›› Arizona: Drug Climate

Arizona is directly north of the Mexican State of Sonora, a major trafficker stronghold. Most of the border area consists of inhospitable desert and steep mountain ranges, which are sparsely populated, infrequently patrolled by law enforcement, and ideal for drug smuggling. Arizona serves primarily as a drug importation and transshipment state. Drug smuggling and transportation are dominated by major Mexican trafficking organizations. These groups are poly-drug organizations smuggling cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and precursor chemicals.

• Cocaine
  Throughout history, Arizona has been known as a transshipment state for cocaine that is then distributed thought the United States. Throughout Phoenix and Tucson, crack cocaine remains widely available and easily attainable.
• Heroin
  Mexican black tar heroin and brown powder heroin are frequently encountered in Arizona. Throughout 2004, the price of heroin in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area decreased by approximately 40 percent, which indicated an abundance of available heroin. During the last 2 years, purity levels of retail level heroin have increased approximately 7 percent. A current trend encountered by the Phoenix Division is the increasing presence of heroin in our public schools. Over the past few years, Arizona has been witnessing a steady increase in the abuse of OxyContin. Oxycodone products are opiate agonists, like heroin and methadone. They are commonly prescribed to cancer patients, patients with chronic back pain, and patients recovering from surgery. Of these, OxyContin is heavily abused because it is available in high does and when ingested, it produces an intense high similar to heroin.
  
• Meth
  There are two types of methamphetamine available in Arizona, Mexican-produced and locally produced methamphetamine. Mexican-produced methamphetamine is the most predominant type encountered in the state and is frequently smuggled across the Southwest Border (SWB) where it transits through Arizona. The locally produced methamphetamine originates from independently owned and operated laboratories that are responsible for yielding small quantities for local consumption. Both threat areas impact Arizona’s borders, cities, and suburbs and each pose their own unique challenge to law enforcement and our communities. Arizona serves as a major distribution hub, staging area, and transshipment point for Mexican methamphetamine smuggled across the SWB destined for domestic cities throughout the U.S., specifically Midwest cities.
• Club Drugs
  The availability of club drugs in Arizona remains high. The most commonly abused club drugs are ecstasy, lsd, ketamine, nitrous oxide, and ghb. Among college-aged and younger ecstasy seems to be the predominant drug of abuse.
• Marijuana
  Marijuana remains widely available in quantities up to multi-hundred pounds packaged for delivery. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement routinely seize hundred pound quantities of marijuana between the Ports of Entry as well as abandoned in remote sites along the border. .

 

Yahoo! News Search Results for arizona meth Updated : For Mexican cartels, marijuana is still gold CORRE COYOTE, Mexico — Times are good for the dope growers of the western Sierra Madre mountains. The army eradication squads that once hacked at the illicit marijuana fields have been diverted by the drug war that's raging elsewhere in Mexico. Publ.Date : Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:55:00 -0700 Arizona father accused of placing baby son in freezer Arizona father accused of placing baby son in freezer Publ.Date : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:47:00 -0700 Men in pickup truck lead police on chase ALeupp, Ariz., resident is facing charges after trying to interfere with a police arrest. Navajo Nation Police were sent to the NHA complex in Leupp on Aug. 26 to check on the possibility that a violation of a protection order had occurred. Publ.Date : Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:32:55 -0700 Program helps Phoenix woman escape the net of prostitution, drugs and abuse Jeanne stumbled down a path of drugs, prostitution and abuse. She abandoned her children, went in and out of jail and finally lost all hope. With help, she found a sliver of dignity and held on. Now she's getting back to ordinary. Publ.Date : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:41:31 -0700 St. Johnsbury man charged with meth sales Sales of methamphetamine to undercover officers this summer led to the arrest this week of Robert Wolf, 28, of St. Johnsbury, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Vermont. Publ.Date : Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:30:16 -0700 Rss Feed Reader More Web Site Traffic

Yahoo! News Search Results for arizona marijuana Updated : Mexican drug kingpin who led Sinaloa cartel sentenced to 27 years in Arizona prison A Mexican man who prosecutors say headed a major drug-smuggling ring that shipped tons of marijuana into the U.S. was sentenced Friday to 27 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $4 million to ... Publ.Date : Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:37:04 -0700 Man and woman arrested for growing marijuana ARIZONA CITY - The Pinal County Regional Narcotics Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement members arrested two people Wednesday accused of growing marijuana for profit. Publ.Date : Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:29:31 -0700 2 in Arizona City arrested for growing pot plants ARIZONA CITY — Earl W. Bridges, 32, and Kelley A. McGahan, 29, of the 11500 block of West Coloma Drive in Arizona City were arrested Wednesday at home for possession of marijuana for sale and production of marijuana. Publ.Date : Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:40:38 -0700 Mexican drug kingpin sentenced to 27 years in Arizona prison for smuggling tons of marijuana TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Mexican man who prosecutors call the leader of a group that smuggled tons of marijuana into the U.S. has been sentenced to 27 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $4 million to the American government. Publ.Date : Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:25:20 -0700 Arizona woman caught trying to smuggle 900 pounds of pot across Arizona-Mexico border Border agents have seized more than 900 pounds (408 kilograms) of marijuana hidden inside a pickup truck trying to cross from Mexico into Arizona. Publ.Date : Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:04:20 -0700 RSS Feed Reader Website Traffic Promotion