation to UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Figure 60. Drug Cases Opened in Indian Country, 2013 2019 – Country, in Indian Opened Cases Drug 60. Figure Source: Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Source: through this reservation. Drug traffickers exploit this reservation. Drug traffickers through sparsely populated of remote, stretches the vast TCOs also smuggle lesser amounts of cocaine TCOs on the rise, with methamphetamine and heroin, in southeastern Arizona. This reservation in southeastern of the SWB. percent almost four accounts for TCOs continue to smuggle multiple tons of smuggle multiple tons continue to TCOs O’odham Nation the Tohono marijuana through Mexico or Canada, ensuring nearby reservations or Canada, ensuring nearby Mexico drugs. reliable access to have remote locations on reservations, particularlyremote Region. Illicit drug transportation in the Pacific the reservations that border run through routes Mexican traffickers play a prominent role in a prominent play traffickers Mexican in sites cannabis at outdoor grow producing throughout Indian Country. Indian throughout in Indian Country Drug production is limited. principal wholesale suppliers and producers principal wholesale suppliers and producers on reservations of most illicit drugs available counterfeit pills, and MDMA are also available are also available pills, and MDMA counterfeit are the traffickers Mexican levels. at various use have increased. Additionally, powder powder Additionally, increased. use have fentanyl-laced and crack cocaine, fentanyl, illicit substances, prescription drug and heroin and heroin illicit substances, prescription drug Drug Threat in U.S./Indian Territories 2020 84 smuggling routes. exploited for theirlocationalongtransnational Canada andMexico willlikely continueto be continue. Reservations neartheborders of but increasesinCPDsandheroin abusemay may likely remainthemostwidelyuseddrugs, traffickers. Methamphetamine andmarijuana types ofillicitdrugs,mainlysuppliedby Mexican to acquirecities outsideofIndianCountry all criminal groups willcontinuetravel to major nearby markets inmajorcities.Native American remain tiedto thepredominant threatsof willlikely The drugthreatsinIndianCountry Outlook

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

ILLICIT FINANCE Overview a payment method to purchase illegal drugs online, it is now becoming more commonly DTOs and TCOs continue to generate tens of utilized by international money launderers to billions of dollars in illicit proceeds through the transfer proceeds across borders on behalf of sale of drugs every year in the United States. TCOs. Illicit drug proceeds change hands numerous times between the smuggling, wholesale, or Effects of COVID-19 retail levels of the illegal drug market. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused The COVID-19 pandemic directly led to significant shifts in the money laundering traffickers facing hurdles maintaining the flow landscape. Border restrictions between the of drugs and money around the world. Border United States and Mexico, as well as concerns restrictions between the United States and regarding exposure to the virus have made it Mexico, brought on due to the pandemic, have more difficult for TCOs to transport loads of bulk increased the difficulty of transporting loads of currency across the SWB. Trade-Based Money bulk currency from the United States across the Laundering (TBML) activity has been disrupted SWB into Mexico. As a result, large amounts due to shipping delays around the world. of U.S. currency are being held along the U.S. These shipping delays also disrupt dark web side, awaiting transport to Mexico. With this marketplace vendors who are already vulnerable stockpile forming, TCOs have begun increasing to fluctuations of virtual currencies held in the frequency and volume of bulk currency escrow while drugs are traveling in the mail. shipments across the SWB in an attempt to continue the repatriation of their drug proceeds. TCOs employ various strategies to move and However, reporting indicates fewer money launder drug proceeds into, within, and out of pickups being conducted by couriers for fear the United States to avoid detection from law of exposure to COVID-19 and increased law enforcement and financial institutions. The enforcement presence. preferred methods to move and launder illicit • DEA’s New Jersey Field Division reported in May proceeds have largely remained the same 2020, that money couriers were less likely to meet throughout the years, e.g. bulk cash smuggling, with individuals looking to move money from certain Black Market Peso Exchange, and TBML; heavily infected population centers due to concerns of however, significant shifts have occurred in the contracting COVID-19. illicit finance landscape over the years, further The shipping trade was affected in many parts complicating the enforcement of anti-money of the world due to the pandemic that caused laundering (AML) laws. Although for a number disruptions to TBML activity in the of years virtual currency has been utilized as

UNCLASSIFIED 85 Illicit Finance 2020 86 z. • is ableto convert thefundsinto fiatcurrency. for their value to decrease before the drug dealer escrow for longerperiods,whichgives moretime shipments meansthatfundsmay beheldin devaluation whileinescrow. Delays ofdrug of lossfundsdueto thepossibilityofBitcoin many dark web vendors from themarket for fear rapidly dropped, whichcausedawithdrawal of currencies. InMarch 2020,thevalue ofBitcoin the riskofsellingdrugsfor highlyvolatile virtual andshippingdelays whichexacerbateshortages the COVID-19 to drug pandemic,dueinpart drugs have experienced disruptionsdueto Dark web marketplaces tradinginillicit legitimate tradetransactionshasdiminished. for TCOs to move money undertheguiseof to increasedrestrictions.Assuch,theability operate duringthepandemic,oraresubject non-essential, andareeithernot permitted to companies involved inTBMLareconsidered United States andother countries.Many such, analyticalstatements regarding the reasons for thisincreasecannot bemadeatthistime. This recorded increaseinboth seizureevents methodologies. As to aswell asseizure volume changesinNSSbulkcurrencyreporting isdueinpart

delays. possiblyaddingtoprior to theshipping transport, precautions to sanitize theirproducts andpackaging Many dark web marketplace were takingextra sellers well asshippingdelays due to COVID-19 restrictions. variety ofillicitdrugsavailable onthedark web, as DEA’s ofa Denver shortages FieldDivisionreported NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT Source: El Paso IntelligenceSource: ElPaso Center Figure 61. Bulk Currency Smuggling Seizure Totals,Figure 61. –2019 2012 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED previous year (2,487) (SeeFigure61). (3,454) was a39percent increasefrom the trend. Thenumberofseizureevents in2019 with 2019’s increasebeinganoutlierto this of bulkcurrencyseizedhassteadily dropped, in 2018. Between 2010 and2018, thevolume volume from thealmost$227 millionUSCseized million USCseized,a62percent increasein NSS data.Thisrepresentsmorethan$368 seizures intheUnited States according to EPIC’s 2019, therewere over 3,000bulkcurrency modern methods oftransferring money. In cash smuggling,despite theexistence ofmore volume ofillicitproceeds every year viabulk TCOs continueto repatriate asignificant Bulk Cash Smuggling United States. of drugproceeds traveling within,andexiting the airlines alsoaccountsfor asignificantamount of bulkcurrencyby oncommercial passengers vehicles andtractor-trailers. However, transport South Americancountriesviaprivately owned over theSWB into Mexico andother Centraland currency from various theUnitedplaces in States bulk Drug traffickers commonlytransport z Illicit Finance 87

Ohio Texas 3,454 2019 California $23,621,917 $52,861,197 $54,556,726 $368,042,994

Ohio 2,487 Illinois 2018 California $44,176,916 $15,158,676 $22,660,487 $227,548,134 $227,548,134

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT DRUG

Ohio 2,431 2017 Arizona California $22,514,717 $13,745,181 $40,762,011 $226,710,289 $226,710,289

Texas 3,437 2016 Florida California $57,175,335 $46,060,991 $36,110,202 $441,178,858 $441,178,858

of their funds into these items. This, combined these items. of their funds into reporting the allows requirements, with avoiding person from be moved funds to of the illicit value business person under the guise of legitimate to transactions. origin of the funds. The final step in the cycle cycle in the origin of the funds. The final step in which the illicit funds now is integration, the re-enter be clean, and are able to appear to the illegal to attention without drawing economy the money. activity that produced Methods Methods Traditional Traditional widely utilize traditional money and DTOs TCOs oftenlaundering methods, combining well- decrease ones to with newer methods tested enforcement. law by of discovery their likelihood of currency Casinos, with their high volume for transactions, remain a popular way their drug proceeds. obfuscate launderers to launderers commonly utilize businesses Money commodities such as real trading high value their illicit make to and jewelry vehicles, estate, the value investing by funds appear legitimate banks, and real estate. Layering is the process process is the Layering estate. banks, and real can disguise its origin. This to money of moving and such as wire transfers forms various take laundering in the money TBML, with this step through moving money often involving process multiple countries, further obfuscating the

Texas 4,685 2015 Florida California $43,527,424 $45,448,232 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED $107,255,478 $550,804,449

4,448 2014 Georgia New York New California $49,138,747 $36,982,739 $547,068,839 $547,068,839 $126,891,301

Texas 3,343 2013 New York New California $45,582,571 $154,015,473 $111,315,107 $613,829,575 $613,829,575

Texas 3,395 2012 New York New California $67,202,140 $702,578,606 $702,578,606 $130,694,737 $212,038,936 Figure 62. Top 3 States for Bulk Currency Seizure Amounts, 2012 Amounts, Seizure Currency Bulk 2019 – for 3 States Top 62. Figure State excess of $3 million USC contained between the 15 the 15 of $3 million USC contained between excess pieces. In June 2020, the Los Angeles HIDTA performed a K-9 In June 2020, the Los Angeles HIDTA pieces of luggage being transported on a on 15 check seized an enforcement flight. Law chartered privately yielded the seizure of $1.5 million USC hidden in bags yielded the seizure of $1.5 million USC inside the tractor-trailer. deposits of USC into the banking system. A traffic the banking system. deposits of USC into who had been seen the DTO on a member of stop using a tractor-trailer pick-ups conducting money conducted an enforcement operation against a DTO a DTO against operation an enforcement conducted structure to with a Chinese MLO working that was In May 2020, DEA’s Washington Field Division Washington 2020, DEA’s In May State State Total st rd nd 1 3 2 Incidents money service as casinos, money well businesses—as methods to complete each step. Placement each step. complete to methods the financial into illicit funds entering involves as businesses—such various through system cycle, which includes placement, layering, and which includes placement, layering, cycle, multiple launderers developing integration—with Money laundering is generally comprised of a is generally comprised laundering Money bulk cash seized. Methods Methods Laundering Laundering Money Money the first six months of 2020, California, New New the first six months of 2020, California, of the 39 percent for accounted and Texas York, for a combined total of $131,039,840 USC of $131,039,840 a combined total for 36 for accounted (See Figure 62). These states In of all the bulk cash seized in 2019. percent In 2019, California, Ohio, and Texas reported Ohio, and Texas California, In 2019, cash seizures the highest dollar amounts in bulk • •

Source: El Paso Intelligence Center El Paso Source: Intelligence Illicit Finance 2020 88 the fundsthey assisted inmoving. that they had knowledge oftheillicitnature money laundering,asitcanbedifficult to prove insulatedare often from legalramifications of to natureofthesebrokers, thethird party they systems suchasBMPEandTBMLactivity. Due withother money intertwined often laundering money movement thatthesebrokers is perform through various accountsandbusinesses. The networks ofmoney brokers to move money funds outsideoftheUnited States willutilize money. Drugtraffickers seeking to repatriate moneythird brokers party to move andhandle proceeds. Oneexample ofthisisthe useof to hidetheirillicit combinemethods to further criminal organizationscontinueto find ways has greatlyincreasedinmoderntimes,as The complexity ofmoney launderingsystems Modern Methods process. are frequently utilizedinthemoney laundering acompany,to start shellandfront companies and theminimalamountofinformation required easily allowing theestablishmentofbusinesses stream from thefront company. Dueto U.S. laws their drugproceeds withthelegitimate revenue normal business;however, DTOs commingle proceeds. Front companies operate asamostly provide plausibledeniabilityfor theoriginofdrug to hidebeneficial as ownership, well as to entity through whichmoney may betransferred companies arebusinessesthatexist onlyasan established intheUnited States eachyear. Shell limited liabilitycompanies andcorporations are thatmorethantwo million laundering, reports organization designedto combatmoney Action Task Force, anintergovernmental the originoftheirillicitfunds.TheFinancial extremely commonmethod for DTOs to disguise The useofshellandfront companies remainsan

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED economic policiesthatplaceda$50,000USC In 2017, theGovernment ofChinaimplemented goods. financial system in exchange for consumer for cashto intoopportunities beinserted the involved inTBMLschemesbecausethey offer trade transactions.Free Trade Zonesareoften the United States undertheguiseoflegitimate the originalillicitactivityto move inandoutof then sold.Thisallows the value derived from wheretheythen shippedto another are country purchase realorfictitioustradegoods,whichare financial institutions.Illicitfundsareused to the manipulationofinternational tradeand andlaunderillicitproceedsto through transport TCOs continueto highlyfavor TBMLasamethod proceeds. The services providedproceeds. Theservices by Asian or other assets located abroad, suchasdrug by tradingChinese-basedassets for currency allows them to move theirmoney outofChina nationals utilizeaninformal blackmarket that evade China’scurrencycontrol laws. Chinese United States to Chinese nationalsseekingto as well asfrom theresaleofU.S. inthe dollars associated withMexican andColombianTCOs MLOs seekto profit from illicitactivities of bulkcurrencymovement andTBML.Asian MLOs areespeciallyprominent intheareas money launderingcycle; however, Asian at allstagesofthe MLOs services perform they provide.efficiency oftheservices These combination ofcharginglower fees andthe the money launderinglandscapedueto a These groups have quickly grown to dominate withinthemoneyleaders launderingnetworks. MLOs have emergedwithinthelastfew years as Mexico hasplacedondepositing USC,Asian to China’seconomicpolicy andtherestrictions thatcanbeexchangedperson annually. Due limit ontheamountofforeign currencyper

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general public; instead kept hidden away for for hidden away kept general public; instead launderers and couriers. money use by exclusive launderers are and money Drug traffickers virtualincreasingly incorporating currency into currencies TBML activity as the use of these DEA reportingbecomes more widely adopted. instances in which bulk currency has revealed the use of fulfilled through contracts were virtual of cash, with this money currency instead the TBML into being integrated subsequently These combinations of virtualcycle. currency of money with already established forms laundering suggest an increased willingness by to technology utilize this complex to illicit actors further laundering endeavors. their money designed to accept fiat currency in exchange exchange in fiat currency accept to designed federal to and are subject virtualfor currency, these regulations, Despite AML regulations. utilize of these machines owners unscrupulous drug assist in obfuscating to their functions couriers deposit large volumes Money proceeds. the value convert machines to these of cash into virtualto is currency; the cash in the machine stream of the revenue the into then integrated funds. hide the origin of the to of the ATM owner in a now original drug proceeds, of the The value another to virtual can easily be transferred form, user of the virtual currency instantaneously, with much of the risk associated removing transportingof bulk currency. large amounts used in such a manner Virtual currency ATMs the use by for and unavailable be unlisted, may UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED (ATMs) to aid in the movement of illicit aid in the movement to (ATMs) are specifically These ATMs bulk currency. methodologies. Increasingly, MLOs are using MLOs Increasingly, methodologies. machines teller virtual automated currency Illicit actors have integrated virtual currencies integrated have Illicit actors different money-laundering many into pose a greater risk of exposing the individual’s risk of exposing pose a greater true identity. on dark web marketplaces as a method for users for as a method marketplaces web on dark illicit drugs without purchase anonymously to that methods use traditional payment to having fiat currency into virtual currency and vice versa. virtualversa. fiat currency into and vice currency use Virtual be popular for to currencies continue In recent years, virtual currency exchangers have virtual have In recent years, currency exchangers of emerged as a serviceconversion ease the to original virtual currencies. Bitcoin is sometimes virtual for currency as a whole. a stand-in term, in circulation, with more being developed every every with more being developed in circulation, be the most Bitcoin continues to however, year; its status as one of the widely used due to There are over 2,000 distinct virtual currencies There are over due in part the ability of virtual to currencies hands rapidly without limits on the change to amount being transferred. in popularity, both among the public as well as among the public as well both in popularity, since inception among criminals, in the years to more readily launder illicit proceeds. Virtual illicit proceeds. more readily launder to been increasing have Bitcoin currencies like more seamless than ever. Newer technologies, technologies, Newer than ever. more seamless opportunities new create such virtual currency, criminals as for as well expand, to commerce for have led to an environment where purchasing where purchasing an environment led to have is easier and money goods and transferring Technological innovations in the financial sphere in the innovations Technological precursor chemical shipments. VirtualVirtual Currency Currency MLOs increasingly have been utilized by TCOs TCOs by utilized been have increasingly MLOs for and payment the acquisition simplify to Illicit Finance 2020 90 regulatory requirements. regulatory in anattempt law to thwart enforcement and illicit proceeds; however, TCOs constantlyevolve standards make itmorechallengingto launder money launderingregulationsandinternational and globalfinancialsystems. Enhancedanti- protecting theintegrity andstabilityofdomestic key elementofdisruptingTCOs andcrucialto systems anddisruptingtheirillicitprofits isa who circumvent formal regulated financial through legalsources. Apprehending criminals proceeds from theircriminalactivityinto revenue Drug traffickers seek to transform theirmonetary Outlook

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APPENDIX A: MAP OF DEA FIELD DIVISIONS

Source: DEA

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APPENDIX B: ACRONYM GLOSSARY

4-ANPP 4-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidone AAPCC American Association of Poison Control Centers AML Anti-Money Laundering AOR Area of Responsibility ARCOS Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System BLO Beltran-Leyva Organization BHO Butane CBD Cannabidiol CBP Customs and Border Protection CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CJNG Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) CMEA Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act CPD Controlled Prescription Drugs CPOT Consolidated Priority Organization Target CSA Controlled Substances Act CSP Cocaine Signature Program DCE/SP Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program DEA Drug Enforcement Administration DTO Drug Trafficking Organization EPIC El Paso Intelligence Center FARC Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation FD DEA Field Division FinCEN Financial and Crime Enforcement Network FRS Fentanyl-related Substances FSPP Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program FY Fiscal Year GAO Grupos Armados Organizados (Armed Criminal Organizations) ha Hectare HDMP Heroin Domestic Monitor Program HIDTA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area MDMA Methyldioxymethamphetamine MPP Methamphetamine Profiling Program MT Metric Ton NDTA National Drug Threat Assessment NFLIS National Forensic Laboratory Information System

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NPP N-phenethyl-4-piperidone NPS New Psychoactive Substances NSDUH National Survey on Drug Use and Health NSS National Seizure System OCDETF Drug Enforcement Task Force OCONUS Outside Continental United States P2P Phenyl-2-Propanone PDMP Prescription Drug Monitoring Program POE Ports of Entry POV Privately Owned Vehicles RO DEA Resident Office SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SOOTM Synthetic Opioids Other Than Methadone SWB Southwest Border TBML Trade-Based Money Laundering TCO Transnational Criminal Organization THC Tetrahydrocannabinol THCA Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid UNODC United Nations Office of Drug Control USC United States Currency USG United States Government

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APPENDIX C: DATA SET DESCRIPTIONS

►El Paso Intelligence Center, National Seizure System The El Paso Intelligence Center’s National Seizure System (NSS) tabulates information pertaining to drug seizures made by participating law enforcement agencies. NSS also includes data on clandestine methamphetamine laboratories seized by local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies. NSS records are under the control and custody of the DEA, and are maintained in accordance of Federal laws and regulations. Use of the information is limited to law enforcement agencies in connection with criminal law enforcement activities. The El Paso Intelligence Center is the central repository for this data. For example, the methamphetamine data is useful in determining, the types, numbers, and locations of methamphetamine laboratories seized; manufacturing trends; precursor and chemical sources; the number of children and law enforcement officers affected; and investigative leads. NSS superseded the Federal-Wide Drug Seizure System (FDSS), a computerized system that deconflicted overlapping information about drug seizures made by and with the participation of the FBI, DEA, and the Department of Homeland Security.

►NFLIS Summary for 2020 NDTA The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a voluntary program of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division. NFLIS-Drug is a database where drug identification results and associated information from drug cases are submitted to and analyzed by federal, state, and local forensic laboratories. The NFLIS-Drug participation rate, defined as the percentage of the national drug caseload represented by laboratories that have joined NFLIS, is currently more than 98 percent. Based on the voluntary system, data in NFLIS-Drug fluctuates frequently depending on the date it is queried as more encounters may be added daily. The 2020 NDTA includes information queried on July 10, 2020, so all raw data points were identified on or before that date.

In reference to the data’s unit of measure, one count represents one single report in the NFLIS-Drug database. Drug evidence secured in law enforcement operations (i.e., drug seizures) are submitted to forensic laboratories for analysis. However, drug evidence can vary in size, and one case can consist of one or more items of drug evidence. Within each item, multiple drugs may be identified and reported. One single report equates to one documented occurrence of a drug, whereas each report is counted separately and added to the data in NFLIS-Drug.

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►U.S. Government Drug Production Estimates The U.S. Government’s annual illicit crop cultivation and drug production estimates provide a strategic overview of drug trends in the world’s leading heroin and cocaine producing countries. The illicit crop estimates are based on imagery collected from the world’s coca and opium poppy growing regions. The cocaine and heroin production estimates are based on scientific analysis of data collected on cocaine and heroin processing methods.

►National Vital Statistics Data Data on drug-induced and drug poisoning deaths are based on information from all death certificates filed (2.839 million in 2018) in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Information from the states is provided to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a component of CDC. NCHS makes available causes of death attributable to drug-induced mortality. Drug-induced deaths include not only deaths from dependent and nondependent use of legal or illegal drugs, but also poisoning from medically prescribed and other drugs. Drug-induced causes exclude unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to drug use. Also excluded are newborn deaths due to the mother’s drug use. The International Classification of , Version 10 (ICD-10) was implemented in 1999 following conventions defined by the World Health Organization to replace Version 9 (ICD-9), in use since 1979. In addition to tables published by CDC, unpublished sub-national tabulations and drug poisoning deaths involving specific drugs were extracted by ONDCP from CDC’s online system WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research).

DEA PRB 01-12-21-43

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