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Drug Situation: Heroin, cocaine HCl, crack
cocaine, and marijuana remained the four most available, popular, used, and
trafficked illegal drugs in Pennsylvania and Delaware. However, clandestinely
manufactured drugs, such as methamphetamine, and club drugs, such as
MDMA/ecstasy, also remained readily available to users of various ages and
socioeconomic backgrounds, but were primarily concentrated in the metropolitan
areas and college/rave party scenes. PCP and LSD remained available to users in
the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. Most trafficking and distribution was
accomplished by a variety of Hispanic and African-American organizations that
are scattered throughout the division. Some of these groups were connected
primarily to sources in New York City, yet some distributed drugs that were
either brought to the division via other transshipment locations or that were
shipped or transported directly to Philadelphia or other localities from source
areas. In general, Philadelphia's street corner distribution networks remained
the main sources of supply for drugs sold to users throughout Pennsylvania and
Delaware. Investigations into the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs and
laundering of drug proceeds remained important facets of the division's total
enforcement effort during the quarter. Investigations revealed that drug use
and distribution continues to branch out from the major metropolitan areas into
some of the more suburban and rural areas in the division. This trend continued
to concern local law enforcement officials, who were particularly worried about
the spread of violence that accompanies the spread of drugs. During the
quarter, several newspapers reported on the efforts of law enforcement to
combat drug distribution in their communities and on efforts by officials to
educate parents and schoolteachers on drug, particularly heroin, use by
youth. |
