Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area: Drug Market Analysis

Publisher Marketing: The overall drug threat to the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) region in 2010 increased slightly from the threat posed in 2009. The HIDTA region remains a national-level transit, source, and distribution center for illicit drugs, especially cocaine, locally produced marijuana, domestic and imported methamphetamine, and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy). More so than in 2009, methamphetamine poses the most serious drug threat to the region. Heroin abuse also poses an increasing risk to the region, especially in some rural areas. The increasing availability and abuse of high-purity Mexican methamphetamine is the primary drug concern in the Northwest HIDTA region. That concern, reported consistently by officials from agencies throughout the HIDTA region during recent interviews, is also reflected in National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS)a data compiled in early 2011. Cannabis cultivation in the HIDTA region is also a significant concern, particularly cannabis that is being illegally cultivated under the guise of medical marijuana laws. Additionally, the flow of cocaine transiting the region from the Southwest Border continues to plague the area, driven by increased profits for the drug when it is smuggled to Canada.