Drug Situation: The Kansas City metropolitan area has one of the largest railroad hubs in the United States, and it sometimes is exploited by drug traffickers. Kansas City is served by four of the eight Class I railroads (Burlington Northern and Santa Fe, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific) as well as regional carriers (Gateway Western, I & M Rail Link, and Missouri and Northern Arkansas). Significant seizures of drugs and drug proceeds occur at passenger bus and rail terminals in Kansas City. The Kansas City (MO) Police Department maintains an Interdiction Section within their Narcotics and Vice Division. The function of the Interdiction Section is to focus on drug transportation via commercial bus lines and rail service within the Kansas City (MO) city limits.

Cocaine: Both cocaine HCl and crack cocaine are readily available in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. Cocaine typically comes from sources of supply in Texas and California that are associated with well-documented Mexican international distribution organizations. Much of the cocaine is converted to crack, packaged in plastic bags, and sold in the inner-city areas. Hispanic traffickers control the wholesale distribution of cocaine, while many ethnic groups participate in retail level distribution. The cocaine typically crosses the southwest border in the control of Mexican transportation organizations. While most cocaine seized in the Kansas City DO (KCDO) area of responsibility it can be traced to organizations in Texas, more recent seizures have been tied to Phoenix, Arizona. The KCDO reports that Kansas City serves as a transshipment point for cocaine being shipped to Dayton, Ohio, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and cities in New Jersey. Intelligence information indicates that drug cash proceeds are often transported back to Mexico via the same vehicles and compartments used to transport the cocaine.

Heroin: Although Mexican black tar heroin continues to be the most readily available type of heroin, there is now a significant presence of white heroin in the Kansas area and it is said to be “easily available.” Mexican drug cartels are now involved in the smuggling of white heroin to the United States. Black tar heroin is typically sold in small plastic baggies or in gelatin capsules (known locally as buttons) for $10. Eight to ten capsules weigh a gram and the Mexican heroin is primarily brought into the area from California, Arizona, Texas and Chicago, Illinois. White heroin is still believed to enter the St. Louis area via Chicago, Illinois, although more data is needed. While prices for white heroin are said to be dropping to record lows, the purity is higher than normal, with common levels of 35% - 45%. This rise in purity is reflected in the Domestic Monitor Program (DMP), which includes all types of heroin.

According to the Kansas City DO, locally produced methamphetamine is predominately manufactured using the Birch method, although the red phosphorous method is still encountered, particularly within the Kansas City Metropolitan area. Many Kansas City area laboratory operators continue to obtain many of the necessary chemicals for methamphetamine production from out-of-state chemical companies. Local animal health supply stores are reporting large sales of 7% iodine tincture, a chemical used to obtain iodine crystals for the production of methamphetamine. Reports of suspicious purchases of MSM, a dietary supplement intended for horses but often used as a cutting agent for methamphetamine, continue in the Kansas City area. Locally produced and imported Mexican methamphetamines are both available throughout Kansas. Local methamphetamine production laboratories tend to be small and either mobile or hidden in remote farm areas. Crystal methamphetamine is predominant throughout Kansas. Imported Mexican methamphetamine can be found in Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, and Topeka, Kansas.

Predatory Drugs: MDMA remains available in central and southeast Kansas. Rave club attendees, younger adults, and teenagers in the Wichita Metropolitan area are the primary users of predatory drugs. Some of the MDMA is believed to come to the Wichita area through Washington State and Canada. Law enforcement in western Kansas reports that MDMA is transported to the area from Denver, Colorado and is distributed by college students and/or Asian traffickers. The drug is reported to be readily available to the college-age user.

Marijuana: Kansas City remains a significant staging area for Mexican marijuana shipped from cities on the southwest border to other parts of the United States. Mexican traffickers dominate the marijuana market in the Kansas City area. Indoor cultivations, including hydroponically grown marijuana, continue to be a concern in the Kansas City area. This marijuana is in strong demand due to its higher potency. The hydroponic marijuana commands much higher prices than Mexican marijuana. Marijuana continues to be readily available throughout the rest of the state of Missouri, and Interstate 44 continues to be a major conduit for transportation from the Southwest Border.

Other Drugs: In 2006, LSD continues to have limited availability. But in March 2006, the U. S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of two individuals for their roles in establishing a clandestine LSD laboratory within a defunct Atlas F missile silo near Wamego, KS. One of the individuals received a sentence of two life terms, and the second individual received a sentence of two 30-year terms

Pharmaceutical Diversion: OxyContin continues to be the pharmaceutical drug of choice in the Kansas area. It is favored by it’s users over street drugs such as heroin due to the consistent purity and quality. Kansas lists Oxycodone products as the third most abused pharmaceutical drug. Hydrocodone is another pharmaceutical product that is the commonly abused. Other substances cited include: Alprazolam, Benzodiazepine, Demerol, Dilaudid, Lortab, Methylphenidate, Morphine, Nubaine, Percocet, Percodan, Phenobarbitol, Phentermine, Prozac, Tylox, Valium, Vicodin, and Xanax. The most common methods for obtaining these substances continue to be doctor shopping, prescription forgeries, pharmacy break-ins, employee theft, and internet pharmacy websites. Mexican manufactured Fentanyl has not been found in Kansas at this time.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: MET had a deployment from August 05, 2005 through March 05, 2006. Another MET operation will take place in Missouri at the beginning of 2007.

DEA Regional Enforcement Teams: This program was designed to augment existing DEA division resources by targeting drug organizations operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient local drug law enforcement. This program was conceived in 1999 in response to the threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that have established networks of cells to conduct drug trafficking operations in smaller, non-traditional trafficking locations in the United States. As of January 31, 2005, there have been 27 deployments nationwide, and one deployment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, resulting in 671 arrests. There have been no RET deployments in the state of Kansas.

Special Topics:

Operation Pipeline
Kansas City is located near the geographic center of the United States at the intersection of several of the nation's busiest highways (I-29, I-35, and I-70), and is a major transit point for the vehicular transportation of illicit drugs and drug proceeds to and from significant market areas across the nation. This is one of the most active Operation Pipeline programs in the country. Great success has been attained in initiating cases and effecting substantial seizures and arrests which often attack the highest levels of drug trafficking. Frequently, the Division follows up on Pipeline seizures and plays a facilitator’s role by conducting controlled deliveries to other Divisions. As they did last quarter, they cite load cars with hidden compartments and cars with large amounts of mileage in the past six months.

Financial/Money Laundering
The Kansas City DO reports instances of drug proceeds being exchanged through local businesses, including casinos, for larger denomination bills. This reduces the bulk of return cash shipments typically transported in privately owned vehicles. Both the transportation of bulk cash in vehicles and the use of wire transfer companies remain popular with drug trafficking organizations.

More information about the St. Louis Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 6/2007