International Trafficking

According to the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the number of clandestine meth-lab incidents has dropped in the last year by about 50 percent. (DEA defines an incident as a bust, a discovery of a disposal site for the chemicals, or a seizure of chemicals or other lab paraphernalia.) A prime contributor for that drop is likely the restrictions, imposed in 44 states, of over-the-counter sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products—the basic ingredient of methamphetamine.

While that is good news indeed, unfortunately the threat of methamphetamine distribution is still thriving as the drug is being produced in massive quantities across the border in Mexico. Recognizing a huge profit potential, Mexico-based traffickers now produce the drug and smuggle it into the United States. These Mexico drug-trafficking organizations manage "super labs" (capable of producing 10 pounds or more of methamphetamine within a production cycle) and now produce the majority of methamphetamine available throughout the United States.

Mexican criminal organizations control most mid-level and retail methamphetamine distribution in the Pacific, Southwest, and West Central regions of the United States, as well as much of the distribution in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions. Mexican mid-level distributors sometimes supply methamphetamine to outlaw motorcycle gangs and Hispanic gangs for retail distribution throughout the country.

Law enforcement activities are increasingly focused on controlling and monitoring the trafficking and trade of meth and precursor chemicals from Mexico. The increase in trafficking has prompted states and the federal government to take action to apprehend and severely prosecute traffickers. The federal government has also passed legislation, such as the Combat Meth Act (http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/meth/index.html), and has worked with other countries that supply precursor chemicals to ensure that they import these chemicals to manufacturers only. The federal government has encouraged barring wholesale distributors from importing raw pseudoephedrine and ephedrine.