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Drug Situation: Due to its non-contiguous location with the rest of the United States and shared border with Canada, Alaska is both a transshipment state as well as consumer state for controlled substances. Dominican and Mexican organizations are primarily responsible for cocaine distribution in Alaska. Methamphetamine seizures and abuse are on the increase. Alaska has one of the highest per capita uses of controlled substances, partially attributing to the equally high per capita incidence of alcoholism, rape, and suicide compared with the rest of the United States. Drug trafficking organizations in Alaska also engage in money laundering, using a variety of methods to legitimize and reposition illicit proceeds.

Cocaine: Several different organizations are involved in trafficking cocaine to Alaska. Mexican and Dominican drug trafficking organizations dominate cocaine distribution in Alaska. Crack cocaine continues to be a threat in Alaska, with many organizations dealing in both cocaine and crack. These organizations obtain cocaine from the lower 48 states. Due to Alaska’s remote location, these organizations are able to resell cocaine in Alaska at grossly inflated rates.

Heroin: Small amounts of black tar heroin are available in Alaska. Mexican organizations control the distribution of black tar heroin. OxyContin, with effects similar to heroin, has become the drug of choice for heroin abusers in the state.

Methamphetamine: Some local law makers, in an attempt to slow the increase of methamphetamine labs, have mandated that cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine be removed from shelves and placed behind the counter or within the pharmacy. Many retailers of such cold remedies have chosen, without being mandated, to remove those products as well. Preliminary results indicate that such steps have actually decreased the number of small user-type labs seized by law enforcement. Methamphetamine continues to be readily available. Drug trafficking organizations obtain the majority of methamphetamine for sale in Alaska from sources in the lower 48 states. Southeast Asian methamphetamine tablets known as “yaba,” reportedly manufactured in Burma and Laos, are becoming available in Alaska.

Club Drugs: MDMA (4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine/street name Ecstasy) is available in Alaska. Drug trafficking organizations distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana are acquiring small amounts of MDMA for distribution. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) are available in Alaska.

Marijuana: Marijuana is the most abused and widespread drug in Alaska. In June 2006, then-Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski signed HB149 which re-criminalizes the use and possession of marijuana. Almost all of the marijuana grown in Alaska is harvested in indoor growing operations. The availability of BC Bud smuggled from Canada continues to be available in the Anchorage area.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: In the United States, prescription drugs are the second most abused drug by youth. The primary methods of diversion of legitimate pharmaceuticals continues to be illegal dispensing and prescribing by physicians, illegal distribution by pharmacists, prescription forgery, doctor shopping, and drug thefts from pharmacies, nursing homes, and hospitals. Pharmacy burglaries are prevalent throughout the state and Diversion Investigators are also encountering pharmaceuticals that have been purchased via the Internet without a doctor’s prescription. The abuse and trafficking of oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet, Percodan), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), and anabolic steroids continues to be a concern.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. Since the inception of the MET Program, 473 deployments have been completed nationwide, resulting in 19,643 arrests. There have been no MET deployments in the State of Alaska.

More information about the Seattle Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 6/2007