Pubdate: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 Source: Poteau Daily News & Sun (OK) Copyright: 2006 The Poteau Daily News & Sun. Contact: http://www.pdns.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1526 Author: Danielle Gregory PANAMA STUDENTS BECOME MORE AWARE DURING RED RIBBON WEEK Students at Panama Public Schools were made aware of the following state and national statistics. State Population: 3,547,884; State Prison Population: 23,319; State Probation Population: 28,435; National Ranking: 14; 2005 Federal Drug Seizures: Cocaine: 62.9 kgs.; Heroin: 13.7 kgs.; Methamphetamine: 30.7 kgs.; Marijuana: 1,021.9 kgs.; MDMA: 61.7 kgs/197,839; Meth Lab Incidents: 217 (DEA, state, and local statistics) Jimmy Burnette, member of the National Guard, included the statistics as part of a presentation he presented to the Panama students in observance of Red Ribbon Week, Wednesday morning. Other Information Burnette Provided Included: Drug Situation: Methamphetamine, which is produced in Mexico and the southwest United States and locally produced, remains the principal drug of concern in the State of Oklahoma. Cocaine, particularly crack cocaine, is a significant problem in the urban areas of the state. Oklahoma also serves as a transshipment point for drugs being transported to the eastern United States via Interstates 40 and 44. Interstate 35 also provides a critical north-south transportation avenue for drug traffickers. Cocaine: Cocaine continues to be readily available throughout Oklahoma. The cocaine is transported from Texas and Mexico via commercial airlines and motor vehicles. Mexican polydrug traffickers dealing in marijuana and methamphetamine bring some of the cocaine into the state. Much of the cocaine HCl is converted into crack cocaine for sale at the retail level. Cocaine is distributed primarily by Mexican and African American traffickers. The majority of the cocaine purchased in the Oklahoma City area is transported in by local suppliers who travel to large cities in Texas and return to distribute the product. Heroin: Black Tar heroin is available in limited quantities near the metropolitan areas in Oklahoma. It is rare to encounter brown or white heroin, though in a very few instances, "white" heroin from Colombia has been seen. Recently, brown heroin of high potency (66 percent) was encountered in the Oklahoma City area. Demand for heroin has declined in recent years. The majority of heroin traffickers in Oklahoma receive their heroin from Mexico. Most of the heroin transported into Oklahoma is concealed in hidden compartments in passenger vehicles. Methamphetamine Lab Incidents: 2001€9; 2002p9; 2003%4; 2005!7 Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is the primary drug of choice in Oklahoma. Caucasian males and females are equally the primary users. Most of the methamphetamine in the state is brought in by Hispanic organizations via motor vehicles, commercial airlines, and mail delivery services. An increase in the amount of crystal methamphetamine has been seen over the past year. Local small "mom and pop" laboratories continue to be a significant problem throughout Oklahoma. Approximately 30 percent of local laboratories use the Nazi method and produce only ounce quantities or less at a time. Drugs: The state of Oklahoma is seeing an increase in the abuse of club drugs, such as MDMA and GHB. MDMA is found at rave parties in eastern and central Oklahoma. The majority of the MDMA seen in Oklahoma comes from the West Coast, Nevada, and Texas. A small number of seizures have involved MDMA originating in Canada. Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available in all areas of Oklahoma. Marijuana is the main illegal drug of abuse in the state. Marijuana imported from Mexico is prevalent and is usually imported in combination with other illegal drugs being transported to Oklahoma and other states north and east. The majority of the marijuana is imported from the southwest border via passenger vehicle and occasionally in freight vehicles. Mexican "Sensimilla", usually found in "pressed/brick" form, is the most common type of marijuana seen in Oklahoma, particularly in urban areas. Domestically produced marijuana is also available in Oklahoma, though not as readily in recent years. Oklahoma, along with several other southern states has endured severe drought conditions over the past three years. This situation has affected the local production of marijuana. Drug-Violation Arrests: 2001E3; 2002$1; 2003#1; 20048; 2005!5 Other Drugs: The most popular pharmaceutical substances abused in Oklahoma are Vicodin, Lortab, Propoxyphene, Alprazolam, Hydrocodone, Ultram, Diazepam, Hycodan, Demerol, Dilaudid and Percodan. Much of the diversion is through fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, pharmacy break-ins, and hospital thefts. OxyContin is also increasing as a pharmaceutical drug of abuse in Oklahoma. Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current investigations indicate that diversion of hydrocodone products and pseudoephedrine continues to be a problem in Oklahoma. Primary methods of diversion being reported are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, "doctor shopping" (going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical), forged prescriptions and, in the case of pseudoephedrine, "smurfing" (individuals going from store to store buying products containing pseudoephedrine). Benzodiazepines and Lortab /Lorcet were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Oklahoma. 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 four MET deployments in the State of Oklahoma since the inception of the program: Duncan, Ardmore, El Reno and Pocola. In March 2005, the METs prioritized investigations to target and dismantle methamphetamine trafficking organizations and clandestine laboratory operators. The Pocola MET deployment targeted methamphetamine trafficking organizations. Other Enforcement Operations: The number of Operation Pipeline interdictions are increasing within the state of Oklahoma. California and Texas are most often reported as the domestic states of origin. Since the state of Oklahoma is traversed by numerous Interstate Highways, interdictions are common in all areas. Seizures of illicit drugs traveling through Oklahoma en route to their destinations north and east are routine, as well as seizures of large amounts of currency en route south and west. 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 Jan. 31, 2005, there have been 27 deployments nationwide, and one deployment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, resulting in 671 arrests. There has been one RET deployment in the State of Oklahoma since the inception of the program, in McAlester. Drug Courts/Treatment Centers: There are currently 22 drug courts operating in the state of Oklahoma with 11 more in the planning stages. According to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, there were 212 drug and alcohol treatment centers operating in the state of Oklahoma during 2001. Current Laws Regarding Criminal Sanctions and Precursor Chemicals: Over the past couple of years the Oklahoma Legislature has passed numerous laws regarding methamphetamine and its precursor chemicals. These include additional penalties for manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of minors; possessing or distributing methamphetamine in the vicinity of schools, public parks, public pools or on a marked school bus; and for tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment. Any possession of anhydrous ammonia in unapproved containers is considered prima facie evidence of manufacture. Any possession of three ingredients such as iodine, red phosphorous and ether is considered prima facie evidence of intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The average lab manufacturing sentence in the state is approximately 20 years. House Bill 2316 passed both the Oklahoma House and Senate in May 2002 and went in to effect on July 1, 2002. This new law puts a 24 gram limit on all cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. The charge carries a five year maximum sentence. If a retailer knowlingly distributes pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine with the knowledge that it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine, the sentence carries a maximum of ten years incarceration. House Bill 1326, effective July 1, 2003 requires state registration (mirroring Federal Law) for the handling/distribution of products containing Pseudoephedrine at both the wholesale and retail levels. New Legislation: House Bill 2176 was presented to the Senate in March 2004 and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Brad Henry within the next few months. This Bill calls for Pseudoephedrine to be included as a Schedule V controlled substance. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine