Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
July 2002
Connecticut
Drug Threat Assessment
Table of Contents
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Heroin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Cocaine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Marijuana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Other Dangerous Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Methamphetamine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
MASSACHUSETTS
Granby
Bradley 91 84
International South
Airport Windsor 395
Vernon
Hartford Manchester
New Britain Glastonbury
NEW YORK RHODE ISLAND
East Hampton
Waterbury 91
84 Meriden
Haddam
95
Danbury
New Haven 95
New London
Bridgeport
Norwalk LONG ISLAND SOUND
95
Stamford
Connecticut.
ii
U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
Connecticut
Drug Threat Assessment Update
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
Total
Heroin Cocaine Marijuana Opiates Amphetamines** Other
Admissions*
1999 27,271 16,403 6,324 3,647 459 32 406
Most of the heroin available in Connecticut is South American heroin is readily available
produced in South America. According to the throughout Connecticut in urban and suburban
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), heroin areas. According to Federal-wide Drug Seizure
available in the state was 40 to 95 percent pure in System (FDSS) data, federal law enforcement
the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2003. Federal, officials in Connecticut seized 3 kilograms of her-
state, and local law enforcement officials report oin in 2002. U.S. Sentencing Commission
that little, if any, Southeast Asian, Southwest (USSC) data indicate that the percentage of drug-
Asian, or Mexican brown powdered or black tar related federal sentences that were heroin-related
heroin is available in Connecticut. in Connecticut (6.2%) was slightly lower than the
national percentage (7.2%) in FY2001. (See
Table 2 on page 3.)
2
National Drug Intelligence Center
In Connecticut heroin sold for $51,000 to Boston Division. (See Table 3.) According to
$100,000 per kilogram, $1,300 to $4,000 per DEA, the purity of heroin distributed at the retail
ounce, $50 to $125 per gram, $50 to $100 per level (bags and bundles) was 65 to 95 percent in
bundle (10 bags), and $5 to $20 per bag in the Bridgeport and 70 to 80 percent in New Haven in
first quarter of FY2003, according to the DEA the first quarter of FY2003.
Table 3. Heroin Prices, Connecticut, First Quarter FY2003
Dominican and Colombian criminal groups and Colombian criminal groups in New York
are the primary transporters of South American City, then transported into the state via private
heroin into Connecticut. African American, and commercial vehicles on Interstates 84, 91,
Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic criminal groups and 95. South American heroin also is transported
also transport wholesale quantities of South into the state via package delivery services and,
American heroin into the state, albeit to a lesser occasionally, by couriers aboard commercial air-
extent. South American heroin available in Con- craft, or it is concealed among cargo aboard com-
necticut typically is purchased from Dominican mercial maritime vessels.
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
4
National Drug Intelligence Center
comparable to the percentage nationwide (1.6%), nearly twice as many federal sentences as pow-
according to combined data from the 1999 and dered cocaine in the state in FY2001. (See Table
the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug 2 on page 3.) Powdered cocaine available in the
Abuse (NHSDA). state sold for $20,000 to $30,000 per kilogram,
Cocaine is readily available throughout Con- $600 to $1,100 per ounce, and $50 to $90 per
necticut. According to FDSS data, federal law gram in the first quarter of FY2003, according to
enforcement officials in Connecticut seized 31.7 the DEA Boston Division. Crack sold for $650 to
kilograms of cocaine in 2002. USSC data indicate $1,300 per ounce, $10 to $50 per vial, and $10 to
that the percentage of drug-related federal sen- $20 per rock during the same period. Purity levels
tences that were cocaine-related in Connecticut for powdered and crack cocaine vary widely
(59.3%) was higher than the national percentage throughout the state. (See Table 4.)
(42.5%) in FY2001. Crack cocaine accounted for
Table 4. Cocaine Prices and Purity Levels, Connecticut, First Quarter FY2003
Dominican and Colombian criminal groups aboard buses, passenger rail, and commercial
are the primary transporters of cocaine into Con- aircraft are used to transport cocaine into Con-
necticut. African American, Jamaican, Puerto necticut, albeit to a lesser extent.
Rican, and other Hispanic criminal groups, local Dominican and Colombian criminal groups
crews, as well as local independent dealers of var- are the primary wholesale-level distributors of
ious ethnic backgrounds also transport cocaine powdered cocaine in Connecticut. African Amer-
into the state, although to a lesser extent. Cocaine ican, Caucasian, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican
available in the state primarily is obtained from criminal groups also distribute wholesale quanti-
Dominican and Colombian criminal groups in ties of powdered cocaine, to a lesser extent.
New York City and transported via private and Dominican criminal groups are the primary retail-
commercial vehicles along I-84, I-91, and I-95. level distributors of powdered cocaine in Con-
Package delivery services as well as couriers necticut, while African American criminal groups
5
Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
6
National Drug Intelligence Center
Bag NA NA $5-$20
Joint NA $2 NA
Bag NA NA $40
Joint NA NA NA
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration Boston Division.
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
abused MDMA within the 30 days prior to the Connecticut. According to the DEA Boston
survey. In May 2002 a 16-year-old East Hampton Division, GHB sold for $5 to $10 per dosage unit
female slipped into a coma and died after abusing during the first quarter of FY2003. Ketamine sold
MDMA at a party. This was the first overdose for $40 per dosage unit. LSD sold for $50 to $150
death in Connecticut attributed solely to MDMA. per 100 dosage units and $3 to $5 per dosage unit
Caucasian criminal groups are the dominant during the same period.
transporters and wholesale-level distributors of Caucasian local independent dealers are the
MDMA in Connecticut. MDMA primarily is primary transporters of GHB and its analogs, ket-
transported into the state from New York City, amine, and LSD. These local independent dealers
typically via private or rental vehicles. Caucasian also serve as the principal wholesale- and retail-
and Asian criminal groups transport additional level distributors of these drugs. GHB and its ana-
quantities of the drug into Connecticut from Can- logs are transported into the state from various
ada via the same methods. Additional quantities domestic and foreign locations primarily via
of MDMA are produced in Connecticut. Federal, package delivery services and private vehicles.
state, and local law enforcement officials seized LSD and ketamine typically are transported into
an MDMA laboratory in North Stonington in Connecticut from sources in California via pack-
2001 and another in Thompson in 2002. age delivery services. Ketamine, a veterinary
anesthetic, occasionally is stolen from veterinary
MDMA Laboratory Seized in Thompson clinics in the state. Retail-level distribution of
Federal law enforcement officials arrested four ODDs typically occurs at raves, techno parties,
Caucasian men, aged 24 to 28, in Thompson dance parties, and nightclubs, or from private res-
on charges of conspiring to produce MDMA idences and at prearranged meeting locations.
and intent to distribute the drug. Officials
seized a high-yield MDMA laboratory oper-
GHB Analogs
ated by these individuals, which was con-
cealed in three rooms under a trailer home in Analog Chemical/Alternative Name
Thompson that belonged to one of the arrest- GBL gamma-butyrolactone
ees. The individuals had produced MDMA
furanone di-hydro
since at least April 2001, and the tablet press
dihydrofuranone
in the laboratory was capable of pressing
6,000 tablets per hour. BD 1,4-butanediol
tetramethylene glycol
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration Boston Division.
sucol-B
butylene glycol
Caucasian teenagers and young adults are the GVL gamma-valerolactone
primary retail-level distributors of MDMA in the 4-pentanolide
state. The drug typically is distributed at raves or
GHV gamma-hydroxyvalerate
techno parties, in bars and nightclubs, and on col-
methyl-GHB
lege campuses. Wholesale quantities of MDMA
sold for $5 to $15 per tablet in the first quarter of
FY2003, according to the DEA Boston Division. Diverted pharmaceuticals. Diverted phar-
Retail quantities usually sold for $15 to $30 per maceuticals such as oxycodone (OxyContin, Per-
tablet during the same period. cocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), methadone
(Dolophine), methylphenidate (Ritalin), alpra-
Other club drugs such as GHB (gamma- zolam (Xanax), and diazepam (Valium) pose an
hydroxybutyrate) and its analogs (GBL, BD, increasing drug threat to Connecticut. The diver-
GHV, and GVL), ketamine, and LSD (lysergic sion and abuse of prescription opiates such as
acid diethylamide) are available and abused in OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet are increasing
8
National Drug Intelligence Center
9
Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
Connecticut. These dealers transport the drug cocaine in Connecticut. Dominican criminal
from California and southwestern states, typically groups will remain the primary retail distributors
via package delivery services. Methamphetamine of powdered cocaine in the state, while African
distribution in Connecticut usually occurs at raves American criminal groups and crews will remain
or techno parties, private homes, and bars. the primary retail distributors of crack in the state.
Marijuana will remain the most readily avail-
Outlook able and widely abused illicit drug in Connecti-
cut. Marijuana produced in Mexico will continue
South American heroin will remain the pri-
to be the most prevalent type available; however,
mary drug threat to Connecticut. Treatment and
the availability of high-quality Canada- and
mortality data indicate that heroin abuse is a seri-
locally produced marijuana should increase.
ous problem, and there are no indications that
abuse levels will decrease significantly in the near MDMA will continue to be the most widely
future. Because of their established connections to distributed and abused club drug in Connecticut.
sources of supply in New York City, Dominican Diverted pharmaceuticals, particularly prescrip-
and Colombian criminal groups will remain the tion opiates such as OxyContin, increasingly are
primary transporters and wholesale-level distribu- available and abused and often are abused in
tors of heroin in Connecticut. Dominican and place of heroin, thus presenting a growing threat
Puerto Rican criminal groups will remain the pri- to the state. Caucasian criminal groups will
mary retail-level distributors of heroin in the state. remain the principal transporters and dominant
wholesale-level distributors of MDMA in the
Although recent statistics indicate that
state, and local independent dealers will remain
cocaine-related treatment admissions have
the primary retail-level distributors of other club
decreased, law enforcement reporting suggests
drugs and diverted pharmaceuticals.
that cocaine, primarily crack cocaine, remains a
significant threat to Connecticut. The drug Methamphetamine likely will continue to
remains readily available and frequently abused, pose a low drug threat to Connecticut. However,
and its distribution and abuse are more frequently increases in the number of treatment admissions
associated with violent crime than any other illicit suggest that abuse and availability of the drug
drug in the state. Dominican and Colombian may increase, although there is little indication
criminal groups will continue to dominate the that methamphetamine production and distribu-
transportation and wholesale-level distribution of tion will change in the near future.
10
National Drug Intelligence Center
Sources
State and Regional
State of Connecticut
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Department of Public Safety
State Police
State Police Narcotics Task Force
National
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
12
National Drug Intelligence Center
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Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update
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Connecticut
Drug Threat Assessment