Drug Situation: Methamphetamine, specifically crystal methamphetamine produced in Mexico and imported into the state, has become the principal drug of concern in Nevada. In addition, cocaine, particularly crack cocaine, is a significant problem in the urban areas of the state. Due to its close proximity to California and its porous border, Nevada often serves as a transshipment point for various drugs to the central and eastern sections of the United States. There has also been a significant increase in deaths (total of 107 for all of CY06) attributed to diverted pharmaceuticals.

Cocaine: Cocaine HCl is moderately available in northern Nevada and readily available throughout southern Nevada. Cocaine HCl is transported into Nevada primarily from California via ground transportation. Southern Nevada, specifically Las Vegas, serves as a transshipment point for cocaine HCl with distribution points across the nation. Crack cocaine is readily available in the urban areas of Nevada. African American street gangs predominantly control the distribution market for crack cocaine and base their operations in inexpensive motel rooms and apartments located in impoverished areas throughout Nevada's larger cities.

Heroin: Mexican black tar heroin remains the most prevalent heroin available in Nevada. There has been an increase of Mexican black tar heroin within the Clark County portion of the Nevada HIDTA controlled by Mexican nationals. Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations control the heroin trafficking in the state. These trafficking organizations continue to recruit Mexican nationals to live in the urban areas of Nevada to distribute heroin for the organization. User amounts of low purity black tar heroin remain readily available from these low-level suppliers and are most often distributed in open air markets. Mexican Brown Heroin is moderately available in Clark County and its distribution is also controlled by Mexican Nationals.

Methamphetamine: Meth is the most frequently encountered drug in Nevada and remains available in both personal use and distribution quantities. Nevada is both a point of importation and a transshipment location for methamphetamine. The manufacture of methamphetamine in Nevada occurs on a limited basis. The meth imported into the state is produced primarily in "super labs" (producing 10 pounds or more in a 24-hour period) by ethnic Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating in Mexico and California. Meth is transported to Nevada primarily via ground transportation. Organized Mexican poly-drug trafficking groups monopolize the large-scale meth trade in Nevada. Distributor levels of imported methamphetamine average in pound quantities or greater. Mexican produced crystal methamphetamine is the most readily available in Nevada and purity levels have decreased from the 90 percent to 99 percent range to the 50% range. Local meth manufacturing continues to decrease in small quantities, usually under one ounce per cook. Laboratories seized recently utilized the pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus, and iodine method to manufacture methamphetamine.

Club Drugs: The availability of "club drugs" in Nevada ranges from sporadic in the northern urban areas to readily available in cities located in the southern section ofthe state, particularly Las Vegas. Club drugs, specifically MDMA, GHB, and LSD,are trafficked and abused in local nightclubs, adult entertainment clubs, and at raves. The trafficking of these drugs ranges from hand-to-hand sales within clubs or raves to larger sales between locals and out-of-town distributors. Las Vegas serves as a point of importation and a transshipment area for MDMA. Most MDMA that passes through or is destined for Las Vegas continues to come primarily from southern California and New York. Limited reporting shows Asian drug trafficking organizations are responsible for a significant amount of MDMA distribution throughout Nevada. MDMA destined for Las Vegas comes primarily from southern California and the San Francisco area.

Marijuana: Domestically cultivated and Mexican-grown marijuana remains readily available in Nevada. Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations are still the primary source of marijuana smuggled into the area, primarily from California via ground transport. There has been an increased prevalence of indoor marijuana cultivation in the Las Vegas area during the past year. Growers are using elaborate hydroponic equipment to cultivate high-grade marijuana. In June 2001, Assembly Bill 453 was signed into law and made Nevada the ninth state in the U.S. where patients can use marijuana for medicinal purposes. In addition, the new state law, which went into effect October 1, 2001, decriminalizes possession of small amounts (ounce quantity or less) of marijuana, which was previously a state felony.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current investigations indicate that diversion of OxyContin® continues to be a problem in Nevada. Primary methods of diversion being reported are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, and “doctor shopping”(going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical). Hydrocodone products, methadone, Actiq® (fentanyl) and benzodiazepines (such as Xanax® and Valium®) were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Nevada. The pharmaceutical controlled substances of choice in Nevada include hydrocodone, Xanax®, codeine, diazepam, Ketamine, Lortab®, and oxycodone. Drug combinations which are abused in the state of Nevada are Lortab® and Soma® and Lortab® and benzodiazepines. Non-controlled substances which appear to be abused in Nevada are Soma® and Ultram®. The primary method of diversion in Nevada is the illegal purchase of controlled substances via Internet pharmacies. In addition, prescription fraud is on the rise in both the Las Vegas and Reno areas. Pseudoephedrine sales are reported down since a new law adding pseudoephedrine to the Nevada Controlled Substance list passed in December 2001.

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 three MET deployments in the State of Nevada since the inception of the program, in Reno, Carson City, and Las Vegas.

Special Topics: The Clark County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) was established by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2001 to combat the influx of drug trafficking in southern Nevada. In order to alleviate the meth problem in southern Nevada, a HIDTA initiative, the Southern Nevada Joint Methamphetamine Task Force, was created to address domestic trafficking organizations and career criminal enterprises which are involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine and the transport and distribution of meth and precursor chemicals within and through the HIDTA area of operation. The primary focus of this task force will be the dismantling and federal prosecution of such organized drug and precursor chemical trafficking groups.

More information about the Los Angeles Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 6/2007