2015 Oregon HIDTA Threat Assessment and Counter-Drug Strategy

PROGRAM YEAR 2015
THREAT ASSESSMENT AND

COUNTER-DRUG STRATEGY

OREGON HIDTA
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OREGON HIDTA PROGRAM
JUNE 2014

Oregon HIDTA Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THREAT ASSESSMENT

I. Executive Summary Page 1

II. Overview Page 3

III. Production Page 20

IV. Transportation Page 27

V. Distribution Page 37

VI. Illicit Finance Page 41

VII. Outlook Page 44

VIII. Methodology Page 45


IX. Introduction Page 46

X. Mission and Vision Statements Page 47

XI. Concept of Strategy Page 48

XII. HIDTA Goal 1 Page 53
Dismantle and Disrupt Drug Trafficking Organizations

XIII. HIDTA Goal 2 Page 56
Increase the Efficiency of Law Enforcement Agencies Participating in HIDTAs

XIV. Appendices Page 61

(A) Abbreviations Page 61
(B) Oregon Medical Marijuana Program Statistics, April 1, 2014 Page 62
(C) Marijuana Plants Seized in HIDTA Region and Statewide, 2008-2013 Page 63
(D) Lab Seizures, Methamphetamine and Other Labs, HIDTA Counties and
Statewide, 2005, 2009-2013 Page 63

XV. Endnotes Page 64

1

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Heroin use and trafficking has increased in Oregon and reflects the states greatest drug threat,
followed by methamphetamine, marijuana, controlled prescription drugs, cocaine and designer drugs.

Production of heroin in Mexico has expanded in recent years leading to greater availability in the
state. Most Oregon law enforcement officers surveyed in 2014 indicated that heroin is the principal
threat in their area due to the substantial rise in the volume of heroin seized, number of new users and
associated overdoses, and rising incidence of heroin-related violent crime and property offenses.

Methamphetamine continues to be widely used and trafficked throughout the HIDTA (High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) region and statewide.
a
Reported seizures of methamphetamine labs in
the state remain low primarily due to Oregon legislation eliminating the ability to obtain
pseudoephedrine without a physicians prescription and sustained law enforcement pressure. However,
crystal methamphetamine, or ice, continues to be highly available as Mexican drug traffickers import
methamphetamine powder, liquid, and finished product from laboratories outside the state and from
Mexico.

Marijuana use, cultivation, and trafficking are pervasive in Oregon. Outdoor marijuana
cultivation sites have been discovered on public and private lands in Oregon since 2006 -- primarily
operated by Mexican National Drug Trafficking Organizations (MNDTOs). Additionally, federal
authorities report that Asian crime groups are involved in marijuana trafficking and have established
large coordinated indoor grow operations in Oregon, Washington and Northern California. Oregons
Medical Marijuana Act,
b
which allows for quantities of marijuana to be grown and used for qualifying
medical conditions, continues to be exploited by local producers who use it to facilitate illegal
cultivation for commercial purposes.

The threat posed by non-prescribed use of prescription drugs has grown in recent years and
mirrors national trends. The rise in misuse can be attributed to greater availability through increased and
liberal prescribing of opioids by doctors, ease of access to the drugs through family or friends, and the
perception that the medications are safe alternatives to illicit drugs. Law enforcement reporting
indicates users of prescription opiates are increasingly switching to heroin because it is more available,
less expensive, and provides a more intense high than diverted prescription opiates.

Cocaine powder and base (crack) are available to a moderate degree in the HIDTA region. Use
of the powder form is more prevalent in Portland and the Southern Oregon region, whereas crack
cocaine is mostly available and used in Portland. Consistent with national trends, cocaine availability
and use continue to decline in the state.

Designer drugs such as MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), and to a lesser extent,
synthetic cannabinoids, bath salts, DMT (Dimethyltryptamine), buprenorphine, LSD (lysergic acid
diethylamide), and 25I-NBOMe, are available and distributed in the HIDTA region. These drugs are
most commonly abused by young adults at social venues in urban areas and on college campuses. Other
drugs such as hash oil and psilocybin are also available and distributed in the Oregon HIDTA region, but
to a smaller degree.

a
The HIDTA region includes Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Lane, Jackson, Marion, Multnomah, Umatilla, and
Washington counties and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.
b
Oregon Revised Statutes 475.300 - 475.346.

2

Reflecting national trends, MNDTOs continue to dominate the illicit drug market in Oregon.
MNDTOs control the transportation and distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, Mexican-
produced marijuana, and marijuana cultivated from outdoor grows in the state. Caucasian DTOs and
independent groups control transportation and distribution of locally-produced indoor marijuana. Other
criminal groups, such as criminal street gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, and local independent dealers
also transport and distribute drugs, but to a lesser extent.

During 2013, the Oregon HIDTA participating agencies identified 81 Drug Trafficking
Organizations (DTOs) and three (3) Money Laundering Organizations with foreign and domestic
connections that were actively operating in the HIDTA region and throughout Oregon.

Nine new DTOs
were identified between January and May 2014. All drug trafficking organizations in Oregon engage in
money laundering, the legitimization of illegally obtained proceeds, based upon the size and scope of the
organization. Bulk cash smuggling and money service businesses remain primary methods of
transferring drug revenues into, through, and out of Oregon.

The Oregon HIDTA counter-drug enforcement strategy is intended to be responsive to the threat
indicators and to complement legislative, treatment, and prevention strategies within the state and
HIDTA regions. Community anti-drug coalitions active in Oregon have been an important catalyst for
community action and prevention education.


3

II. OVERVIEW

Demographics

The Oregon HIDTA was established by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in
June of 1999. Currently, the Oregon HIDTA region consists of nine counties -- Clackamas, Deschutes,
Douglas, Jackson, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Umatilla and Washington and the Warm Springs Indian
Reservation.

According to U.S. Census Bureau 2013 estimates, Oregon ranks twenty-seventh in the country in
population with more than 3.9 million residents.
1
A large majority of Oregons population is Caucasian
(88%), followed by Hispanic/Latino (12%)
c
, Asian (4%), African American (2%), Native American or
Alaska Native (1.8%), Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (.4%), with less than four percent reporting
two or more races.
2

Seventy percent of the states population lives in the Willamette Valley, primarily in the major
urban centers of Portland, Salem, and Eugene. The other 30 percent reside in rural and small urban
areas scattered throughout the state. The combined estimated total population of the Oregon HIDTA
region in 2013 was 2,928,185 which represents approximately 75 percent of the states population. All
but one Oregon HIDTA county (Umatilla) was included in the top ten most populous areas in the state,
with Multnomah County (756,530) reflecting the highest number of residents.
3

Oregon encompasses a land area of 98,380 square miles and is the ninth largest state in the
nation. Oregons geography can be divided into six areas: the Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley,
Cascade Mountain Range, Columbia River Basin, Eastern Oregon Basin and Range, and the Southern
Oregon Basin and Range. Oregon HIDTA covers 23,906 square miles, a land mass nearly the size of
West Virginia.

Geographically, the Oregon HIDTA region is diverse. Jackson County is located in southern
Oregon and borders California to the south and is surrounded by the Cascade and Siskiyou Mountain
Ranges. Douglas County is the largest of the HIDTA counties, extending from the Pacific Ocean to the
Cascade Range and borders Jackson County in its southeastern section. Lane County is the second
largest HIDTA county, extending from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Range and bordering Douglas
County to the south and Lincoln, Benton, and Linn counties to the north. Deschutes County is located in
Central Oregon between the Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the High Desert to the east.
Marion County is located south of the Portland Metropolitan area and stretches from the Willamette
River to the Cascade Mountains encompassing nearly 1,200 square miles. The tri-counties of
Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington (the Portland Metropolitan area) extend to the western slopes
of Mt. Hood, through the Tualatin Valley with the rugged Columbia River Gorge to the east and the
state of Washington to the north. Umatilla County is situated in the northeast corner of Oregon,
separated from Washington by the Columbia River, and extending to the Blue Mountain Range. The
Warm Springs Indian Reservation is located in the north/central area of Oregon approximately 100 miles
southeast of Portland. Warm Springs tribal lands encompass over 1,000 square miles which are situated
in the counties of Clackamas, Linn, Jefferson, Marion, and Wasco.

c
Hispanics may be of any race and are included in all applicable race categories.

4

Scope of Drug Threats

The estimated economic cost of illicit drugs in the United States is immense, valued at close to
$200 billion in 2007 in the areas of productivity, healthcare and criminal justice, the last available
assessment.
4
The amount of money spent by users on illicit drugs is also extremely high. According to
a recent RAND Corporation estimate, drug users in the United States spend about $100 billion annually
on heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine most due to a minority of heavy users who
consume 21 or more days each month.
5
The problem is compounded as drug users and distributors are
often involved in illegal activities such as money laundering, identity theft, burglaries, property theft,
fraud and other crimes to support drug addictions and to finance trafficking and distribution operations.

Illicit drug use in Oregon continues to exceed the national per capita average. The latest federal
reporting shows that Oregon ranked fourth in the United States for reported rates of past month illicit
drug use by people ages 12 or older in 2011 and 2012.
6

Of the over 46,000 individuals in the Oregon corrections population as of January 2014 (includes
offenders in prison, or in county jails, and those on probation or parole), the largest proportion is
comprised of drug offenders (24%);
d
twice the number for assault (12%), and more than twice the
number for theft (9%) and burglary (9%) offense categories.
7
Of the nearly 15,000 offenders
incarcerated in Oregon state prison as of May 2014, five percent (5%) were interned solely based on a
drug conviction and approximately 13 percent were admitted due to a combination of drug and other
offenses.
8
Oregon Department of Corrections admissions for felony drug offenses in 2013 were
primarily due to delivery convictions (89%), with a much smaller proportion of convictions related to
possession (6.5%) and manufacturing (4.5%).
9

Drug-related deaths recorded in 2013 (222) decreased by one statewide from 2012 (223).
e

Fatalities related to methamphetamine use reflected the highest number recorded since 2000, rising
nearly a third from 2012 (93) to 2013 (123). The second highest number of deaths was related to heroin,
which dropped from a high of 147 deaths in 2012 to 111 deaths in 2013. Cocaine-related deaths
decreased 35 percent from 2012 (19) to 2013 (12), the fewest recorded since 2000. Multnomah County,
the most populous county in Oregon, reported the highest number of drug-related deaths statewide
(102).
10

Mexico continues to be the chief foreign source of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana
imported into the United States, as well a transit country for cocaine. The same drug trafficking
organizations that transport illicit drugs into the United States also control the southbound flow of drug-
related bulk currency.
11
Consistent with national trends, Mexican National DTOs (MNDTOs) represent
the greatest drug trafficking threat to Oregon.
12
These organizations control the transportation and
distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, Mexican-produced marijuana, and marijuana
cultivated from outdoor grows in the state. Oregon HIDTA law enforcement initiatives investigated 81
drug trafficking organizations and three (3) money laundering organizations operating in Oregon during
2013 (Table 1, page 5), with nine DTOs newly identified as of May 7, 2014.
13
These organizations are,
or were, in some cases, manufacturing and/or distributing drugs within the state of Oregon as well as
across state borders.

d
Based on offenders most serious active offense and includes categories of possession, manufacturing and delivery.
e
Total number of drug-related deaths reflects the number of actual people who died in a given year. Individual drug
categories (i.e., methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, combination) are based on their frequency of use in the total number of
deaths reported. Fatalities may be a result of misuse of one or more drugs and can also be due to overdose.

5

Law enforcement analysis at the national level suggests more cities in the United States are
reporting some level of cartel presence.
14
Since 2006, MNDTOs have increased control over illicit drug
trafficking in the Oregon
15
with recent evidence indicating cartel presence in the state.
16
Approximately
30 percent of the DTOs identified and targeted by Oregon HIDTA task forces during 2012 were
connected to sources based in Mexico.
17
A growing concern is apparent cartel involvement in
homicides and violent crimes in Oregon, from suspected bombings to shootings, including a roadside
execution near Salem, Oregon (see photo).

Felony drug fugitives pose a significant threat to the citizens of Oregon and, specifically, to the
personal safety of Oregon law enforcement officers. The United States Marshal's Service (USMS)
Portland office (a HIDTA fugitive task force) recently surveyed federal warrants in the District of
Oregon and identified 44 people tied to active Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF) cases, of which 15 individuals are
tied to Regional Priority Organization Targets
(RPOT) and three individuals are tied to
Consolidated Priority Organization Targets
(CPOT). In addition, there are 133 active Federal
Felony Drug Warrants in Oregon at the time of
this writing. In 2013, the Oregon USMS
apprehended over 1,400 fugitives, with close to
one third classified as drug-related.
18

Furthermore, 80 percent of individuals arrested
by the USMS Fugitive Task Force were
classified as violent offenders in 2013.
19

1. Heroin

Heroin use and availability has substantially increased in Oregon over the last several years
fueling higher rates of addiction, overdose, and associated crime. Historically, methamphetamine has
been rated as the states top drug threat. However, evaluation of recent indicators suggests that heroin
availability and use in the state has reached a critical level and is currently Oregons leading drug threat.

Table 1. Known Drug Trafficking Organizations, CY 2013

Organization Type DTO Characteristics* Operational Scope
Drug Trafficking 81 Mexican/Hispanic 46 Local = 36
Money Laundering 3 Caucasian 26 Dismantled = 8
Asian 4 Disrupted = 9
African-American 2 Multi-State = 40
Multi-Ethnic 4 Dismantled = 8
Eurasian 2 Disrupted = 9
Cuban 1 International = 8
Native American 3 Dismantled = 2
Unknown 2 Disrupted = 0

*Note: DTO categories may have more than one ethnicity assigned.

Source: Oregon HIDTA Performance Management Program database.
Source: Drug cartels in Oregon: Violence in the northwest,
Oregonian, 6/21/13.

6

0
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2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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(
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Figure 2. Number and Quantity of Heroin Seizures, Oregon
HIDTA Task Forces, 2007-2013
Quantity in pounds Number of seizures
Heroin, the most powerful of opiate drugs, is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring
substance extracted from the seed pod of opium poppy plants. According to the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, an estimated one quarter of people who use heroin become dependent on the drug.
20

Heroin use is increasing nationally a recent study revealed that the number of people ages 12 and older
who reported heroin
use in the past year
increased nearly 80
percent between 2007
and 2012.
21

Federal data
indicates that Mexico
continues to be the
primary supplier of
heroin to the United
States. U.S.
Government surveys
estimate that heroin
production in Mexico
reached 26 metric tons
in 2012, rising more
than threefold from
2005 to 2012 with a
corresponding rise in
seizures along the Southwest Border.
22
Increased production and supply from Mexico has contributed to
lower prices and greater availability in a number of major market areas in the United States.
23

In Oregon, the largest percentage of law enforcement officers surveyed in early 2014 reported
heroin as their areas greatest drug threat (42%)
f
due mainly to the increasing quantity of drugs seized,
rising number of new users
and associated overdoses,
and connection to violent
crime and property crime
(Figure 1).
24
Over 80
percent of officers
surveyed indicated that a
high level of heroin was
available in their area in
2013. Access to the drug
has grown as evidenced by
the rise in the number of
heroin seizures and the
quantity confiscated by
Oregon HIDTA task forces
since 2007 (Figure 2).
g,25

f
Officers who responded that heroin was the greatest drug threat represented agencies in Clackamas, Clatsop, Douglas, Lane,
Linn, Hood River, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties.

7

Survey results from 2014 also support an increase in heroin availability in the state. Over half of
surveyed officers indicated heroin availability increased in their area in the last year, primarily in
counties bordering or near the I-5 corridor (Benton, Clackamas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Linn, Marion,
Polk, Washington) and
rural counties located in
the eastern half of the
state (Hood River,
Jefferson, Malheur,
Umatilla).
26

Greater
accessibility to heroin
has likely fueled growth
in the number of related
arrests, treatment
admissions and fatalities.
For example, heroin-
related arrests grew
more than threefold
statewide since 2009
(January 2009 - 2014),
exceeding arrests for
marijuana in 2013 (Figure 3).
27
Similarly, the number of adults entering publicly-funded treatment for
heroin use in the HIDTA region grew nearly 50 percent from 2007 (5,268) to 2013 (7,762), surpassing
marijuana treatment admissions in 2013 (Figure 4).
28

Historically, most drug-related deaths in Oregon have been related to heroin use. In 2012, the
number of heroin deaths reached 147, the highest total reported since 2000
29
(Figure 5, page 8). The
number of heroin
related deaths
reported in 2013
dropped to 111, with
nearly 60 percent
occurring in
Multnomah County
(65). Deaths related
to heroin use are
mostly caused by
overdose. Heroin
can differ
tremendously in
purity and dosage
because sellers often
mix or cut the
drug to varying
degrees with other

g
Heroin volume reached a high of 220 pounds in 2012 due to two unusually large seizures by HIDTA Interdiction Team
(HIT) (55 lbs) and the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE) (47 lbs).

8

substances, such as sugar or MSM (dimethyl sulfone), to increase the amount available to sell. This
unpredictability can easily lead to accidental overdose in users, especially those who are inexperienced
or who have relapsed and have lower tolerance levels.

One possible explanation for fewer heroin-related deaths in 2013 is a change in Oregon law that
allowed wider access to the anti-overdose drug, naloxone (Narcan). In July 2013, the law was changed
to allow the drug to be possessed and administered by anyone who completes training -- including a
users friends, family, or caseworker -- rather than solely by medical professionals. Recently, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that expanding the application of naloxone beyond
medical personnel saved an estimated 10,000 lives in 15 states where laws had been changed.
30
In
Oregon, county officials report that heroin-related deaths fell by nearly half in Multnomah County since
the law broadening access to naloxone went into effect.
h,31

Prescription opioid abuse may serve as a gateway for heroin use. National survey data suggests
that the number of new heroin users has grown while the age of users has fallen appreciably.
32
Oregon
law enforcement officials report that heroin use in their jurisdiction has expanded partly because users of
prescription opiates, such as oxycodone, have switched to heroin because it is easier to obtain, cheaper,
and provides a more intense high than diverted prescription opiates.
33
Reporting also indicates that the
heroin user demographic has changed somewhat -- more youth are becoming addicted and more people
are developing heroin addiction because of an opiate dependency that resulted after being prescribed
pain medication.
34
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, roughly half of young people
who inject heroin reported abusing prescription opioids before initiating heroin use.
35
Not surprisingly,
when compared per capita, HIDTA counties that reported large numbers of treatment admissions related
to CPD use also reported large numbers of heroin admissions, with the highest averages reported in
Multnomah, Jackson, and Lane counties (Figure 6, page 9).

h
SB 384 was effective June 6, 2013
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250
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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Figure 5. Deaths Related to Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine,
and Prescription Pain Relievers*, Oregon, 2001-2013
Meth Heroin Cocaine Rx Pain Relievers
*The prescription pain reliever total is comprised of opiate-related fatalities (methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone)
reported by the Oregon State Medical Examiner Division since 2010. Source: Oregon State Medical Examiner.

9

2. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine in the form of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, continues to be readily
available and widely used throughout the Oregon HIDTA region and represents a close second to heroin
as the states most serious drug threat. Recent analysis suggests renewed level of availability and use of
methamphetamine in Oregon from declines that were reported several years ago.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that is abused for its
euphoric and stimulant effects. Chronic meth abusers exhibit violent behavior, confusion, insomnia and
psychotic characteristics such as hallucinations and paranoia.
36
Methamphetamine-related crime, such
as identity theft, abused and neglected children, and other serious person and property crimes, continues
to occur at a palpable rate and is prevalent throughout the state.

Oregon law enforcement officers surveyed in 2014 indicated methamphetamine remains a
significant threat due to its level of use and availability; nexus to other crimes such as violent activity
and property crime; societal impact; and connection to drug trafficking organizations, primarily
MNDTOs. Of law enforcement agencies surveyed, 37 percent reported methamphetamine as the greatest
drug threat to their area,
i
with the majority indicating methamphetamine as the drug that contributes
most to violent crime (85%) and property crime (62%) (Figure 1, page 6). Furthermore, nearly one half
of officers ranked methamphetamine as the drug that serves as the primary funding source for major
criminal activity.
37

Methamphetamine continues to be highly available in Oregon, even with precursor chemical
controls put in place in the state
j
and internationally.
k
The number of methamphetamine labs discovered

i
Officers who responded that crystal meth was the greatest drug threat represented agencies in Benton, Deschutes, Jackson,
Jefferson, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Umatilla, and Washington counties.
j
In 2005, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2485 and SB 907, making Oregon the first U.S. state to require a physician's
prescription to purchase cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine.

10

and dismantled decreased by 98 percent between 2004 and 2013. Despite additional controls,
methamphetamine continues to flow into the United States and Oregon in the form of crystal meth.
Nearly 90 percent of law enforcement officers surveyed in 2014 indicated that crystal meth was highly
available in their area during 2014, with 40 percent reporting increased availability.
38
The number of
seizures and volume confiscated by Oregon HIDTA task forces has grown dramatically since 2007,
supportive of a rise in availability (Figure 7).

Indicators of use also remain high. Arrests for methamphetamine-related offenses are the highest
of any drug category.
l
After a steady decline between 2007 and 2009, methamphetamine-related arrests
in Oregon nearly doubled from 2009 to 2014 (Figure 3, page 7).
39

Furthermore, one-quarter (25%) of people admitted for treatment in the Oregon HIDTA region
during 2013 reported using methamphetamine, slightly lower than those who reported using heroin
(29%) and marijuana (28%).
40
Treatment admissions for methamphetamine use declined steadily from
2005 to 2009, but rose ten percent between 2009 and 2013 (Figure 4, page 7).
41
When compared per
capita, admissions for methamphetamine use in 2013 in the Oregon HIDTA region were highest in
Umatilla, Jackson and Multnomah counties (Figure 6, page 9).

According to the Oregon State Medical Examiner Division, the number of fatalities related to
methamphetamine use in 2013 rose to an historic high of 123 deaths, over twice the number of fatalities
reported in 2001 (50) (Figure 5, page 8).
42
Deaths due to methamphetamine use are rarely a result of
overdose; most occur from traumatic accidents where people have the drug in their systems or from
physiological reactions such as seizures, strokes or heart attacks.
43

k
The Government of Mexico implemented progressively tighter restrictions on ephedrine and pseudoephedrine imports since
2005, banning use of the chemicals in 2009.
l
Includes arrests for possession, delivery, and manufacturing offenses.
0
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)
Figure 7. Number and Quantity of Methamphetamine Seizures,
Oregon HIDTA Task Forces, 2007-2013
Source: HIDTA Performance Management Process database.

11

3. Marijuana

Marijuana is highly available and widely used in the HIDTA region and statewide. Marijuana
refers to the leaves and flowering buds of hemp plants, the most widespread variety being cannabis
sativa. Cannabis sativa contains chemicals known as cannabinoids; THC (delta-9-tetrahydro-
cannabinol) is the cannabinoid largely responsible for the psychoactive effects of the plant.

Locally-produced marijuana, and to a lesser extent, Mexico and Canada-produced marijuana and
BC Bud, are available in the Oregon HIDTA region. A high volume of marijuana is produced from
indoor methods which typically produce better quality plants and multiple crops year-around. Nearly all
of the Oregon law enforcement officers surveyed in 2014 (97%) reported a high level of marijuana
available in their areas with more than one-third indicating availability increased in the last year.
44

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reported marijuana use by people 12 years
and older has significantly expanded in the United States since 2007.
45
Moreover, about two-thirds
(66%) of people reporting use of drugs in the last year indicated their first illicit drug was marijuana.
46

Use among Oregon residents remains high compared to most other states. The latest national survey
results reveal that in 2011 and 2012, Oregon ranked fourth in the nation for marijuana use
m
by people
ages 12 and older, with most users between the ages of 18-25 years.
47
Despite a slight drop from 2012
(8,171) to 2013 (7,358), admissions for treatment of marijuana use in the HIDTA region reflect the
second largest proportion (28%) of any major illicit drug
n
in 2013 (Figure 4, page 7).
48

Past studies have linked marijuana use, especially if started at an early age, to disorders such as
schizophrenia and to motivation, attention, learning, and memory impairments.
49
For example, a 2013
study found that chronic use of marijuana was associated with abnormal changes in brain structure
related to working memory
o
with effects that may last years after cessation of use.
50
Casual use may
also be detrimental to brain development. According to a preliminary 2014 study published in the
Journal of Neuroscience, young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years who used marijuana just
once or twice a week showed significant abnormalities in brain regions responsible for processing
emotions, making decisions, and motivation.
51

Statistics related to drug-impaired driving were recently evaluated. Data provided by the Oregon
State Police Drug Evaluation Classification Program (DEC) revealed that in the last six years (2008-
2013), the single drug category most often detected through toxicology results was marijuana.
Moreover, the frequency of marijuana detected in incidents increased 16 percent between 2010 and 2013
(Figure 8, page 12).

Cannabis potency has increased in the last decade. Analysis reveals that the average amount of
THC in Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized samples (includes cannabis, hashish, and hash
oil specimens) has grown dramatically in the United States, reaching 15.1 percent in 2012
p
-- the highest
level recorded since testing began in 1976.
52
DEA samples for Oregon mirror this trend with the amount
of THC found in indoor cannabis samples averaging 12.5 percent in 2011, the most recent data

m
Based on participants self-report of marijuana use in past month.
n
Categorized as Meth/Amphetamines, Marijuana, Heroin, Cocaine and Controlled Prescription Drugs.
o
Working memory is the ability to remember and process information in the moment and transfer the information to long-
term memory.
p
The average amount of THC in marijuana samples alone was 13.6 percent in 2013.

12

available.
53
Greater potency has been attributed to sophisticated growing techniques and may pose
serious health risks to users such as acute toxicity and mental impairment.
54

The threat posed by this drug is heightened by exploitation of Oregons Medical Marijuana law.
q

The law conflicts with national safety regulations and requirements for medicines established by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Under the program, each patient is allowed to possess 1.5
pounds of dried marijuana and up to six mature marijuana plants and eighteen seedlings. The standard
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) estimate assumes one plant typically produces one pound of
processed marijuana,
55
so the program, in effect, allows up to 7.5 pounds of marijuana per patient. To
put this in perspective, a typical marijuana cigarette, or joint, contains a gram of marijuana, permitting
patients to possess the equivalent of more than 3,000 joints at any one time. However, the standard
measure of one pound produced per plant
may vastly underestimate the amount of
product legally cultivated under the Oregon
Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). Law
enforcement officials, especially in
Oregons southern region, report that
marijuana plants are commonly grown as
high as 15 feet. Recent documentation of
average sized plants seized from out-of-
compliance medical grows in Medford,
Oregon shows that the quantity of useable
product averaged 10 pounds and ranged
from 6 to 20 pounds -- per plant.
56

q
ORS 475.300-ORS 475.346.

Medical marijuana cultivation site, Jackson County, August 2012.
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F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

o
f

d
e
t
e
c
t
i
o
n
Figure 8. Drug-Impaired Driving, Oregon, 2008-2013
Cannabis
Stimulants
Depressants
Narcotic Analgesics
Other
Source: DRE Year-End Summary Reports 2008-2012, Oregon Drug Evaluation Classification Program, Oregon State Police.
Stimulants include drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and Adderall; Depressants include drugs such as Valium,
Prozac, and Xanax; Narcotic Analgesics include drugs such as heroin, oxycodone, and Vicodin; Other includes hallucinogens,
PCP, and inhalants. Drug categories are not mutually-exclusive. Graph excludes alcohol-related cases and drivers impaired
solely from health-related problems ("medical rule-outs").

13

Growers are individuals who are licensed to cultivate marijuana at one location for up to four
patients at a time, allowing a single grower to possess up to six pounds of dried marijuana and up to 24
mature plants at one time. Furthermore, changes in the law
r
have authorized people to register as
caregivers to cultivate marijuana for registered OMMP cardholders. Caregivers can have an unlimited
number of patients. With six mature plants and eighteen immature plants per patient, caregivers can
legally possess plants numbering in the thousands. This provides a legal loophole for large quantity
caregivers to exploit the program by claiming they are growing for legitimate OMMP patients. For
example, between late October 2011 and May 2012, the DEA Medford task force, supported by federal
and local law enforcement, executed a series of federal search warrants at registered OMMP grow sites
under investigation. These grow sites included and were affiliated with Brian's Green Thumb Farm, a
17-acre marijuana farm with a guard tower and barns for marijuana processing. In May 2012, DEA
Medford agents arrested six individuals and seized over 800 marijuana plants, more than 4,000 pounds
of marijuana, and approximately $145,000 in related assets.

In another successful case in 2012, a month long investigation carried out by the Rogue Area
Drug Enforcement Team (RADE) in Josephine County (not HIDTA designated) led to the seizure of
thousands of pounds of plants and arrests of individuals associated with the OMMP. The RADE
investigations led to the seizure of 930 pounds of marijuana bud; over 7,500 pounds of wet marijuana
plant weight from 279 mature marijuana plants; 120 firearms; user amounts of methamphetamine,
heroin and Percocet tablets; and hundreds of pounds of additional marijuana that were either drying or
considered "shake. Additionally, 26 people were either arrested or have charges pending related to the
investigations.

After dropping slightly in April 2013, the number of OMMP cardholders in Oregon rose to a
total of nearly 90,000, over five times the number of cardholders in April 2006 (15,894) (Figure 9, page
14; Appendix B). Approximately 70 percent of medical marijuana patient cardholders in Oregon are
reported in the HIDTA region, with the largest proportion (per capita) residing in rural counties such as
Jackson, Douglas, Deschutes and Lane (Figure 10, page 15).
57
The large number of cardholders, coupled
with the high volume of plants cultivated, the difficulties associated with investigating compliance, and
the attraction of selling surplus amounts on the black market for substantial profit and little risk has
resulted in incidents of non-compliance in the HIDTA region and statewide.
58

A further complication is that
officers are prevented from enforcing laws
which help protect children from drug
exposure. Under current Oregon law, a
person using, possessing, manufacturing or
transferring marijuana under the OMMP is
exempt from prosecution for Endangering
the Welfare of a Minor (ORS 163.575) and
Child Neglect in the First Degree (ORS
163.547). Additionally, there is no program
oversight or inspection of homes outfitted
by cardholders to grow marijuana under the
OMMP. Multiple electronic ballasts used
to generate sufficient heat and light for
growing plants indoors have been the cause

r
573 Or Laws 2007 (SB 161 (2007)).

Medical marijuana growing room on property located in Grants Pass, OR.
Grower was one of three people who gave medical marijuana to a woman
arrested in Portland, OR for trying to ship product to Boston for sale. (AP
Photo/U.S. Attorney's Office, Medford, OR, 5/17/11).


14

of structure fires throughout the state. Irrigation of a large number of plants indoors often produces a
toxic environment where black mold proliferates and creates a serious health hazard for inhabitants and
responding officers. Accidental exposure is an ongoing concern. For example, an analysis of U.S. poison
center data revealed that the rate of calls for unintentional marijuana exposure in children ages nine and
younger more than tripled from 2005 to 2011 for states that passed marijuana decriminalization
legislation prior to 2005
s
. Exposure incidents in these states reached a greater level of severity with
moderate to major clinical effects and critical care admissions.
59

In addition, as medical marijuana cultivation has become more prevalent in the state, grow sites
have become lucrative targets for theft and violence due to excess cash on hand.
t
Caregivers are
increasingly arming themselves to defend medical marijuana grow sites from theft and home invasion
robberies. In January 2012, a 38-year old man was shot and killed during a home invasion robbery at
the victims residence in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Investigation revealed that the perpetrators targeted his
home because of his connection to a marijuana grow operation. In another instance, Douglas County
Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) detectives served a search warrant in late 2010 at a residence which
bordered private timber land in Douglas County. DINT detectives found booby-traps on the suspects
property and on trails leading to the property -- likely set to protect a large medical marijuana grow site
found at the residence. The devices consisted of shotgun shells rigged to explode at chest level if a trip
line was triggered.

s
Defined as for medical and/or recreational purposes.
t
The Bank Secrecy Act prohibits banks from taking cash from operations that violate federal law.

15

Since 2010, the number of establishments set up to dispense medical marijuana -- commonly
referred to as cannabis clubs, centers, and cafes -- has grown in Oregon, particularly in Multnomah and
Washington counties.
60
The establishments are for the most part storefront businesses that charge
membership fees to customers and claim to dispense marijuana only to individuals with active OMMP
cards. In 2013, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3460 which authorized the legal registration of
medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon beginning March 1, 2014. As of May 16, 2014, 90
dispensaries have received approved applications.
61
Senate Bill 1531 went into effect March 1, 2014
authorizing a city or county to adopt ordinances that impose restrictions on the operation of medical
marijuana facilities. As of May 1, 2014, 157 cities and counties have initiated moratoriums on medical
marijuana dispensaries that will remain in effect until May 1, 2015.
62

4. Controlled Prescription Drug Use

The threat posed by misuse of controlled prescription drugs (CPDs)
u
has risen dramatically in the
last decade and is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States.
63
Drug poisoning, mostly in
the form of overdoses, is currently the leading cause of injury death in the United States.
64
According to
a 2012 national study, more than one quarter (26%) of people ages 12 and older who first started using
drugs in the past year began with nonmedical use of prescription drugs, mainly pain relievers.
65

In Oregon, use of CPDs has continued to expand. The most recent national survey data revealed
that Oregon ranked second in the United States during 2011 and 2012 for reported rates of past year use
of non-medical pain relievers by people ages 12 or older.
66
Additionally, the number of unintentional
hospitalizations related to prescription medications has grown dramatically in Oregon over the last
decade. Opiate-based medications showed the most dramatic increase with prescription opioids
(excluding methadone) rising fivefold, and methadone rising sevenfold between 2000 and 2011, the
latest data available (Figure 11, page 16).
67

u
Controlled prescription drugs are regulated under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) which classifies drugs
under five schedules according to their potential for abuse, their use in accepted medical treatment in the United States, and
their potential for physical or psychological dependence.

16

The number of treatment admissions and related fatalities also remain at a high level in the state.
Despite a slight drop between 2012 and 2013, treatment admissions for CPDs increased nearly threefold
in Oregon in the last ten years, largely due to narcotic-based medications (CY 04-CY13, Figure 12).
68

Analysis of admission data for the HIDTA region follows statewide trends with a more than threefold
rise in related admissions between 2004 and 2013.
69

Furthermore, despite a decline of 22 percent from 2011 (193) to 2013 (150), prescription
overdose deaths
v
in Oregon were higher than deaths related to use of illicit drugs such as
methamphetamine (123) and heroin (111). Of the 150 confirmed fatalities related to the use of

v
The number of fatalities related to prescription drugs is not included in calculation of total drug-related deaths based on
cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and drug combination categories.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
R
a
t
e

p
e
r

1
0
0
,
0
0
0

R
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s
Figure 11. Unintentional Prescription Drug-Related Hospitalizations,
Oregon by Drug Type, 2000-2011 (per 100,000 residents)
Prescription opioids
Methadone
Benzodiazepines
Antidepressants,
psychotropic drugs NEC
Psychostimulants with
abuse potential
Source: Unintentional Prescription Drug Overdose in Oregon, Winter 2013, Oregon Health Authority.
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

T
r
e
a
t
m
e
n
t

A
d
m
i
s
s
i
o
n
s
Figure 12. Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions,
by Prescription Drug Type, Oregon 2004 - 2013
Other Opiates & Synthetics
Other Sedatives & Hypnotics
Non-Prescription Methadone
Over-the-Counter
Tranquilizers
Source: Graph derived from client admissions data obtained from the Addictions and Mental Health Divison, Oregon Department of Human Services, March 2014.
Other Opiates and Synthetics includes Codeine, Darcon, Demerol, Dilaudid, Fentanyl, Morphine, Opium and other narcotic analgesics.
Other Sedatives and Hypnotics includes Barbiturates, Chloral Hydrate, Doriden, Methaqualone, and Placidyl.
Over-the-Counter includes any legally obtained non-prescription medication including antihistamines, congestants, diet ad sleeping aids.
Tranquilizers include anti-anxiety drugs such as Benzod, Librium, Valium, and Xanax.

17

prescription drugs, oxycodone was highest (60), followed by methadone (58), and hydrocodone (32)
(Figure 5, page 8).
70
According to state epidemiologists, poisoning mortality in the state is largely
driven by deaths connected with prescription opioids -- drugs intended for pain management but that are
frequently misused or diverted.
71
An analysis of deaths related to unintentional prescription opioid
overdose (excluding methadone) showed a 400 percent increase in the state from 2000 to 2011.
72

The rise in misuse of CPDs is due in large part to greater availability through increased and
liberal prescribing of opioids by doctors and ease of access to the drugs through friends or family. Of the
roughly seven million prescriptions for controlled prescription drugs dispensed at Oregon retail
pharmacies in 2012, half were for opioids
w
; the second most prescribed class of medications was for
benzodiazepines.
x
,
73
(Table 2).
Furthermore, less than ten percent
(8.1%) of providers in Oregon are
responsible for prescribing nearly 80
percent of all Schedule II to IV
drugs.
y,74

Non-medical use of prescription
drugs is often perceived by people as a
safe alternative to illicit drugs
75
with
diversion occurring most often through
family or friends.
76
Nearly 70 percent
of Oregon law enforcement officers
surveyed in early 2014 indicated a high
level of illicit prescription drugs
available in their area, with one agency
representative in Tillamook County reporting CPDs as the areas greatest drug threat (Figure 1, page 6).
Over 40 percent of officers surveyed (42%) indicated a high level of narcotics, such as oxycodone (e.g.,
Oxycontin) and hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), were diverted in their region, with a smaller percentage
reporting high levels of steroids (21%), stimulants (10%), and depressants (5%).
77
According to a recent
federal analysis, Oregon was fourth highest in the nation for pain reliever quantity of kilograms sold (per
10,000 residents) in 2010.
78

Attempts have been made to discourage abuse of the more popular and highly abused forms of
prescription opioids such as OxyContin. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced a
new, controlled-release formula for OxyContin designed to deter misuse of the medication. However,
users can defeat the formula by taking larger quantities than recommended.
79
An unintended
consequence is that stricter controls may drive abusers to seek other illicit alternatives. Evidence
suggests that non-medical use of prescription drugs may lead to use of illicit drugs, particularly heroin.
80

A study published in 2011 reported that four out of five injection drug users misused an opioid drug
before they began to inject heroin.
81
More recently, a 2013 study revealed that the heroin incidence rate
was 19 times higher among individuals who reported prior nonmedical use of prescription drugs
compared with those who did not.
82

w
Derived from opium poppies and used for pain relief; includes hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, fentanyl.
x
Central nervous system depressants used as sedatives; includes zolpidem, lorazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam.
y
Drugs, substances, and certain chemicals are classified by the DEA into five distinct categories depending on the drugs
acceptable medical use and dependency potential, ranging from drugs with no currently accepted medical use/high potential
for abuse (Schedule I) to drugs with the lowest potential for abuse (Schedule V).
Drug Number of Rx % of all Rx
Hydrocodone 1,879,116 26.7%
Oxycodone 1,151,492 16.4%
Zolpidem 509,564 7.2%
Lorazepam 430,173 6.1%
Alprazolam 379,750 5.4%
Clonazepam 337,727 4.8%
Amphet (ASP/AMPHET/D-AMPHET) 261,436 3.7%
Methylphenidate 257,603 3.7%
Morphine 244,030 3.5%
Pseudoephedrine 186,121 2.6%
Diazepam 184,679 2.6%
Methadone 120,092 1.7%
Table 2. Top 12 Prescriptions, January - December 2013
Source: Prescription Drug Monitoring Year-To-Date Report, Oregon
Health Authority, January 2013 - December 2013, Issue 15, Year 3.

18

A new potential threat is the FDA approval in October 2013 of the new pain reliever Zohydro,
a long acting hydrocodone-based narcotic designed to treat chronic pain. Zohydro entered the market in
March 2014 as a Schedule II substance and has a high potential for abuse -- the drug is reported to be at
least five times more potent than OxyContin and comes in a capsule that can be easily crushed, chewed
or mixed with alcohol and retain full potency.
83

5. Cocaine

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant derived from coca leaves that is typically distributed as a
crystalline powder or a cocaine base (crack). Both varieties are abused in the state; however, cocaine
powder is more highly prevalent than crack. Approximately one-third of Oregon law enforcement
officers surveyed in 2014 reported powder cocaine was available to a moderate degree in their area in
2013, primarily in the states Portland Metro and Southern Regions. In contrast, over 80 percent
reported that a low level of crack cocaine was available only agencies in Portland reported moderate
availability.
84

According to federal analysis, availability of cocaine in most U.S. markets has dropped since
2006. The decline is largely attributed to reduced production in Colombia, disruptions in supply related
to conflicts between DTOs in Mexico over favorable smuggling routes, and increased law enforcement
efforts targeting DTOs.
85
Despite decreased availability, reporting suggests cocaine use is still relatively
high in areas such as the Portland Metro region, as well as in Lane and Jackson counties.
86
However,
addiction levels remain low in other areas of the state. Related arrests for cocaine in Oregon declined
nearly 60 percent between January 2007 and January 2014 (Figure 3, page 7).
87
Furthermore, treatment
admissions for the drug have decreased overall in the state since 1999
88
with the downward trend
continuing in 2013. In the HIDTA region, the number of individuals admitted to treatment facilities for
cocaine in 2013 (739) dropped nearly 40 percent from admissions reported in 2008 (1,307)

(Figure 4,
page 7).
89
Cocaine-related deaths fell 37 percent from 2012 (19) to 2013 (12), the lowest recorded total
since before 2001 (Figure 5, page 8).
90

6. Other Drugs

A number of other drugs, including designer drugs and plant-based hallucinogens, are available
in the HIDTA region.

"Designer drugs belong to a group of clandestinely produced drugs which are deliberately
created, or designed, to mimic other
drugs of abuse, but with a slightly
modified chemical structure. Designer
drugs such as MDMA (3,4-
methylenedioxy-methamphetamine),
and to a lesser extent, synthetic
cannabinoids, bath salts, DMT
(Dimethyltryptamine), buprenorphine,
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and
25I-NBOMe, are available in the
HIDTA region. Psilocybin, or
hallucinogenic mushrooms, is also
In February 2014, two Oregon teenagers were rescued by an off-
duty police officer after he witnessed one of the teens having a
seizure on the side of the road in Sherwood, Oregon. After a call for
assistance, the second teen fell into a seizure. The teenagers had
ingested the drug 25I-NBOMe, a Schedule I synthetic hallucinogen
similar to LSD but with more dangerous side effects. NBOMe
compounds first arrived on the streets in 2011 and are connected to
at least 19 overdose deaths in the United States. Data suggest that
extremely small amounts of the drug can cause seizures, cardiac
arrest, and death.

Sherwood teens OD on synthetic drug 25i, KGW.com, 2/2/14; Three
more synthetic drugs become illegal for at least two years, DEA, 11/15/13.

19

available. These drugs are generally used by teenagers and young adults at social venues in urban areas
and on college campuses.

MDMA is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act and is generally distributed in
powder form or pressed into pills and sold as Ecstasy. The drug is popular among teenagers and young
adults who frequent social settings such as raves, bars, nightclubs, and private parties. Molly, a street
name commonly used to refer to the powder or crystal form of MDMA, appears to be gaining popularity
in the HIDTA region.
91
The growing appeal of Molly may be due to the perception by users that MDMA
in powder form is purer than Ecstasy, which has the reputation for being adulterated with other
substances such as methamphetamine and caffeine. Additionally, greater use of the drug may be due to
higher availability of MDMA powder because it is easier to smuggle than Ecstasy pills.

The rise in availability and use of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic stimulants is a growing
problem in the United States and appears to be gaining popularity in Oregon.
92
Chemical compositions
of synthetics are frequently modified by manufacturers as a way to circumvent government bans
z
on key
ingredients. The continually changing mix of chemicals used in manufacturing processes, along with a
lack of quality controls and consistent dosage, leads to physical and psychological effects that are highly
unpredictable and dangerous.

Synthetic cannabinoids, commonly referred to as Spice, are a large family of compounds that
mimic THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Synthetic chemicals are applied to inert plant
material (dried herbs), labeled not for human consumption, and marketed to adolescents and youth
under various labels (e.g., K2, Aroma) on the internet and in convenience stores, gas stations and head
shops.
aa
Users have been reported to experience paranoid delusions, psychosis, and loss of
consciousness.
93
In 2012, synthetic marijuana was linked to six cases of sudden kidney failure in
Oregon and Southwest Washington.
94
Even a single dose can be extremely hazardous due to the
unrefined way in which producers spray chemicals on the plant material material that is sprayed
unevenly will create hot spots where the chemical concentration is dangerously high.
95
To date, Oregon
HIDTA task forces have seized nearly 800 pounds of synthetic cannabinoids, mostly in the Portland
Metro area and to a lesser extent in Douglas, Jackson and Lane counties.
96

Synthetic cathinones,
bb
such as bath salts, are stimulants that have recently emerged as designer
drugs in the United States. The drugs are packaged as legitimate beauty and household products
(labeled not for human consumption) such as bath salts, plant food/fertilizer, and vacuum fresheners
and are available at head shops, independently owned gas stations and convenience stores, and on the
internet. Users typically ingest, inject, snort, or smoke synthetic cathinones to produce effects which
mimic amphetamine use but that are not detectable on routine drug tests. Use of bath salts is reportedly
highly dangerous with associated effects of extreme agitation and paranoia, delusions, and suicidal
thoughts.
97
Over 500,000 dosage units of synthetic stimulants in the form of bath salts were reported by
Oregon HIDTA task forces from 2011 through 2013, mainly in the Portland Metro area.
98

The hallucinogen, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is also available and is mainly used by
young adults in the HIDTA region. DMT is found in certain plants and can be extracted or synthetically
produced in clandestine labs from substances easily purchased on the internet. Effects of the drug are

z
On January 4, 2013, the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 went into effect permanently placing 26 types of
synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
aa
A store specializing in paraphernalia used for consumption of recreational drugs.
bb
MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), mephedrone, methcathinone.

20

similar to other hallucinogens but are short-lived, lasting about 35-45 minutes. Reporting from
Washington, Douglas and Lane counties indicates that DMT use has risen since 2011, primarily by
young adults.
99
Between 2010 and 2013, Oregon HIDTA task forces seized more than 50,000 dosage
units of DMT, largely from the Portland Metro area.
100

Buprenorphine is a highly potent generic synthetic drug used in opioid dependence and pain
management. Suboxone is the most commonly abused form of buprenorphine and includes naloxone,
which is added to discourage misuse through crushing pills in order to snort or inject the drug. Law
enforcement reporting indicates a rise in the amount of buprenorphine seized in the United States.
101

Approximately 40 seizures totaling over 3,000 dosage units related to buprenorphine and Suboxone have
been reported by Oregon HIDTA task forces since 2009.
102

Psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient found in certain mushrooms, is another drug that is
available and used in the HIDTA region. Psilocybin mushrooms grow wild in Oregon and are produced
indoors for illicit use. Psilocybin mushrooms are often covered with chocolate to mask their bitter flavor
and to disguise the mushrooms as candy. The psilocybin produced in the HIDTA region is shipped to
destinations throughout the state and across state borders. High school and college students are the most
common users of the drug, with use normally occurring at raves. Over 90 pounds of psilocybin have
been seized by Oregon HIDTA task forces since 2009, largely in Southern Oregon (Lane, Douglas, and
Jackson counties), Deschutes County and the Portland Metro area.
103

III. PRODUCTION

The production of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, marijuana, designer drugs, and
psilocybin, occur in the Oregon HIDTA region. The primary drugs produced, distributed, and exported
to other states are high-quality marijuana and to a lesser degree, methamphetamine, designer drugs, and
psilocybin. The HIDTA region contains many remote areas, including dense forests and mountainous
regions, which allow criminal groups to conduct their activities with little fear of detection.

Marijuana

The majority of marijuana available in Oregon is produced locally -- grown and transported from
indoor or outdoor cultivation operations in the state. Product transported from other states, Mexico, and
Canada, is available, but to a smaller degree (Figure 13, page 21).

Analysis of eradication statistics submitted through the Domestic Cannabis Eradication/
Suppression Program (DCE/SP) shows that Oregon continues to be a top producing state for
cannabis.
cc,104
In 2013, marijuana seizures reflected nearly 90 percent of the drugs seized by HIDTA
task forces.
105
The states temperate climate, excellent soil, and extensive remote rural and forested
areas are valuable natural resources which are exploited for growing marijuana outdoors. Due to weather
patterns, cannabis is grown outdoors primarily during the spring and summer months. Cultivations in
Oregon range from simple dirt grows to large-scale irrigated grows.

cc
DCE/SP is a United States Department of Justice grant program that is administered by the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) which provides funding to local law enforcement agencies in support of marijuana eradication
activities.

21

Outdoor cannabis grow sites on public lands have been discovered in Oregon for many years.
Since 2000, sophisticated, large-scale outdoor marijuana grows operated by MNDTOs have been found
to a greater extent. These grows are typically established in remote areas of the state and produce
thousands of plants per year. Harvested plants are distributed both within the state and transported
nationally. Since 2004, outdoor marijuana cultivation operations on public, private timber, and tribal
lands with a documented connection to MNDTOs have been discovered in most Oregon counties and
remain the states main production threat.
106
In 2012, Operation Mountain Sweep resulted in the
eradication of more than 700,000 marijuana plants as part of a multi-agency, multistate investigation
targeting large-scale illegal cultivation sites on public lands in seven states, including Oregon.
dd
The
value of the plants removed was estimated at $1.5 billion.
107

Mexican National DTOs commonly move grow sites to different locations each year depending
on factors such as law enforcement presence, weather, growing conditions, and frequency of area
logging or recreational activities. The DTOs generally recruit workers, often illegal aliens, to establish
and maintain cannabis grows. As law enforcement pressure and eradication have intensified, evidence of
weapons and counter-surveillance at grow sites has become more prevalent.

An associated cost documented by law enforcement is the severe damage to the environment and
natural resources caused by large-scale marijuana grows. Grows are typically constructed with intricate
watering systems that block and redirect water from a local stream or creek through irrigation tubing to

dd
States included Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Lincoln
12/0/9
Linn
279/214/16
Lane
570/4,266/100
Douglas
363/3,635/30
Jackson
450/4,424/164
Josephine
106/5,560/621
Curry
76/73/3
Coos
34/16/1
Deschutes
58/0/75
Klamath
134/27/337
Morrow
25 /15/0
Marion
248/0/307
Polk
65/0/68
Yamhill
0/41/0
Clackamas
928/403/315
Multnomah
3,233/28/85
Washington
2,089 /25/28
Figure 13. 2013 Marijuana Eradication Statistics
Plant Counts
Indoor/Outdoor/Bulk Seizure*
9,115/18,920/2,450
Malheur
0/0/42
Lake
0/0/109
Jefferson
27/0/2
Wasco
0/0/19
Umatilla
260/128/21
Hood River
0/3/8
Harney
0/0/86
Baker
0/0/5
Wallowa
114/27/0
Union
39/23/0
Crook
5/12/2

22

supply water to thousands of marijuana plants. An average-sized marijuana grow of 1,000 plants may
require up to 5,000 gallons of diverted water on a daily basis. In addition, workers who maintain the
grows pollute waterways with detergents, damage trees, and kill local wildlife to protect plants.
Workers typically use commercial-grade fertilizers and pesticides many of which are banned in the
United States because of their toxic ingredients to sustain the plants. When discarded in the forest by
growers, these chemicals can leech into the ground, resulting in toxic levels of pollutants in the soil and
streams.

Indoor marijuana cultivation operations have been discovered in all 36 counties in Oregon over
the last decade. The HIDTA region, in particular, harbors a significant number of indoor grows. These
operations, some of which utilize hydroponic methods and strict environmental controls, are capable of
producing high-quality marijuana that is in demand and distributed locally, nationally, and
internationally.

Most indoor cultivation of marijuana in Oregon is independently operated by local Caucasian
producers or criminal groups, and Asian organized crime to a lesser degree. Nationally, Oregon
continues to be one of the top ten states for indoor marijuana seizures, ranking fourth in the nation in
2012.
108
Exploitation of the medical marijuana program by independent producers is also evident. In
2013, one half of the total indoor plants seized were connected to out-of-compliance OMMP cultivation
sites.
109

An emerging trend is the production and distribution of liquid THC, a highly potent distillation
of marijuana that produces concentrates such as hash oil, honey oil, and marijuana wax which can
contain up to 90 percent THC. Liquid THC is odorless and is commonly sold in marijuana food items
such as candy or baked goods. Liquid THC production is expected to rise due in part to higher profits
that result from a process that involves little waste (stems, leaves and bud are used), concealment
advantages of moving a smaller bulk commodity,
and a growing market for marijuana edibles and
product that has strong psychoactive effects.
110

Indoor marijuana cultivation operations
pose a significant health risk to law enforcement
investigators and civilians who come into contact
with electrical power diversion, chemicals and
fertilizers, and black mold at residences used as
grow sites. Public safety hazards also exist when
marijuana is converted into liquid THC. Highly
volatile solvents such as isopropyl alcohol and
butane are often used in distillation, a dangerous
process that releases harmful vapors and an
explosive fuel-air mixture that can be initiated by
an open flame, spark or static discharge.
111
Since
2011, nine major explosions related to the
production of butane hash oil have occurred in
Oregon.
112
For example, on July 23, 2012,
Roseburg Fire Department and Roseburg Police
Department responded to an explosion at the
Douglas Inn in Roseburg, Oregon. The Douglas
Interagency Narcotics Teams (DINT)
Two-alarm fire in Forest Grove caused by
suspected manufacture of hash oil, Forest Grove,
OR.

23

investigation found the explosion was caused by three suspects who used a process employing PVC pipe
and butane to extract THC from marijuana leaves. The butane exploded, blowing the large window and
window frame out of the motel room and a hole through the bathroom ceiling, burning the three
subjects. In November 2012, a man was hospitalized after an explosion occurred at his condominium in
Washington County. Investigation revealed that the man was an OMMP cardholder and was preparing
butane hash oil.

During 2013, the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) team responded to three separate
explosions caused by people manufacturing butane hash/honey oil in residences in Washington County.
In each case, the primary suspects were either critically injured or killed and the homes and apartment
involved were completely destroyed from the force of the explosions and ensuing fire.

Law enforcement reporting indicates that Asian criminal groups have increasingly moved
cannabis operations to the United States to minimize smuggling risks and costs. Marijuana seizures at
the U.S.-Canada border have decreased over the last several years, supportive of a decline in cross-
border trafficking.
113
Some Asian DTOs operating in western states, such as Oregon and Washington,
have been linked to groups in other states, suggesting a high level of coordination among some groups in
marijuana production operations.
114
Reports from drug task forces in Multnomah and Clackamas
counties indicate Asian organized crime involvement in several large marijuana cultivation operations
throughout the Portland Metropolitan area. In April 2011, the Clackamas County Interagency Task
Force (CCITF) investigated a large indoor marijuana cultivation case controlled by a DTO involving
Chinese Nationals. Members of the organization installed professional quality wiring systems in houses
in order to divert electricity to hydroponic grow sites. The operations involved extensive damage to
residences used as grow sites and reflected a $55,000 loss to Portland General Electric. In September
2013, the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) team concluded a long-term investigation into an
Asian DTO that converted over a dozen residential homes in Washington County to grow marijuana,
shipping high potency product to the east coast and Midwest. In cooperation with multiple law
enforcement agencies, WIN conducted search warrants at 16 locations in the county which resulted in
seizures of six vehicles, $200,000 in cash, 2,800 marijuana plants, and nearly 60 pounds of dried
marijuana that was ready for shipment. Eleven of the primary DTO leaders were indicted on 87 criminal
counts including racketeering, money laundering, and manufacture and delivery of a controlled
substance. The Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded the WIN team with the National
HIDTA Award for Outstanding Marijuana Investigative Effort for this case.

The number of marijuana plants confiscated from indoor and outdoor grow sites in Oregon in
2013 (28,035) dropped 16 percent from seizures reported in 2012 (33,273) (Figure 14, page 24;
Appendix C). Of the total plants seized in 2013, 75 percent (21,108) of the plants were seized in the
HIDTA region. HIDTA region seizures during 2013 consisted of 8,199 indoor plants and 12,909
outdoor plants. The highest number of indoor plants was seized from Multnomah County (3,233),
followed by Washington (2,089), Clackamas (928), Lane (570), Jackson (450), Douglas (363), Umatilla
(260), Marion (248), and Deschutes (58). The Warm Springs Indian Reservation did not report indoor
plant seizures in 2013. The highest number of outdoor plants was seized from Jackson County (4,424),
followed by Lane (4,266), Douglas (3,635), Clackamas (403), Umatilla (128), Multnomah (28), and
Washington (25).
115
Deschutes and Marion counties and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation did not
report outdoor plant seizures in 2013 (Appendix C).

The overall rise in seizures between 2005 and 2009 can be attributed to the emergence of large
grows operated by Mexican National DTOs, specialized training for law enforcement, and regional
cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the state which facilitated more effective

24

investigations. The considerable drop in outdoor seizures in 2008 was likely the result of several
contributing factors, including poor weather conditions which caused a late growing season, limitations
on state and local law enforcement resources, successful prosecution efforts, and alteration of DTO grow
operations by MNDTOs which made grow sites more difficult to detect.

After a brief rise to more than 210,000 outdoor seizures in 2009, eradication totals steadily
declined, falling to less than 19,000 plants in 2013, the lowest reported total since 2003. There are
several possible reasons for the decline. Successful federal prosecutions may have removed key
organizations responsible for grow sites in long-established areas of operation or served to motivate
DTOs to shift operations to areas with minimal law enforcement presence. Analysis of flight hours
provided to law enforcement to identify grow sites suggests a decline in large-scale cultivation activity.
In 2013, helicopter flight time increased due to supplementary funding through DEAs DCE/SP
program. The few sites located in 2013 turned out to be small-scale operations, similar to the last several
years where flight time was restricted due to budget cuts. Another possibility may be that greater
involvement by agencies in larger, more time-consuming investigations along with budget shortfalls --
including turnover or reassignment of experienced staff -- has curtailed opportunities to identify many
grows.

Despite the significant drop in the number of outdoor plants seized in 2012 and 2013, outdoor
marijuana cultivation controlled by MNDTOs continues to remain Oregons primary production and
trafficking threat. MNDTO cultivation activity accounted for nearly 90 percent of the outdoor seizures
in 2013, similar to previous years.
116
The consistently high percentage of plant seizures connected to
Mexican National DTO grows over the last five years supports sustained MNDTO control over outdoor
marijuana cultivation in the state.

Seizures from illegal indoor grow operations rose 20 percent in Oregon between 2005 (7,590)
and 2013 (9,115). The overall rise in indoor plant seizures between 2005 and 2009 is likely due to
greater involvement by law enforcement in targeting members of Asian organized crime groups that set
up large, sophisticated indoor operations in the state, a resource shift by drug task forces in investigating

25

indoor grow operations, and highway seizures leading to the discovery of illegal grows operating under
the guise of the medical marijuana program.

On the other hand, increasingly limited resources, shifting priorities, and difficulties inherent in
investigating and prosecuting illicit medical marijuana grow sites may partially explain the drop in
indoor plant counts in recent years. For example, declines in indoor plants seized since 2009 may be
connected to law enforcement resource limitations. Location of indoor grows is often difficult and time-
consuming. Another possible explanation for decreased counts is the rising popularity of medical
marijuana which has contributed to a larger number of related grow sites in Oregon. The number of
indoor marijuana plants reported seized from out-of-compliance OMMP grows in Oregon in 2013
(4,766) was more than twice the number seized in 2007 (1,918). Analysis reveals that the total number
of out-of-compliance plants confiscated reflected approximately one half of indoor plants eradicated in
2013; greater than the proportion reported for 2007 (12%), 2008 (7%), 2010 (26%) and 2012 (30%).
Counties with the highest number of indoor marijuana cases involving suspects with OMMP cards were
Lane, Clackamas and Multnomah.
117

The attraction of growing marijuana for profit is evident when production costs and potential
earnings are compared. According to a 2010 study by the RAND Drug Policy Research Center,
production costs ranged from $150 a pound for marijuana grown outdoors to $300 a pound for indoor
plants a substantial return when compared to street prices which are about a factor of ten higher than
estimated production costs per pound.
118

Methamphetamine

Precursor chemical controls at the state and federal level along with sustained law enforcement
pressure have contributed to a dramatic decline in reported methamphetamine lab seizures in Oregon.
Oregon legislation restricting the availability of pseudoephedrine, in particular, appears to have
dramatically reduced the number of methamphetamine labs reported to be operating in the state.
ee
Law
enforcement authorities seized ten methamphetamine laboratories in the state in 2013 a 95 percent
drop from 2005 levels (192) (Figure 15, page 26).
119

While calendar year 2013 data indicates low levels of domestic production statewide, law
enforcement agencies report that a high level of crystal meth continues to be available, most of which is
imported as finished product from outside the state and from Mexico in the form of crystal meth or
ice.
120
For example, in November 2011, officers from the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team
(WIN), in cooperation with multiple local and federal agencies, executed 14 search warrants related to a
multi-state drug trafficking organization operating in Washington County. The investigation resulted in
the seizure of more than 25 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, more than 20 firearms, and large sums
of cash. Eleven members of the DTO were eventually indicted on federal charges. In addition, in
January 2013, members of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team conducted a traffic stop
of a Frontera Del Norte bus on U.S. Highway 97 in Deschutes County. A search of luggage on the bus
belonging to a suspect from California resulted in the seizure of more than 15 pounds of
methamphetamine and 8 pounds of heroin -- a combined street value of approximately $1.1 million
dollars.

ee
HB 2485 and SB 907 were effective July 1, 2006.

26

Federal reporting indicates that Mexican cartels continue to circumvent ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine import restrictions implemented by the government of Mexico
ff
by establishing new
smuggling routes for restricted chemicals, importing nonrestricted chemical derivatives in place of
precursor chemicals, and expanding nonephedrine-based production, such as the phenyl-2-propanone
method.
121
Reporting indicates trafficking from Mexico has increased in the last several years with
methamphetamine seizures at California points of entry more than three times higher in 2013 than in
2009.
122

Additionally, some production operations have been transferred into the United States, notably to
Californias Central Valley.
123
Recent data suggests methamphetamine in powder or liquid form is
increasingly smuggled into the United States to be converted into crystal meth at labs in states such as
California, Georgia, and Texas.
124
Moving the refining process across U.S. borders is likely a new
approach by Mexican criminal groups to facilitate trafficking of crystal meth; the raw product is easier
to conceal and the conversion process creates few toxic by-products.
125
Two conversion labs have been
reported in Oregon, one in Washington County in 2013 and one in Marion County in 2014.
126

Although local production has dropped dramatically in recent years, small quantities of
methamphetamine are still produced in Oregon. Most methamphetamine produced in the state is
consumed locally. Locally-produced methamphetamine is manufactured in small-scale laboratories.
Over half (55%) of the methamphetamine laboratories seized in Oregon in 2013 were found in the
HIDTA region with the largest number of labs seized in Multnomah (2) and Washington (2) counties,
followed by Lane (1) and Umatilla (1) counties. Clackamas, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, and Marion
counties and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation reported no seizures in 2013 (Appendix D).
127

ff
The Government of Mexico implemented progressively tighter restrictions on ephedrine and pseudoephedrine imports since
2005, banning use of the chemicals in 2009.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

l
a
b
s

s
e
i
z
e
d
Figure 15. Methamphetamine Labs Seized, HIDTA Counties and Oregon,
CY 2005 - CY 2013
Oregon
HIDTA Counties
Source: Oregon Department of Justice.

27

Designer Drugs

Designer drugs, including LSD, MDMA, and DMT are
obtained from a variety of sources, including local production and
via cross border trafficking of finished product. LSD labs have
been discovered in Oregon in the past; however, the drug is largely
transported as finished product from California. Law enforcement
reporting indicates that MDMA is rarely manufactured in Oregon
but is generally imported from Canada and Europe.
128
Clandestine
MDMA laboratories have been found in other states such as
California and may indicate a trend toward producing the drug
locally. Two MDMA labs were recently discovered in Oregon, one
in Deschutes County in 2013 and one in Lincoln County in
February 2014 (Appendix D).
129

HIDTA task force initiative reporting suggests that the level
of DMT production has increased in the last year.
130
DMT is found
in a variety of plants, in some amphibians, and can be produced
synthetically in clandestine labs. The root bark, Mimosa tenuiflora
(hostilis), is a major source of DMT and is widely available on the internet. A total of eight DMT labs
were discovered and reported between 2012 and 2013 in Oregon in the following counties, Columbia
(1), Douglas (1), Jackson (1), Josephine (1), Klamath (1), Lane (2), and Washington (1) (Appendix
D).
131

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is also available and used in Oregon. Psilocybin grows wild in cow pastures in the
state and is also cultivated indoors. These indoor psilocybin grow sites are typically located in Oregon
HIDTAs southern region, primarily in Lane and Jackson Counties. The psilocybin cultivated in the state
is consumed locally and is also shipped to other parts of the state and worldwide.

IV. TRANSPORTATION

Primary Corridors

Marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, controlled prescription drugs, and designer drugs,
as well as illicit drug proceeds, are transported through each of eight main corridors in the United States
to varying degrees (Figure 16, page 28). Drugs generally flow north from the Southwest Border and the
southeastern United States, while illicit drug currency flows in the reverse direction.

Most smuggling occurs overland through and between points-of-entry (POEs). Maritime and air
smuggling occurs but reporting suggests these approaches are far less common than overland methods.
Law enforcement reporting indicates that Mexican DTOs control the shipment of illicit drugs across the
Southwest Border. Drug traffickers use commercial trucks and private and rental vehicles to smuggle
methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cocaine through points-of-entry (POEs) along the border as
well as through remote expanses between POEs. In addition, a substantial volume of high-potency
marijuana and designer drugs such as MDMA is transported into the United States across the Northern
Suspected DMT lab, Medford Police, Ashland
Oregon, September 2013.

28

Border by Asian organized crime groups, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and Indo-Canadian drug traffickers.
Common modes of transport include commercial trucks, private and rental vehicles. All-terrain vehicles,
small aircraft, maritime vessels, and couriers on foot are used to a lesser extent to traffic drugs through
vast areas between POEs.

Corridor D

A West Coast corridor in which Interstate 5 (I-5) is the primary route, Corridor D (Figure 16)
extends from the California-Mexico border to the Washington-Canada border. Similar to I-95, drugs are
transported in both directions on I-5, but primarily south to north. Interstate 5 intersects with I-8, I-10,
and I-80. Significant quantities of drugs are transported north on I-5 from Mexico and California to
market areas in the Northwest and in Canada, while marijuana and, to a lesser extent, MDMA are
transported south on I-5 from Canada and Seattle.

Oregons geographical position offers a direct route between Canada and Mexico via I-5, which
traverses the majority of the Oregon HIDTA region. Most of Oregons major cities are located along the
I-5 corridor and provide a market incentive and abundant opportunities for smuggling illegal drugs into,
through, and out of the state. Transportation methods are often varied to counteract highway
enforcement efforts by changing routes, renting different vehicles, and hiring a variety of people to serve
as couriers.

Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations, often with ties to the Mexican state of Michoacn,
typically use family connections and childhood associates along Interstate 5 and Highway 99 corridors
in California, Oregon, and Washington to smuggle narcotics.


29

Law enforcement reporting indicates Oregon serves as a transshipment point for controlled
substances smuggled from Mexico and Canada and is emerging as a transshipment point to various
eastern states.
132
To illustrate, data collected on reported highway seizures in the United States revealed
a number of drug seizures connected to Oregon. Most notable is the quantity of marijuana seized in
states such as Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Kansas (Table 3).

Highways 97 and 395, which are located in the eastern section of the state, also provide
alternative north/south routes. A series of east/west roadways, such as Interstate 84 and Highways 26
and 20, connect these major north/south routes providing additional opportunities for drug transportation
into and through the state. Oregons commercial airports, including the Portland International Airport,
numerous private airfields and seaports, including the Port of Portland, are also easily exploitable by
drug traffickers.

# lbs # lbs # lbs # lbs # DU # DU # Dollars
California 197 33 4,947 33 560 35 227 16 196 11 204,870 3 6,278 66 5,112,977
Nebraska 107 72 2,063 4 95 3 6 9 155 19 1,057,048
Washington 126 43 696 7 0.2 4 14 7 10 16 1,467 5 234,571 44 303,480
Kansas 84 50 1,499 2 62 4 18 1 11 1 12 26 1,223,567
Kentucky 31 29 275 1 11,340 1 45,661
Idaho 80 45 833 3 0.4 3 35 29 350,848
South Dakota 72 39 1,595 9 51 1 36 23 1,102,322
Texas 52 32 9,575 6 307 4 51 10 764,117
Utah 54 32 581 1 0.1 3 3 1 500 3 1,709 14 562,003
Iowa 57 36 1,352 1 3 1 10 1 7 18 568,543
Wyoming 40 27 408 1 0.2 3 111 2 260 7 97,727
Illinois 49 30 1,317 1 0.01 18 897,467
Missouri 46 24 630 2 21 2 3 18 1,727,340
Arizona 32 21 7,051 2 3 2 80 7 123,255
Arkansas 24 12 1,092 1 0.1 1 29 10 294,574
Minnesota 26 13 237 1 21 12 2,254,117
North Dakota 18 14 466 4 11,284
Montana 15 9 41 2 2 2 20,687 2 199,960
Nevada 17 7 167 1 0.01 1 3 2 1,518 6 136,335
Wisconsin 13 10 52 1 1,547 2 9,800
Oklahoma 10 4 178 6 1,282,898
Maryland 9 8 12 1 19,373
Ohio 9 4 49 1 326 4 563,890
New Mexico 7 2 71 1 25 2 6 2 150,875
Other
3
44 19 1,600 3 224 3 27 3 13 2 3,227 1 2,329 13 1,098,978
Total 1,219 615 36,785 63 1,619 67 363 31 302 61 243,981 20 246,799 362 19,958,439
Source: EPIC, special data request received March 2014.
2
Controlled Prescription Drugs.
3
The "Other" category includes states with five or fewer incidents during the selected time period which met the conditions of tag,
driver's license, address, origin, or destination. States in the "Other" category include: Alabama (2), Colorado (5), Florida (1), Georgia
(5), Hawaii (2), Indiana (3), Louisiana (2), Michigan (4), Mississippi (4), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania
(3), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (4), and Virginia (4).
State
Marijuana
Powder
Cocaine
Crystal
Meth Heroin CPDs
Table 3. Incidents and Selected Drug Quantities in States with Connections to Oregon
1
Total
Incidents
Domestic Highway Enforcement Program, CY 2008 CY 2013
MDMA U.S. Currency
1
Meeting the following conditions: "Oregon" or "OR" entered in drivers license and/or vehicle plate fields; "Oregon", "OR" in the address
field, or "97" in the zip code field; "Oregon" entered as an origin or destination field.

30

1. Land/Highways

The smuggling of illicit drugs by land is the preferred trafficking method in Oregon. The Oregon
HIDTA region contains a network of interstates, highways, secondary roads, and railroads which are
exploited by traffickers to transport illicit drugs. These routes provide easy access to major population
centers, medium-size cities, and smaller communities in the state. Drug traffickers use the well-
developed highway infrastructure in the HIDTA region to transport drugs by private and commercial
vehicle, including personal vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, and trains, into and through Oregon,
from and to other drug markets. MNDTOs are the primary drug traffickers who utilize the states
highway system to transport and distribute large wholesale quantities of illicit drugs. These groups
generally use Interstate 5 as their main trafficking route; however, other highways, such as Highway 97
and U.S. coastal highway 101, are used as alternative north-south drug trafficking routes.

Interstate 5 traverses seven of the nine HIDTA counties (Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Lane,
Marion, Multnomah and Washington). This is the major transportation route for traffickers in
Oregon as the I-5 highway corridor extends from Vancouver, British Columbia, through
Washington, Oregon and California and continues south to Tijuana, Mexico. Interstate 5 is one
of eight major narcotics trafficking corridors in the United States.
133
Most of Oregons major
cities are located along the I-5 corridor and provide a market incentive and a wealth of
opportunities for smuggling illegal drugs into and out of the state.

Highway 97 runs north and south through Deschutes County, and is considered by law
enforcement to be a widely used route for trafficking organizations. This route provides direct
access to California, Central Washington and the Yakima Valley area, and Canada through
Washington State.

U.S. Coastal Highway 101 runs north and south through Lane and Douglas counties and is
considered an alternative route for smuggling drugs through the state. Highway 20 extends from
the Oregon Coast through Central Oregon and into Idaho. From I-5, this highway cuts east
through Deschutes County and is an alternative route to the more commonly patrolled Interstate
84 for traffickers bound for Idaho and eastern Washington.

Analysis of highway seizures reported through the Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE)
program
gg
for Oregon from 2008 to 2013 revealed a number of trafficking patterns. In general,
marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and controlled prescription drugs move north to and
through Oregon. A smaller proportion of marijuana flows east and south. Illicit bulk currency moves
primarily north and south (Figure 17, page 31). The leading drug recovered from Oregon highways
from 2008 through 2013 was marijuana, reflecting the highest number of reported seizures as well as the
largest total quantity confiscated. Seizures ranged from less than one gram to 566 pounds and
represented nearly 90 percent of the total quantity of drugs seized by weight through reported
interdictions on Oregon highways.
hh
Interstate 5 remained the most commonly used route by traffickers

gg
The Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) Strategy promotes collaborative, intelligence-led policing in coordinated
multi-jurisdictional law enforcement efforts on U.S. highways. The DHE strategy is intended to improve the investigative
efforts of the HIDTA in attacking drug trafficking organizations and impact traffic safety, homeland security and other
crimes.
hh
Percent total excludes reported drug seizures measured in dosage units.

31

in Oregon reflecting nearly one-half (47%) of seizures reported between 2008 and 2013. A smaller
proportion of seizures occurred on U.S. Routes 97 (20%) and 395 (8%).

From 2008 to 2010, the quantity of marijuana reported seized through the DHE program tripled
along with a corresponding increase in the number of reported interdictions; however, between 2010 and
2013, the quantity of marijuana seized dropped by nearly half. In contrast, the number of medical
marijuana seizures tied to the OMMP rose more than 50 percent between 2010 and 2013.
134

The amount of reported heroin and methamphetamine seized on Oregon highways increased in
the last several years. The amount of heroin seized in 2013 (41 lbs) was nearly seven times the quantity
reported in 2009 (6 lbs) with historic quantities confiscated in 2012 and 2013. For example, large
seizures were reported outside of Ashland, Oregon in 2012 (55 lbs) and 2013 (31 lbs) both headed
northbound on Interstate-5.
135

In addition, the quantity of methamphetamine reported seized through the DHE program rose
nearly 90 percent while the number of CPD seizures rose more than twofold between 2008 and 2013.
136

The reported quantity of cocaine seized on Oregon highways has generally declined since 2008,
dropping more than 80 percent between 2011 and 2013.
137

Drugs and cash are also transported into and through Oregon by rail. The state has 18 freight
railroads which operate on nearly 2,400 miles of rail. In 2011, the latest data available, an estimated 56
million tons of freight was moved on Oregon rail.
138
In addition to rail freight, passenger trains also
travel through Oregon on a daily basis with individuals traveling as far north as Canada, as far south as
Los Angeles, and as far east as Chicago and New York. On April 24, 2012, members of HIT (HIDTA
Interdiction Team) contacted an individual who had arrived in Portland on a train from Chicago. A
search warrant led to the discovery of more than $175,000 in the suspects luggage. Further
investigation at the suspects home in Eugene, Oregon revealed multiple financial documents supporting
money laundering charges. In 2010, HIT members seized 12 pounds of marijuana from a suspicious
traveler at the Portland Amtrak station. The suspect confessed that he was transporting marijuana from
Humboldt County, California to Portland, Oregon for later distribution to Minneapolis-St. Paul,
Minnesota.


32

2. Airways

Air smuggling of illicit drugs is a threat to the Oregon HIDTA region and may be an even greater
threat than law enforcement is aware. Very little enforcement efforts take place due to limited law
enforcement resources. With more than 400 known airfields, including airports, heliports, and other
landing areas in Oregon, over half (55%) of which are privately used, the air threat to the HIDTA region
is considerable.
139
The Portland International Airport (PDX), located in Multnomah County, is the
largest commercial airport in Oregon and, in 2013, served 15 million passengers and more than 212,000
tons of goods.
140
PDX is a hub for passenger transportation but is also a transshipment point for
narcotics smuggling, both domestically and internationally. For example, in 2010, nearly six pounds of
heroin were discovered in the false bottom of a bag processed through a CTX-4 machine at PDX during
an investigation by members of HIT and Port of Portland Police Department detectives. More recently,
in 2013, members of the HIDTA Interdiction Team (HIT) contacted two female suspects at the Portland
International Airport who were traveling to Alaska. The suspects admitted to body packing 4.5 ounces
of heroin.

The second largest airport in Oregon is the Eugene Airport located in the City of Eugene. The
airport is situated along the I-5 corridor and offers over 40 passenger flights a day to and from cities
such as Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. In addition, the airport also serves
private, military and commercial cargo flights. Other major airports in Oregon include the Rogue Valley
International-Medford airport located in Medford in Southern Oregon and Roberts Field Redmond
Municipal Airport located in Redmond in Central Oregon.

3. Sea/Ports of Entry

Illicit drugs may also be smuggled into Oregon using maritime conveyances. There has not been
any current, credible intelligence regarding the use of maritime vessels to transport drugs into Oregon,
so the threat posed by maritime smuggling is unknown. However, the smuggling and transport of illicit
drugs via commercial and private maritime conveyances remains a significant vulnerability to Oregon
due not only to the high volume of cargo transiting the state's seaports, but the countless opportunities
for illicit transport that exist along Oregon's abundant waterways.

The Oregon Coast covers 296 miles of the United States border running between the states of
California and Washington. In addition to the Oregon Coast, the state is also composed of 2,383 square
miles of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. The Columbia River, a major shipping lane, has 23 ports and flows
for approximately 260 miles along the border between Oregon and Washington. The Port of Portland
ranks twenty-seventh in the United States in total tonnage, with 11.9 million short tons of cargo
processed through the ports marine terminals in 2013.
141
Intelligence regarding the use of maritime
vessels to transport drugs into Oregon is limited, however, and the threat posed by maritime smuggling
is undoubtedly larger than law enforcement is aware.

4. Other

Package delivery services provide an additional method for drug traffickers to smuggle illicit
drugs into Oregon. Criminal groups have transported illicit drugs, including marijuana, cocaine,
methamphetamine, controlled prescription drugs, MDMA, and psilocybin into the Oregon HIDTA
region using these services. For example, in February 2012, HIDTA Interdiction Team (HIT)

33

Investigators seized 26 suspicious U.S. Postal Service parcels which were alerted to by a narcotics K-9
at the primary FedEx package processing facility. When those packages were opened, a total of 137
pounds of marijuana was seized. Additionally, in August 2011, HIT forwarded a suspicious outbound
United States Postal Service (USPS) parcel to Greensboro, North Carolina after a positive alert by a
narcotics detection dog. An interdiction taskforce in Greensboro along with a Postal Inspector delivered
the parcel the next morning and executed a search warrant at the location. The search warrant resulted in
the seizure of nearly ten pounds of marijuana from the original parcel, an additional three pounds of
marijuana, and $67,000 in cash which was packaged and ready to be shipped back to Oregon.

Marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, controlled prescription drugs, and designer drugs
are transported into and through the state by a variety of methods. Nearly all DTOs in the state are
considered polydrug organizations, using well-established routes to traffic a variety of drugs to meet
current demand.

Marijuana

Locally-produced marijuana is transported throughout the state via the states highway system in
private and commercial vehicles and through methods such as parcel post. Marijuana reflects the largest
proportion of illicit drugs seized by Oregon law enforcement agencies.
142
The quantity of marijuana
reported seized on state highways increased from approximately 700 pounds in 2008 to over 2,000
pounds in 2011, but fell to about 1,300 pounds in 2013. The quantity of marijuana seized by Oregon
HIDTA task forces has declined as well. For example, Oregon HIDTA task forces seized more than
19,000 pounds of bulk
marijuana in 2011, but
reported fewer than 5,000
pounds in 2013 (Figure
18).
143

Marijuana grown
locally, including medical
marijuana, is shipped for
distribution within the
state or is transported
across state borders to
adjacent states
(California, Idaho,
Washington) and
eastward to regions
primarily in the Midwest,
East Coast, and Southwest. For example, a recent interdiction in Arkansas was connected to a registered
OMMP grower and patient cardholder in Jackson County and involved the seizure of 58 pounds of
marijuana, two firearms, and more than $4,000 in cash.

In addition, marijuana is shipped by parcel post. In 2013, law enforcement agencies in four
counties (Deschutes, Douglas, Lane, and Multnomah) reported over 140 parcel seizures totaling over
400 pounds.
144
Additionally, reporting indicates medical marijuana has been shipped via parcel post
from Oregon to states along the east coast as well as Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee,
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
e
i
z
u
r
e
s
Q
u
a
n
t
i
t
y

(
i
n

l
b
s
)
Figure 18. Number and Quantity of Bulk Marijuana
Seizures, Oregon HIDTA Task Forces, 2007-2013

34

and Washington.
145
On November 7, 2011, the Douglas County Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) K-
9 unit alerted on a parcel during a random package check at a FedEx office in Roseburg, Oregon. The
package was found to contain approximately five pounds of marijuana which was destined for South
Bend, Indiana. Sender information was discovered to be false, but further investigation revealed the
package was connected to a Douglas County resident who operated a medical marijuana grow site. The
suspect admitted he sold marijuana out-of-state for over $3,000 a pound.

Traffickers also use a variety of routes and methods to transport marijuana into Oregon. BC Bud
normally originates in British Columbia and is smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border via Canada
Route 99U.S. Interstate 5 in private vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, boats, aircraft, or on foot -
often hidden in backpacks or duffel bags. Mexican marijuana is transported from southwestern states
and southern California to Oregon primarily via Interstate 5 or U.S. Coastal Highway 101 largely in
private and commercial vehicles.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine not manufactured locally is typically shipped from Mexico via California or
produced in California and the Southwest states. Transportation of the drug into the Oregon HIDTA
region occurs via private and commercial vehicle, bus, train, or package delivery services.
Methamphetamine is also smuggled from other areas, but to a lesser extent. According to law
enforcement in Deschutes County, DTOs based in central Washington and southwest Idaho supply
methamphetamine in their jurisdictions utilizing U.S. Routes 97 and 20. For example, in January 2014,
investigation into a semi-truck rollover crash on Highway 97 in Sherman County resulted in the largest
reported seizure in Oregon history. Approximately 190 pounds of methamphetamine, 17 pounds of
cocaine, and 11 pounds of heroin were recovered from the truck hidden in cargo, worth about $3 million
in street value. Additionally, on September 21, 2011, detectives assigned to the Central Oregon Drug
Enforcement Team (CODE) seized 35 pounds of methamphetamine found hidden in a suitcase on a
commercial bus traveling north on Highway 97. At the time, the interdiction represented one of the
single largest seizures of methamphetamine in Oregons history with an estimated value of $1 million.

The volume of methamphetamine trafficked in Oregon appears to have increased in Oregon in
the last several years. Seizures of methamphetamine from Oregons highways nearly doubled from
2008 to 2013.
146
In addition, Oregon HIDTA task forces reported 540 pounds of crystal
methamphetamine seized in 2013, more than three times the quantity seized in 2010 (157 lbs).
147

Law enforcement officials report Mexican producers have begun to manufacture and transport
methamphetamine in liquid form north into the United States and Canada. The methamphetamine is
shipped in containers such as liquor bottles and coolers and then crystalized for distribution.
148
For
example, in April 2012, the DEA-Eugene Task Force seized 80 pounds of liquid methamphetamine
hidden in tequila bottles after a random traffic stop in Cottage Grove, Oregon. In November 2012,
California Highway Patrol officers seized 15 Mexican-brand tequila bottles filled with 56 pounds of
liquid methamphetamine bound for Oregon.
149

Heroin

Mexican National DTOs dominate the trafficking of Mexican black tar heroin and Mexican
brown-powdered heroin into and through Oregon. Mexican local independent dealers also transport

35

Mexican black tar heroin and Mexican brown-powdered heroin into the state, but to a lesser extent.
These groups and independent dealers transport the drug to the state from Mexico, California, and
southwestern states primarily via private and commercial vehicles, typically using Interstate 5, U.S.
Highways 101 or 97.

Additionally, Mexican National DTOs and independent dealers traffic Mexican black tar heroin
to Oregon by private and commercial vehicles, buses, mail services, trains, and commercial aircraft.
These groups and independent dealers often obtain heroin from relatives in California and Mexico who
are part of their criminal group. Some MNDTOs and independent dealers transport heroin into Oregon
via Interstate 82 from the Tri-Cities area (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland) of Washington, but this
route is used to a lesser extent than other drug transportation routes. Mexican National DTOs also
transport heroin from California through Oregon to Washington and Idaho.

Law enforcement authorities in some regions have reported a substantial increase in the amount
of heroin trafficked, with multi-pound quantities routinely seized.
150
The amount of heroin seized by
law enforcement on Oregon highways in 2012 (72 lbs) and 2013 (41 lbs) was dramatically higher than
the quantity seized in 2009 (6 lbs).
151
Furthermore, Oregon HIDTA task forces confiscated 137 pounds
in 2013, over five times higher than the amount seized in 2008 (25 lbs) (Figure 2, page 6).
152

Cocaine

Mexican National DTOs dominate the transportation of powdered cocaine into and throughout
the Oregon HIDTA region. These groups transport the drug from Mexico, California, and southwestern
states to Oregon. Most cocaine available in the HIDTA region is transported overland from Mexico,
California, and southwestern states by private and commercial vehicles via Interstates 5 and 84 and U.S.
Highways 20, 97, and 101. DTOs also transport cocaine to the HIDTA region using couriers on
commercial airlines and trains, maritime shipments, and commercial package delivery services. African-
American DTOs, Mexican National DTOs, and street gangs transport crack cocaine into and through the
HIDTA region. Crack cocaine
which is not converted from
powdered cocaine at or near
distribution points in Oregon
is often transported from
California.

The amount of cocaine
seized by HIDTA task forces
declined nearly 60 percent
between 2008 (297 lbs) and
2013 (123 lbs) (Figure 19).
153

Highway seizure amounts for
cocaine also fell, dropping
nearly 90 percent from 2008
to 2013.
154

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
e
i
z
u
r
e
s
Q
u
a
n
t
i
t
y

(
i
n

p
o
u
n
d
s
)
Figure 19. Number and Quantity of Cocaine Seizures,

36

Controlled Prescription Drugs

National studies on use suggest that CPDs are largely diverted through family or acquaintances.
Among people ages 12 and older who reported using pain relievers nonmedically in 2011-2012, over
half acquired the drug from a friend or relative for free (54%) and about 15 percent obtained pain
relievers through purchase or taking the drug from a friend or relative without asking. Only four percent
obtained pain relievers from a drug dealer or stranger, and less than one percent bought drugs on the
Internet. Other methods included acquisition through a prescription from one doctor (20%), through
multiple doctors (2%), or other methods including fake prescriptions and theft from pharmacys or
medical offices (5%).
155

Similarly in Oregon, HIDTA task forces report that CPD diversion occurs in their area largely
through illicit acquisition from friends or relatives, theft, forged prescriptions, doctor shopping,
traditional drug dealing, and internet purchases.
156
Fewer than one-quarter of law enforcement officers
surveyed in Oregon indicated that organized trafficking of CPDs occurs in their area, noting smuggling
via package delivery services, trafficking of CPDs across state borders, and involvement by criminal
gangs and DTOs.
157
In June 2010, the HIDTA Interdiction Team (HIT) received information that a
DTO was involved in a large-scale OxyContin/oxycodone smuggling and distribution organization
based in Portland, Oregon with ties to Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. By March 2011, members of
a joint federal taskforce in Oregon executed 13 search warrants in five states, seizing numerous bank
accounts and high-end vehicles. The investigation resulted in 15 federal indictments, and the following
seizures: $164,522 in U.S. currency/bank notes; 6 handguns, 13 vehicles valued at $613,425, $80,000 in
jewelry, and over 10,000 OxyContin pills with a street value estimated at more than $300,000.

Law enforcement reporting suggests an increase in CPD diversion in some areas in 2013. The
number of reported seizures by Oregon HIDTA task forces in 2013 (171) was nearly three times the
number seized in 2008 (60) and included mainly narcotic analgesics, followed by sedatives, stimulants,
and anti-depressants (Figure 20).
158

77%
3%
17%
1%
2%
0.2%
Figure 20. CPDs Seized in the Oregon HIDTA, 2013
Prescription opioids
(excluding methadone)
Methadone
Benzodiazepines
Anti-depressants,
Sedative-Hypnotics
Psychostimulants
Muscle Relaxants
Prescription Opioids: Hydrocodone , Oxycodone/Oxycontin, Suboxone, Codeine, Vicodin.
Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam/Xanax, Diazepam/Valium, Clonazepam/Klonopin, Bromazepam, Lorazepam.
Anti-Depressants/Sedative-Hypnotics: Ambien, Trazodone.
Psychostimulants: Adderall, Amphetamine, Methylphenidate, Vyvanse.
Muscle Relaxants: Cyclobenzaprine, Carisprodol,Viagra, Methocarbamol.
Source: Oregon HIDTA Performance Management Program data, March 2014. Figure excludes steroids.

37

Designer Drugs

Designer drugs are produced in Oregon or are transported from areas outside the state. DMT and
LSD are produced in the state or are manufactured in other states and transported into the HIDTA
region, while Ketamine is largely trafficked from Mexico. Drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids and
synthetic cathinones are commonly available on the internet or at head shops or independently-owned
convenience stores.

Although MDMA labs were discovered in Oregon recently, the vast majority of the drug
originates in Canada. According to federal reporting, Canada remains the primary supplier of ecstasy to
the United States with most production occurring in British Columbia.
159
MDMA production in British
Columbia and cross-border trafficking is largely controlled by Asian DTOs.
160
The drugs are primarily
transported into the United States through private vehicles and package delivery services, although
commercial vehicles, private planes, and courier via commercial airlines are also used as smuggling
methods.
161
In October 2010, a sheriffs office in North Carolina contacted the Medford Area Drug and
Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team regarding interception of a FedEx package sent from Ashland,
Oregon which contained MDMA and LSD. Follow-up investigation revealed connections to one indoor
and two outdoor cultivation operations, one of which was a medical marijuana grow site. Seizures
included 70 pounds of processed marijuana, 13 ounces of psilocybin, and 12 vials of LSD. Later
analysis indicated the liquid LSD seized was capable of producing over 600,000 hits.

V. DISTRIBUTION

Drug distribution occurs in the Oregon HIDTA region through verbal exchange,
ii
at restaurants
and nightclubs, and via online connections and social networking sites. Distribution also takes place at
open-air drug markets in the Oregon HIDTA region, particularly in Portland. For example, open-air
drug markets in Portland are located primarily in the vicinity of Old Town, Water Front Park, Pioneer
Square and Lloyd Center, with the greatest concentration of drug sales occurring near the MAX light-
rail line. Distribution of crack and powdered cocaine, marijuana, and heroin is generally area-specific;
however, availability of methamphetamine has substantially increased and is distributed in all open-air
market areas in Portland.
162

Criminal street gangs are largely active in retail-level distribution of illicit drugs throughout
Oregon and have an especially large presence in Portland.
163
Most law enforcement officers surveyed in
early 2014 indicated a moderate level of involvement of criminal street gangs in drug distribution,
particularly heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana, in their jurisdictions. Furthermore, officers
surveyed indicated some level of involvement by criminal street gangs in different levels of drug
trafficking (regional supply, wholesale drug transport, manufacture/cultivation), although local dealing
was most prevalent.
164
For example, in January 2013, members of the Portland Area Metro Gang Task
Force (PAMGTF) led a multi-agency investigation into two Portland area street gangs that were
involved in an organized illegal drug sales network. The suspects were also involved in a high number
of violent crimes, including assaults, shootings, robberies and intimidation. In January 2014, PAMGTF
investigators, with the assistance of multiple surrounding agencies, conducted a series of state and
federal search warrants on members of the organization. A total of 26 suspects were arrested and
indicted by state and federal grand juries on multiple crimes and led to the seizure of eight (8) kilograms

ii
Verbal exchange is defined as drug dealing through face-to-face contact or phone communication.

38

of cocaine, 15 firearms, and seizures valued at over $275,000. In an earlier case in March 2011,
members of the PAMGTF initiated a narcotics investigation that led to the arrest and prosecution of five
individuals, among them members of the criminal gangs "Mexican Mafia" and "18th Street." The
suspects were connected to a West Coast based DTO which was estimated to profit over $14 million in
gross annual drug sales -- largely methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Officers from PAMGTF, in
cooperation with multiple local and federal agencies, executed three search warrants in California in
December 2011. The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than seven pounds of
methamphetamine, two firearms, $25,000 in cash, and multiple frozen bank accounts.

1. Marijuana

Drug trafficking organizations, particularly Mexican National criminal groups, frequently use
profits from marijuana sales as a means to finance smuggling of other drugs such as methamphetamine,
heroin, and cocaine. About one-third of officers surveyed in 2014 ranked marijuana as the drug that
serves as the primary funding source for major criminal activity.
165

Marijuana is readily available in wholesale quantities in the state. Varieties sold in the HIDTA
region are primarily locally-grown product and, more rarely, BC Bud and Mexico-produced marijuana.
Users report locally-grown marijuana -- including bud produced within the state by MNDTOs -- and BC
Bud are comparable in quality and potency and are preferred over marijuana grown in Mexico.

Marijuana prices vary throughout the HIDTA region depending on type and quantity sold.
Marijuana with higher THC content and locally-grown product is considerably more expensive than
Mexico-produced marijuana.

Caucasian local independent dealers are the primary distributors of wholesale amounts of indoor
marijuana produced in Oregon while MNDTOs are the primary distributors of marijuana cultivated from
outdoor grows in the state and of Mexico-produced marijuana. Asian and Caucasian DTOs are the
primary wholesale distributors of marijuana produced in Canada. Nearly all criminal groups in Oregon
sell marijuana at the retail level.

2. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is readily available in the HIDTA region, often in pound and multi-pound
quantities. There are three types of methamphetamine available in the HIDTA region: (1) Mexican, or
crystal methamphetamine, produced primarily by Mexican DTOs operating in Mexico, and to a lesser
extent in California and the southwest states, and transported to Oregon; (2) locally-produced
methamphetamine which is manufactured almost exclusively by Caucasian producers in the state; and
(3) methamphetamine produced in Canada by Caucasian DTOs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs),
and Asian DTOs, and transported to Oregon. Mexican or crystal meth is the primary form of
methamphetamine seized in the state. In 2012, the Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team (INET) and
the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) seized 52 pounds of crystal meth, a stolen gun, and
cash at five properties in Lane and Douglas counties. Four people were arrested in what may be the
largest methamphetamine seizure in Oregons history.


39

Methamphetamine prices vary throughout the HIDTA region depending on type and quantity
sold. Prices also depend largely on the ethnicity of the seller and buyer. Non-Hispanic buyers are often
charged a higher price for crystal meth than Hispanic buyers.

Trafficking of the drug is dominated by Mexican National DTOs, the primary wholesale
transporters and distributors of Mexican methamphetamine in the HIDTA region. Other DTOs also
transport and distribute wholesale quantities of methamphetamine, but to a lesser degree. Hispanic and
Caucasian independent dealers, OMGs, and criminal street gangs are the primary retail level distributors
of methamphetamine in the HIDTA region. For example, in December 2013, a six-month, multi-agency
investigation led by the Multnomah County Dangerous Drugs Team (DDT) into white supremacist gang
activity in Multnomah County resulted in more than 40 indictments for violent crimes and drug
manufacturing. Results included arrests of more than 20 gang affiliates, $50,000 in cash, 70 firearms,
and eight pounds of methamphetamine.
166

3. Heroin

Heroin, in the form of Mexican black tar and brown powder, is readily available in the state and
has increased in the HIDTA region.

Mexican National DTOs are the primary wholesale distributors of Mexican black tar heroin and
Mexican brown-powdered heroin in Oregon. It is common to encounter Mexican polydrug organizations
with ties to Mexico. Hispanic and Caucasian independent dealers are the primary retail level distributors
of Mexican black tar heroin and Mexican brown-powdered heroin in the state. Criminal street gangs also
distribute Mexican black tar heroin at the retail level, but to a lesser extent.

In 2010, the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force concluded an 18-month, Title III
investigation into a complex Mexican drug trafficking ring that sold an estimated seven pounds of
heroin a week in the Portland Metropolitan area. The investigation led to over 15 arrests and the seizure
of approximately 50 pounds of heroin, resulting in the complete dismantling of the DTO which had been
operating in the Portland area for several years. In 2013, members of Multnomah Countys Dangerous
Drugs Team investigated a Mexican DTO with ties to Nayarit, Mexico that was dealing large amounts
of heroin in the Portland/Vancouver area. Search warrants were conducted on the DTO leaders
residence and vehicle resulting in the seizure of 2 pounds of heroin, $18,000 in currency, and two
vehicles.

4. Cocaine

Cocaine, both powdered and crack, is available in the HIDTA region and in the state; however,
powdered cocaine continues to be the dominant form. For example, in June 2011, two traffic stops
conducted by Oregon State Police (OSP) led to the discovery of 65 pounds of powder cocaine (seized on
Hwy 97 in Wasco County) and 55 pounds of powder cocaine (seized on I-5 in Jackson County). The
total estimated value of the seizures was $1 million.
167
In July 2012, another 55 pounds of the drug was
reported seized in Jackson County on Interstate 5 with a reported destination of Multnomah County.
168

Crack cocaine continues to be available in most areas of the HIDTA region, but is most prevalent in
urban areas such as the Portland Metropolitan area and Eugene.


40

Mexican National DTOs are the main wholesale distributors of powdered cocaine in Oregon.
Primary distributors at the retail level include Mexican National DTOs, Caucasian DTOs, Hispanic and
Caucasian local independent dealers, and criminal street gangs. Although crack cocaine is rarely sold at
the wholesale level in Oregon, the drug is commonly distributed at the retail level by criminal street
gangs and African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian dealers.

5. Diversion of Prescription Drugs

Oregon HIDTA region task forces report that CPD diversion occurs in their area through supply
of pills obtained from legal prescriptions, doctor shopping, frequent trips to hospital emergency rooms,
theft or pill-sharing among friends, family, or associates, residential or pharmacy burglaries, street
purchases, mail orders, and smuggling from across state borders. Reporting also indicates CPDs have
been seized from package delivery services in the HIDTA region.
169

Prescription drugs are also diverted through internet purchases. Dishonest internet, or rogue
pharmacies, profit from the sale of controlled prescription medications to buyers who have not seen a
doctor or do not have a prescription from a legitimate doctor. According to a recent study conducted by
the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an estimated 36,000 rogue sites were in operation in
February 2014, most of which operate from foreign countries and illegally ship substandard or
counterfeit drugs into the United States.
170
In a review of over 10,000 web sites selling prescription
medications, 97 percent were out-of-compliance with United States pharmacy laws and practice
standards (Figure 21).
171

10,758
256
9,164
6,185
2,426
5,102
1,254
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Total Sites
Verified
Potentially
Legitimate
Sites
Do Not
Require
Valid Rx
Issue Rx per
Online
Consult or
Survey
Based
Outside
U.S.
Sell Foreign
Drugs
Sell
Controlled
Substances
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
i
t
e
s
Figure 21. Characteristics of Internet Drug Sites Selling
Prescription Medications, 2014
Source: Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program, Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators, April 2014,
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

41

6. Designer and Other Drugs

Designer drugs such as MDMA, synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones, DMT, and
LSD are readily available in varying amounts in the HIDTA region. Distributors of designer drugs use
established associations centered on social venues, such as raves, restaurants, nightclubs, or private
parties to distribute drugs at the retail level as well as through connections made online and through
social networking sites.

Psilocybin is cultivated in the state and is widely available. The popularity of Oregon-grown
psilocybin and the high asking price it commands has encouraged commercial cultivation. Tightly-knit
distribution groups and individual entrepreneurs distribute most of the psilocybin in the state. In
addition, distributors in Oregon also have been known to sell psilocybin to out-of-state buyers.

VI. ILLICIT FINANCE

Legitimization of illegally obtained money, or money laundering, allows criminals to
transform illicit gain into seemingly lawful funds or assets. All drug trafficking organizations in Oregon
engage in money laundering based upon the size and scope of the organization. As in other states,
investigators find that local DTOs launder money and utilize the proceeds to acquire goods and property.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, an estimated $65 billion dollars is
spent annually in the United States on illegal drugs while only about $1 billion is seized per year by all
federal agencies combined.
172
Federal authorities estimate that only about five cents of every $100 that
is smuggled across the Southwest Border is intercepted.
173
Since 2001, Mexican National DTOs, and to
a lesser extent Canadian-based DTOs, have adapted to enhanced anti-money laundering policies and
procedures at U.S. financial institutions by making bulk cash smuggling the primary method by which
drug proceeds are moved.
174
DTOs also use structured money transfers through money remitter services
or banks to launder drug proceeds and transfer profits outside of the country. New financial products
and technology, such as stored value cards and e-currency, also provide opportunities for DTOs to
facilitate cross-border movement of illicit drug proceeds.

Oregon HIDTA initiatives have active investigations into money laundering activities. For
example, in 2013, HIT officers conducted a controlled delivery to a Portland residence after the teams
narcotics K-9 alerted to the package at a commercial distribution center. HIT members were given
consent to search the suspects parcel, residence and cell phone. Results from additional search warrants
and follow-up investigations led to seizure of $187,950 in U.S. currency, 19 pounds of marijuana, four
firearms, eight gold coins, a silver bar, and a 2011 Toyota Tundra. Additionally, in late 2011, HIT
members were contacted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding a suspicious
individual who had arrived at the Portland International Airport on a direct flight from Amsterdam.
During an inspection of the individuals luggage, customs officials found over $300,000 in U.S.
currency. The currency was not declared either verbally or on the customs declaration form provided.
HIT officers confiscated the currency after a post seizure investigation determined the suspect was in
violation of federal bulk cash smuggling statutes.

Results from the 2015 Drug Threat Assessment Survey indicated the most commonly identified
money laundering methods reported by Oregon law enforcement officers were money services

42

businesses (86%), followed by bulk cash movement (73%), bank structuring (64%), cash-intensive
businesses or front companies (50%), prepaid cards (50%), real-estate (45%), casinos (41%), electronic
commerce (36%) and informal value transfer systems (5%). Officers surveyed indicate involvement of
Mexican, Caucasian and Asian DTOs in nearly all types of money laundering activities, particularly
money service businesses, bulk cash movement, bank structuring, and cash intensive businesses.
175

Banks and other depository institutions remain the primary gateway to the U.S. financial system
where illegal proceeds can be moved instantly by wire or commingled with legitimate funds.
176

According to FINCEN, Oregon ranked 34th in the nation in total Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
jj

filings from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2012. The number of SARs reported in Oregon rose over
twofold in the last ten years (2002-2012).
177
The most common filing of suspicious activity, by far, for
Oregon in 2012 was the category of Bank Secrecy Act/Structuring/Money Laundering (58%) (Figure
22).
178

Smuggling bulk cash out of the United States is a well-established scheme by which traffickers
bypass financial transparency reporting requirements.
kk
Cash is the preferred payment method by
criminal groups with large amounts easily concealed in vehicles, commercial shipments, express
packages, and on private aircraft or boats.
179
Within the Oregon HIDTA, MNDTOs and criminal groups

jj
A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is filed by depository institutions on transactions or attempted transactions involving
at least $5,000 that the financial institution knows, suspects, or has reason to suspect: involve money derived from illegal
activities; are intended or conducted in order to hide or disguise funds or assets derived from illegal activity; are designed to
evade Bank Secrecy Act requirements or other financial reporting requirements (structuring); or have no business or apparent
lawful purpose.
kk
Bank Secrecy Act filing requirements state that individuals who physically transport, ship, mail, or receive currency or
monetary instruments in excess of $10,000 across U.S. borders must file FINCEN form 105, Report of International
Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (CMIR).
False
Statement
1,792
Check Kiting
1,008
Consumer Loan
Fraud 1,435
Mortgage Loan
Fraud 1,934
Identity Theft
2,363
Additional
Characterizations
3,735
Counterfeit Check
2,029
Other
3,544
Check Fraud
4,843
BSA/Structuring/
Money Laundering
18,956
Figure 22. Characterizations of Suspicious Activity for Oregon
For the Period of January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2012
Additional Characterizations:
Bribery/gratuity (6)
Commercial loan fraud (224)
Computer intrusion (678)
Counterfeit credit/debit card (83)
Counterfeit instrument (196)
Credit card fraud (324)
Debit card fraud (581)
Defalcation/embezzlement (589)
Misuse of position/self dealing (262)
Mysterious disappearance (305)
Wire transfer fraud (466)
Terrorist financing (21)
Source: FINCEN "The SAR Activity Review by the Numbers" Issue 18 (May 2013), Section 1, Exhibit 8, Characterization of Suspicious
Activity by State and Territory by Year, January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2012, Oregon.

43

transport cash in bulk to southwestern states where funds are often aggregated and then smuggled to
Mexico. Additionally, Asian DTOs and criminal groups use bulk cash smuggling to move illicit drug
proceeds from the region through transport in private vehicles via ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S.-
Canada border. The number of cash seizures made by Oregon HIDTA task forces more than tripled
between 2007 (180) and 2013 (583), with more than $5.6 million in illicit proceeds confiscated in 2013
(Figure 23).

Currency interdictions in Oregon collected through the DHE program were recently analyzed.
DHE program statistics revealed over 350 seizures of bulk cash in Oregon between January 2008 and
December 2013. Seizures during this time period totaled more than $5.8 million, the largest of which
was a vehicle seized moving southbound on I-5 containing over $400,000 in 2009. In January 2012,
more than $340,000 was seized from a vehicle in Marion County headed north on Interstate-5 to
Portland. Notably, the number of currency-related interdictions reported moving northbound (132) and
southbound (120) on Oregon highways from 2008 through 2013 was nearly the same (Figure 17, page
30). Although the number of incidents reported moving north were slightly higher than the number
reported moving south, the total value of currency-related seizures headed south ($3.5 million) was more
than twice the value of northbound seizures ($1.5 million). Most of the currency seized moving north
was reported to originate from California (74) and destined for Washington (33) or Oregon (25). A
majority of currency seized southbound on Oregon highways was reported to originate in Washington
(48) or Oregon (43) and destined primarily for California (67).
180

Drug trafficking is unquestionably centered on monetary gain. And, with every investigation,
task force investigators evaluate the potential for the seizure of assets obtained as a result of the drug
trafficking enterprise. Drug proceeds reported by Oregon HIDTA task forces for 2013 totaled $85.1
million, over eight times the amount of proceeds seized in 2004 ($11.2 million). In 2013, Oregon
HIDTA task forces seized approximately $9.5 million in drug-related assets, with $5.7 million seized in
cash/currency and $3.8 in other assets seized (e.g., vehicles, firearms).
181

0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
$-
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$3,000,000
$4,000,000
$5,000,000
$6,000,000
$7,000,000
$8,000,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
e
i
z
u
r
e
s
D
o
l
l
a
r
s
Figure 23. Number and Quantity of Cash Seizures,
Dollars Number of seizures

44

VII. OUTLOOK

The abuse and trafficking of opiate drugs, namely heroin and prescription pain relievers, will
continue to expand. Heroin trafficking and use will rise as production in Mexico continues to grow and
as users of prescription opiates increasingly switch to heroin because it is less expensive, more available
and provides a more intense high than diverted prescription opiates. The number of young users will
likely grow as abuse of prescription opioids continues to serve as a gateway to heroin use.

Methamphetamine will remain a significant drug threat in the HIDTA region due to sustained
availability and the societal impact of associated criminal activity. Local manufacturing of
methamphetamine will remain at low levels while crystal meth will continue to be imported across U.S.
borders from large-scale laboratories in Mexico. Expanded methamphetamine production in Mexico,
despite strict Government of Mexico chemical control laws, will continue to sustain the flow of crystal
meth into the United States, including Oregon. Methamphetamine-related crimes such as identity theft,
property and violent crimes will continue to follow the trend of abuse.

Outdoor production of marijuana will continue to be controlled by Mexican National DTOs in
the state. Law enforcement and prosecution efforts in HIDTA counties will likely drive DTO operations
to areas with less law enforcement presence and minimal risk of detection. Furthermore, budgetary
shortfalls will continue to impact the ability of law enforcement officers to effectively locate and
eradicate outdoor grow sites due to prioritization of resources, displacement of staff, and diminished
provision of flight time.

Exploitation of current Medical Marijuana laws will continue to encourage larger indoor
marijuana grow operations, impede law enforcement efforts to investigate illegal marijuana operations,
and contribute to the volume of marijuana trafficking through and out of the state. Home invasion
robberies and theft will likely increase as the number of grow sites proliferate. Liquid THC production -
- and incidence of butane hash oil lab explosions -- is expected to rise as the market expands for
marijuana edibles and demand increases for product that has a strong psychoactive effect. Marijuana
abuse will rise, particularly by young people, as the drug becomes more available and as it is
increasingly perceived as legitimate and safe to use.

Prescription drug abuse and trafficking will continue to rise provided that these drugs remain
widely available, easily accessible and are perceived as a safe, legal alternative to illicit drugs. In
addition, as a greater number of opioid users switch between CPDs and heroin, more heroin and
polydrug distributors will likely add diverted pharmaceuticals to their drug supplies to exploit an
expanding customer market. The proliferation of rogue pharmacies that dispense CPDs without a
prescription and do not comply with pharmacy laws and standards will continue to be a public health
and safety concern.

Trafficking of cocaine in Oregon will continue to decrease as production levels continue to drop
in source countries such as Colombia and as demand for the drug declines.

The demand for synthetic, or designer, drugs is expected to rise due to the wide availability of
related chemicals, drugs and products. As synthetic drugs become more regulated, producers will alter
the chemical composition to create new licit versions of the drugs. Moreover, users will likely use the
internet with greater frequency to purchase raw chemicals and products containing unregulated
ingredients.

45

Prolonged drug cartel wars in Mexico may cause sporadic, spot disruptions in drug supplies from
Mexico. Mexican National DTOs operating in the state will continue to control the transportation and
distribution of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, Mexican-produced marijuana, and marijuana
cultivated from outdoor grows in Oregon. Caucasian DTOs and independent groups will continue to
control transportation and distribution of locally-produced indoor marijuana. Asian criminal groups will
likely continue to expand cannabis operations and trafficking capabilities in Oregon especially with
regard to high-potency marijuana.

Bulk cash smuggling and money service businesses will remain the primary methods of
transferring drug revenues into, through, and out of Oregon. Interdiction efforts by law enforcement
officers will continue to impede the flow of drug proceeds through the state, impacting crime groups that
rely on these funds to operate.

VIII. METHODOLOGY

The Oregon HIDTA threat assessment was developed through consideration of information from
a variety of sources. Quantitative information was collected and reviewed from a variety of measures
such as drug seizures and arrests, census, drug testing, drug-related deaths, substance abuse admissions
to treatment facilities, and drug-impaired driving. National surveys, survey interviews with Oregon law
enforcement officers, and Oregon drug task force reporting were also considered when evaluating trends
in use, production and cultivation levels, and the presence and level of involvement of organized
criminal groups in trafficking, distribution, and related criminal activity.

46


IX. INTRODUCTION

The Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Counter-Drug Strategy is the
Executive Boards plan to reduce the identified drug threat in the Oregon HIDTA areas. The Counter
Drug Strategy is linked to the drug threat and initiatives through a clear delineation of the relationship
between the problems posed by the threat, the actions to be taken by the participating agencies and the
anticipated impact on the region. Oregon HIDTA funds will be expended in a manner to maximize the
leveraging of Federal, state, local and tribal agency contributions that are committed to the HIDTA
mission.

The Oregon HIDTA Counter-Drug Strategy describes how the Executive Board maintains
oversight and direction of the HIDTA, the HIDTA intelligence subsystem, and the plan for area law
enforcement agencies to coordinate and combine drug-control efforts. The strategy embodies the spirit
of the HIDTA program, clearly demonstrating how Federal, state, local and tribal agencies have
combined drug control efforts to reduce drug trafficking, eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort,
maximize resources, and improve intelligence and information sharing. The Oregon HIDTA Counter
Drug Strategy identifies its expected overall accomplishments in the region to support the design of the
strategy and to provide the ability to measure the strategys success at the end of the year. The Oregon
HIDTA Counter Drug Strategy also contains the anticipated developmental standards attainment and
addresses the performance targets set by the Performance Measurement Program (PMP).

The collocated and commingled drug and gang task forces and initiatives are built to implement
the Oregon HIDTA Counter-Drug Strategy and are comprised of full-time, multi-agency participants. If
the HIDTA incorporates an existing task force, intelligence or support operation, or other program into
the HIDTAs Counter-Drug Strategy, then the value added by such a group to the HIDTA is evident.
Additionally, if the existing group is an investigative support element then the amount of HIDTA funds
allocated by the Executive Board must be determined based on specific measurable support provided to
the HIDTA.

HIDTAs nationally have adopted two specific goals to be achieved in meeting the drug
challenge. The Oregon HIDTA Counter Drug Strategy is developed to meet local drug threats according
to designated areas individual needs, in conjunction with the national goals:

GOAL 1: Disrupt the market for illegal drugs by dismantling or disrupting drug trafficking
and/or money laundering organizations; and

GOAL 2: Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIDTA initiatives.

The Oregon HIDTA Counter-Drug Strategy contains the performance targets that should be
realized after the strategy is implemented. The HIDTA goals represent clear targets for the Oregon
HIDTA initiatives. They also provide the foundation upon which performance planning and outcome
measurements are based. As the Oregon HIDTA initiatives develop budget submissions, each initiative
must present programmatic and fiscal requests that are based on the Oregon HIDTA Threat Assessment;
must articulate how the initiatives funding request directly addresses the threat; set realistic
performance measures, and each initiative must eventually provide specific information on how the

47

funding has allowed the Oregon HIDTA to meet its desired outcomes. The Oregon HIDTA initiatives
are developed within clear national guidelines governing all HIDTA activities and expenditures.

The Oregon HIDTA, which consists of nine designated counties and the Warm Springs Indian
Reservation, is governed by an Executive Board comprised of 16 voting members and four ex-officio
non-voting members who represent the participating agencies. The Oregon HIDTA Executive Board,
through subcommittees as needed, oversees and coordinates the integration and synchronization of
efforts to reduce drug trafficking, eliminates unnecessary duplication of equipment or effort, and
systematically improves the sharing of drug intelligence and targeting information. The Executive Board
reviews all initiative requests for approval and submission to the Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP). The Oregon HIDTA Management and Coordination initiative and the Oregon HIDTA
Director support the Executive Board and provide guidance to Oregon HIDTA initiatives.

During 2015 the Oregon HIDTA Management and Coordination initiative will conduct on-site
fiscal and programmatic reviews of each initiative to evaluate their effectiveness and progress. These
review findings will be reported, in written form, and discussed formally with the Executive Board
during scheduled meetings throughout the year.

The Executive Board is involved in all aspects of the intelligence, enforcement, prosecution and
support activities. The Executive Board provides a forum to share important trends in drug trafficking,
gathers information on which drugs are being distributed throughout the region, and supports the
identification, investigation and disruption and dismantlement of drug trafficking organizations (DTO)
by Oregon HIDTA funded enforcement initiatives. The Executive Board also addresses important
administrative issues in its oversight capacity. The Executive Board has established a Finance
Subcommittee that supports the Oregon HIDTA initiatives and its participating agencies on a wide
variety of program and budget issues, computer technology and other matters. The success of the
Oregon HIDTA Program is measured by results, and each Oregon HIDTA initiative is fully accountable
for its success or failure in meeting its objectives.

X. MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS

The overall HIDTA Mission is embodied by the National HIDTA Mission Statement:

NATIONAL HIDTA MISSION

The mission of the HIDTA is to disrupt the market for illegal drugs in the United
States by assisting Federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement entities
participating in the HIDTA program to dismantle and disrupt drug trafficking
organizations, with particular emphasis on drug trafficking regions that have
harmful effects on other parts of the United States.

In conjunction with the national program mission and goals, the Oregon HIDTA Program
operates in accordance with the following mission:

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OREGON HIDTA MISSION

The Oregon HIDTA mission is to facilitate, support and enhance collaborative drug
control efforts among law enforcement agencies and community-based
organizations, thus significantly reducing the impact of illegal trafficking and use of
drugs throughout Oregon.

The Oregon HIDTA Executive Board developed the following vision statement that clearly reflects
what outcomes the Oregon HIDTA strives to achieve:

OREGON HIDTA VISION

Collaborate with law enforcement and community-based organizations to provide a
common voice and unified strategy to eliminate illicit drug trafficking and use in
Oregon.

The Oregon HIDTA values represent the core priorities of the program and are incorporated
in the decision making process and behavior of the Executive Board and the Oregon HIDTA
participants.

OREGON HIDTA VALUES

Partnership
Innovation
Leadership
Excellence

XI. CONCEPT OF STRATEGY

Oregon HIDTA funds will be allocated to those initiatives that demonstrate that they are truly
full-time, multi-agency, Federal, state, local and tribal partnerships successfully investigating and
disrupting drug trafficking organizations that impact the drug threat in their regions, the state, and other
parts of the United States. This does not preclude initiatives from doing local drug enforcement;
however, HIDTA funds will need to be primarily focused on this objective and the results of their efforts
will be measured through the HIDTA Performance Management Program (PMP) database.


49

The Executive Board recognizes that the missions of Federal, state, local and tribal law
enforcement agencies and personnel are different, and yet, need and compliment one another. Their
areas of responsibility are different, but the citizens they serve are the same. The Oregon HIDTA
Executive Board will only approve focused initiatives that bring together Federal, state, local and tribal
personnel in order to leverage their talents and expertise to effectively target and disrupt mid to upper
level drug traffickers and DTOs in the state.

Key Components of the Oregon HIDTA Counter-drug Strategy

The key components of the Oregon HIDTA Counter-drug strategy which are being implemented
in order to achieve the mission of the Oregon HIDTA as well as the goals of the National Drug Control
Strategy are:

1. Promote and facilitate the creation of, and support established, collocated and commingled
interagency - Federal, state, local and tribal - intelligence-driven drug enforcement task forces whose
missions are to eliminate domestic production, trafficking and use of methamphetamine, heroin,
cocaine, marijuana and other dangerous drugs to include the abuse of prescription drugs.

2. Identify and target the most serious and prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations
(DTOs & MLOs) operating in the Oregon HIDTA region.

3. Conduct field operations and investigations, which disrupt and dismantle DTOs and MLOs through
systematic and thorough investigations that lead to successful criminal prosecutions and forfeiture of
illicit assets.

4. Foster, support, promote and facilitate the proactive sharing of criminal intelligence with law
enforcement agencies along the I-5 corridor and nationwide, as appropriate, by providing an
Investigative Support Center (ISC) Analytical Unit and Watch Center that:

a. Serves as a one-stop research shop and coordination umbrella that provides accurate,
detailed and timely tactical and strategic drug intelligence to HIDTA initiatives, HIDTA
participating agencies, and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate both locally and
nationally.

b. Serves as a primary investigative resource for technical support and equipment, to include
state-of-the-art Title III and Pen Register equipment, Global Positioning System (GPS)
tracking equipment, crime analysis equipment, electronic surveillance equipment, undercover
equipment, video enhancement services, and computer forensic services.

c. Operates an electronic officer safety warning system that serves to de-conflict and coordinate
tactical operations and investigations occurring in close proximity to each other on a seven
day per week, twenty-four hour basis.

5. Provide quality training to law enforcement personnel to enhance their investigative, management
and officer safety skills in order to successfully eliminate drug trafficking and use at all levels.

6. Promote the creation, and support of existing, community based drug prevention and recovery
initiatives whose missions are to significantly reduce the impacts of illegal drug use in the Oregon
HIDTA region.

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Methodology

The methodology used to prepare this Oregon HIDTA Counter Drug Strategy Report of Program
Year (PY) 2015 was to evaluate the Oregon HIDTA Threat Assessment Supplemental Report, the
Oregon HIDTA Initiatives PMP statistical reports, and other classified and open source information
collected during the previous year.

Oregon HIDTA Organizational Composition

A. Oregon HIDTA Organizational Chart

ONDCP

Oregon HIDTA Executive Board

Oregon HIDTA Director

Oregon HIDTA Initiatives

B. Oregon HIDTA Executive Board Composition by Agency

The agency composition of the Oregon HIDTA Executive Board is as follows:

1 Federal - Steven Cagen, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
2 Federal - Cam Strahm, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
3 Federal - Gregory Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
4 Federal - Kathleen Barcklow , Supervisory Special Agent
Internal Revenue Service
5 Federal - Amanda Marshall, United States Attorney
United States Attorneys Office (USAO), District of Oregon
6 Federal - Russ Burger, U.S Marshal
United States Marshal Service (USMS), District of Oregon
7 Federal - Loren Good, Special Agent in Charge
United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
8 Federal - Colene Domenech , Resident Agent in Charge
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF)
9 Local - Larry Blanton, Deschutes County Sheriff
Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (DCSO)
10 Local - James Ferraris, Deputy Chief of Police
Salem Police Department (SPD)

51

11 Local - John Foote, District Attorney
Clackamas County District Attorney's Office (CCDA)
12 Local - Stuart Roberts, Chief of Police
Pendleton Police Department
13 Local - Craig Roberts, Clackamas County Sheriff
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)
14 State - Darin Tweedt, Chief Counsel
Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ)
15 State - Mike Bieniewicz, Colonel, Counter Drug Support Program
Oregon National Guard (ONG)
16 State - Patrick Ashmore, Captain, Criminal Division
Oregon State Police (OSP)
Ex-Officio
Michael Loudermilk, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
United States Forest Service (USFS)
Dwight Holton, Chief Executive Officer
Oregon Partnership, Lines for Life (LFL)
Tim Hartnett, Executive Director
Comprehensive Options for Drug Abusers (CODA)
Erik Fisher, President
Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association (ONEA)

C. List of Participating Agencies

The number of fulltime participants in the Oregon HIDTA Program:

Federal Law Enforcement: 54
State Law Enforcement: 38
Local Law Enforcement: 116
National Guard: 6
Tribal Law Enforcement 3
Total: 217

Agencies with full-time participants in HIDTA Initiatives are as follows:

Federal agencies:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF)
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
United States Marshals Service (USMS)

State agencies:
Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ)
Oregon National Guard (ONG)
Oregon State Police (OSP)

52

Local agencies:
Ashland Police Department
Beaverton Police Department
Bend Police Department
Boardman Police Department
Canby Police Department
Clackamas County District Attorneys Office
Clackamas County Sheriffs Office
Crook County Sheriffs Office
Deschutes County Sheriffs Office
Douglas County Sheriffs Office
Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team
Eugene Police Department
Hermiston Police Department
Hillsboro Police Department
Jackson County Parole & Probation
Jackson County Sheriffs Office
Keizer Police Department
Lane County District Attorneys Office
Lane County Parole and Probation
Marion County Sheriffs Office
Medford Police Department
Milton Freewater Police Department
Milwaukie Police Department
Morrow County Sheriffs Office
Multnomah County Sheriffs Office
Oregon City Police Department
Pendleton Police Department
Prineville Police Department
Redmond Police Department
Roseburg Police Department
Salem Police Department
Springfield Police Department
Tigard Police Department
Umatilla County Sheriffs Office
Washington County Sheriffs Office

Part-time only
Amtrak Police Department
Jackson County District Attorneys Office
Jefferson County Sheriffs Office
Multnomah County Department of Community Justice
Oregon Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training
Port of Portland Police
Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General
United States Attorneys Office
United States Customs and Border Protection
United States Forest Service
United States Postal Service Law Enforcement

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XII. HIDTA GOAL 1: Dismantle and Disrupt Drug Trafficking Organizations

The enforcement components of the Oregon HIDTA will aggressively pursue criminal drug
smuggling, manufacturing, distribution, and money laundering organizations in order to disrupt and
reduce the supply of illegal drugs in the state, region and country. The Oregon HIDTA enforcement
initiatives are responsible for achieving the following performance targets in 2013:

Goal 1 Performance Targets

A. Drug Trafficking Organizations and Money Laundering Organizations Disrupted/Dismantled:

The number of DTOs/MLOs expected to be disrupted/dismantled for 2015 is 37.

The actual number of DTOs/MLOs disrupted/dismantled for 2013 is 37.

B. HIDTA Cases Opened

The estimated number of HIDTA cases opened for 2015 is 3,202.

The actual number of HIDTA cases opened for 2013 is 4,009.

C. Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs Removed from the Marketplace by Law Enforcement
Initiatives:

The estimated Return on Investment for 2015 is $35.00.

The actual Return on Investment for 2013 is $27.70.

D. Return on Investment (ROI) for Assets Removed from the Marketplace by Law Enforcement
Initiatives:



E. Return on Investment (ROI) for Drugs and Assets Removed from the Marketplace by Law
Enforcement Initiatives:



G. HIDTA Clandestine Laboratory Activities:

The expected clandestine methamphetamine laboratory activities for 2015 is:


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CLANDESTINE LABORATORY CASES,
2015
OUTPUTS EXPECTED
Methamphetamine Labs Dismantled 1
Lab Dump Sites Seized 7
Chemical/Glassware/Equipment Seized 3
Children Affected 11

The actual clandestine methamphetamine laboratory activities for 2013 is

CLANDESTINE METHAMPETIME LABORATORY
ACTIVITIES,
2013
OUTPUTS ACTUAL
Methamphetamine Labs Dismantled 3
Lab Dump Sites Seized 5
Chemical/Glassware/Equipment Seized 3
Children Affected 3

H. HIDTA Fugitive Apprehensions:

The estimated number of fugitive apprehensions for 2015 is 1,346.

The actual number of fugitive apprehensions for 2013 is 1,431.

Goal 1 Initiatives

A. Enforcement Subsystem

During PY 2015 The Oregon HIDTA Executive Board and ONDCP will support thirteen (13) multi-
agency drug enforcement (investigative) initiatives in the Oregon HIDTA
ll
:
Clackamas County
Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF)
Deschutes County
Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Task Force (CODE)
Douglas County
Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT)
Jackson County
DEA Medford Task Force (Oregon DEA Sub-Initiative)
Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE)
Lane County
DEA Eugene Task Force (Oregon DEA Sub-Initiative)

ll
The Oregon HIDTA DEA includes 4 sub-initiatives; DEA Portland, Salem, Eugene and Medford Task Forces.

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Lane County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET)
Marion County
DEA Salem Task Force (Oregon DEA Sub-Initiative)
Multnomah County
HIDTA Interdiction Team (HIT)
Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT)
Oregon HIDTA DEA
DEA Portland Task Force (Oregon DEA Sub-Initiative)
Oregon Financial Crimes Task Force
Portland Area Metro Gang Task Force (PAMGTF)
United States Marshals Service HIDTA Fugitive Task Force
Umatilla County
Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT)
Warm Springs Indian Reservation
Warm Springs Police Department (WSPD)
Washington County
Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN)

All thirteen (13) of the Oregon HIDTA enforcement initiatives implement the strategy by
concentrating the value-added HIDTA resources on enforcement and investigative enhancements
which enable them to target the members of high-value drug trafficking and money laundering
organizations (DTOs & MLOs) which results in better cases, targeted prosecutions, reduced drug
trafficking, reduced drug use, reduced drug availability, improved community livability, and reduced
drug-related crime and violence.

These enforcement and investigative enhancements are primarily targeted at identified drug
trafficking organizations and their members by utilizing additional HIDTA funds to purchase evidence
and information, analyze the meaning of that information, work additional overtime, employ new
technology and obtain training to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of investigators. Every effort
is made by HIDTA initiatives to leverage resources and information by enhancing collaboration between
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

B. Prosecution Subsystem
The Lane County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) utilizes Oregon HIDTA
funds to pay for a full time collocated prosecutor. This prosecutor is cross-designated to bring cases in
both Federal and state court. This enhanced prosecution component provides direct case consultation for
major investigations and enables the prosecution of targeted and complex drug cases including
additional prosecutions of appropriate cases in Federal court. This component increases the impact of
enforcement and the investigative capabilities of the initiative.

Every other Oregon HIDTA enforcement initiative has created close working relationships with
the Federal and state prosecutors that work within their jurisdictions. The non HIDTA funded Federal
and state prosecutors in the Oregon HIDTA areas also provide ongoing case consultation for major
investigations which enhance the prosecution of targeted and complex drug cases in Federal and state
court. As is the case in Lane County, the relationships that have been built between the enforcement
initiatives and prosecutors in the other HIDTA designated areas in Oregon increase the impact of
enforcement and the investigative capabilities of each Oregon HIDTA initiative.


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XIII. HIDTA GOAL 2: Increase the Efficiency of Law Enforcement Agencies
Participating in HIDTAs

The Oregon HIDTA Program has created and implemented four initiatives that are designed to
assist, complement and enhance the enforcement components of the Oregon HIDTA. The four support
initiatives, which are described in the Goal 2 Initiatives section that follows, are responsible for
achieving the following targets in 2015:

Goal 2 Performance Targets

A. HIDTA Training Assistance:

The expected HIDTA training assistance to be provided for 2015 is:

TRAINING ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED,
2015
COURSES TO BE OFFERED EXPECTED
Number of Students for
Analytical Courses 10
Enforcement Courses 350
Management/Administrative Courses 1
Number of Students for Demand
Reduction Courses 0
Hours of Training Provided for
Enforcement Courses 8,540
Hours of Training Provided for Demand
Reduction Courses 0


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The actual training assistance provided for 2013 is:

TRAINING ASSISTANCE PROVIDED, 2013
COURSES OFFERED ACTUAL
Enforcement Courses 341
Number of Students for Demand
Reduction Courses 0
Enforcement Courses 8,893
Hours of Training Provided for Demand
Reduction Courses 0

B. Event and Case Deconflictions:

The expected HIDTA event and case deconflictions for 2015 is:
EVENT AND CASE DECONFLICTIONS
SUBMITTED, 2015
OUTPUTS EXPECTED
Event Deconflictions Submitted 2,830
Case Deconflictions Submitted 211,123

The actual HIDTA event and case deconflictions for 2013 is:

EVENT AND CASE DECONFLICTIONS
SUBMITTED, 2013
OUTPUTS ACTUAL
Event De-conflictions Submitted 2,654
Case De-conflictions Submitted 289,269


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C. Cases Provided Analytical Support:

The expected number of cases to be provided analytical support for 2015 is 213.

The actual number of cases provided analytical support for 2013 is 537.

D. Leads Referred to Other HIDTAs and Other Agencies:

The expected number of leads to be referred for 2013 is 175.

The actual number of leads referred for 2013 is 127.

Goal 2 Initiatives

A. Intelligence and Information Sharing Initiatives

Investigative Support Center

The Oregon HIDTA/Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) has one Intelligence and
Investigative Support Center (ISC) located in Salem, Oregon. The key functional components and
services of the ISC are:

1. A Watch Center staffed five days per week, 10 hours per day with 24-hour remote coverage
for event deconfliction and officer safety.

2. Post seizure analysis services are available through assigned intelligence analysts on a case-
by-case basis.

3. Long term analytical case support is available through assigned intelligence analysts on a
case-by-case basis.

4. Electronic, secure, email connectivity is available for Federal, state, local and tribal law
enforcement agencies, criminal databases, national intelligence centers, WSIN, El Paso
Intelligence Center (EPIC), and other databases via RISSNET.

5. The ISC Strategic Analytical Unit develops and publishes an Annual Drug Threat
Assessment, the HIDTA Annual Report, and other drug related informational and criminal
intelligence bulletins.

6. All clan lab data is entered in the Regional Information Sharing Service Intelligence
database (RISS Intel.) and forwarded to EPIC.

7. The ISC initiative supports and implements the strategy by providing a one stop law
enforcement resource and service center accessible both by phone, and electronically via
RISS, for authenticated law enforcement personnel anywhere in the nation to securely, and
reliably:


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Electronically share criminal intelligence with the appropriate Federal, state, or local
agencies and/or databases.
Electronically query appropriate databases for investigative leads.
Electronically share criminal case and officer safety information.
Electronically deconflict cases or events.
Electronically communicate crime trends.
Electronically communicate training information.
Electronically share case photographs and reports.
Electronically communicate via secure e-mail.

B. Support Initiatives

Management and Administration (Marion County)

The Administrative Initiative handles the day-to-day business for the Oregon HIDTA and is the
primary point of contact between each initiative, the Oregon HIDTA Executive Board, ONDCP, the
National HIDTA Assistance Center (NHAC), and other private and government agencies. This initiative
is staffed by one (1) full-time contract employee, the Oregon HIDTA Director, and two (2) full-time
Oregon Department of Justice employees, the financial manager and the administrative assistant.

Duties of all administrative staff are to manage the day-to-day HIDTA functions on behalf of the
Oregon HIDTA Executive Board. The first priority is programmatic support, information coordination,
fiscal and technical service to the HIDTA participating agencies.

The duties include: the administration and/or developing of the four annually required documents
of the HIDTA program: The annual Threat Assessment, the annual Counter-Drug Strategy, the annual
Initiative Budget Proposal, and the Annual Report.

Additional duties include programmatic, administrative, and fiscal oversight in support of all
HIDTA initiatives to ensure they are in compliance with the ONDCP/HIDTA program policy, and other
program requirements; establish and maintain a central inventory tracking system for property purchased
with HIDTA funds; assist HIDTA agencies/initiatives in establishing and recording measurable
outcomes and outputs based upon the PMP; provide advice and counsel to the Executive Board
concerning the status, direction, and success of the HIDTA initiatives, programs, and ONDCP
requirements; establish an internal review process to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of each
initiative in achieving its targeted outputs and outcomes.

Oregon HIDTA Training Initiative (Marion County)

The Oregon HIDTA Training Initiative is managed by the Oregon Department of Public Safety
Standards and Training (DPSST) with part-time staff. The mission of the Oregon HIDTA Training
Initiative is to provide the Oregon HIDTA, participating agencies, task forces and regional law
enforcement officers with targeted, high priority training and an information sharing forum that directly
enhances their effort to measurably disrupt and/or dismantle drug trafficking organizations, money
laundering operations and related violent crime groups in accordance with ONDCP and HIDTA
strategy.

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Oregon HIDTA initiatives and participating agencies are surveyed every year relating to their
training needs necessary to assist them with their operations that support the Oregon HIDTA strategy.
The surveys are used to identify, prioritize and schedule training. Efforts are made to ensure equitable
training opportunities are available for all initiatives and participating agencies.

Cops Mentoring Youth (Multnomah County)

The Oregon Partnership Lines for Life led Cops Mentoring Youth demand reduction initiative
is supported by the Oregon HIDTA with baseline and supplemental funding. The Cops Mentoring
Youth initiative provides resources to law enforcement officers to educate youth on the faces of
addiction and the dangers of substance abuse, and the risks associated with use that can lead to youth
violence and criminal street gangs. Through interviews with addicts, youth involved in the initiative
will learn the real and long term impact of drug use and street gang involvement on families,
neighborhoods, and the individuals life. The initiative fosters productive and active mentoring
relationships between local law enforcement personnel and youth through planning and production of an
effective youth-driven media campaign about the dangers of drugs.

Oregon Partnership Lines for Lifes Cops Mentoring Youth program focuses on reducing the
demand for drugs and positively impacting community response to neighborhood drug activity while
engaging youth with Portland Police Bureau officers as their mentors in a community-wide education
and awareness campaign. Utilizing OPs Youth Voices, Youth Choices curriculum, which guides
middle and high school students to create film-based media messaging addressing illegal substance
abuse issues in their neighborhoods, the project creates video elements to be shared with leaders and
residents to educate them about the impact of drug use, trafficking and gang activity in their
neighborhoods.

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XIV. APPENDICES Oregon HIDTA 2014 Drug Threat Assessment Tables

Appendix A

Abbreviations

CBP U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CCITF Clackamas County Interagency Task Force
CODE Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team
CPDs Controlled Prescription Drugs
CPOT Consolidated Priority Organization Targets
DCE/SP DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program
DDT Multnomah County Dangerous Drugs Team
DEA Drug Enforcement Administration
DEC Drug Evaluation Classification Program
DHE Domestic Highway Enforcement
DINT Douglas County Interagency Narcotics Team
DMT Dimethyltryptamine
DTO Drug Trafficking Organization
FDA Food and Drug Administration
HIDTA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
HIT HIDTA Interdiction Team
INET Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team
LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide
MADGE Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement
MDMA 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine
MNDTO Mexican National Drug Trafficking Organization
OCDETF Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
OMG Outlaw Motorcycle Gang
OMMP Oregon Medical Marijuana Program
ONDCP Office of National Drug Control Policy
OSP Oregon State Police
PAMGTF Portland Area Metro Gang Task Force
PDX Portland International Airport
RADE Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team
RPOT Regional Priority Organization Targets
SAR Suspicious Activity Report
THC Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
USMS United States Marshals Service
USPS United States Postal Service
WIN Westside Interagency Narcotics Team

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Appendix B

Oregon Medical Marijuana Program Statistics, April 1, 2014

Number of persons currently holding medical marijuana cards 60,516
Number of persons holding caregiver cards 30,638
Number of Oregon-licensed physicians with current OMMP patients
(MDs and DOs only) 1,574
Number of applications denied/rejected between 1/1/13 and 12/31/13 1,654

Reported medical conditions include:
Agitation related to Alzheimers disease 76
Cachexia 1,122
Cancer 2,827
Glaucoma 1,014
HIV+/AIDS 731
Nausea 9,101
PTSD <50
Severe pain 59,670
Seizures, including but not limited to epilepsy 1,490
Persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those 15,888
caused by Multiple Sclerosis

Source: Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, April 2014.


63

Appendix C
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration Domestic Cannabis/Suppression Program (DCE/SP).

Appendix D
Note: Collection and reporting of other clan labs seized began in 2012. Source: Oregon Department of Justice.
2005
(Meth only)
2009
(Meth only)
2010
(Meth only)
2011
(Meth only)
2012
(Meth & Other labs)
2013
(Meth & Other labs)
Statewide 192 13 13 10 7 10
HI DTA Area
Clackamas 15 1 1
Deschutes 0 MDMA (1)
Douglas 14 1 1
Meth (2); DMT (1);
Hash oil (1)
Jackson 6 1 Meth (1) DMT (1)
Lane 12 DMT (1) Meth (1); DMT (1)
Marion 11
Multnomah 33 2 7 3 Meth (2) Meth (2)
Umatilla 39 5 1 1 Meth (1)
Washington 12 1 Meth (1); DMT (1) Meth (2)
HIDTA Counties 142 8 10 7
Meth (6); DMT (3);
Hash Oil (1)
Meth (6); DMT (2);
MDMA (1)
Lab Seizures, Methamphetamine and Other Labs, HIDTA Counties and Statewide, 2005, 2009-2013
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Total Plants
(In/Outdoor)
Clackamas
691
(689/2)
8,379
(773/7,606)
1,025
(700/325)
3,602
(3,486/116)
425
(347/78)
1,331
(928/403)
Deschutes
943
(943/0)
809
(624/185)
199
(199/0)
357
(357/0)
786
(781/5)
58
(58/0)
Douglas
10,581
(696/9,885)
22,492
(618/21,874)
3,907
(164/3,743)
138
(52/86)
476
(254/222)
3,998
(363/3,635)
Jackson
520
(227/293)
26,880
(8/26,872)
28,504
(337/28,167)
3,255
(383/2,872)
9,340
(376/8,964)
4,874
(450/4,424)
Lane
8,948
(2,547/6,401)
9,129
(8,349/780)
2,726
(1,904/822)
2,888
(2,640/248)
3,640
(3,534/106)
4,836
(570/4,266)
Marion
368
(303/65)
590
(113/477)
653
(184/469)
215
(99/116)
10
(4/6)
248
(248/0)
Multnomah
2,804
(2,615/189)
4,295
(4,167/128)
8,348
(8,327/21)
5,505
(5,494/11)
3,009
(2,959/50)
3,261
(3,233/28)
Umatilla
22
(21/1)
7,365
(0/7,365)
3,873
(62/3,811)
3,318
(24/3,294)
164
(164/0)
388
(260/128)
Warm Springs
12,828
(0/12,828)
1,630
(0/1,630)
0
(0/0)
3
(3/0)
0
(0/0)
0
(0/0)
Washington
608
(5/603)
2,857
(107/2,750)
1,338
(882/456)
332
(319/13)
823
(702/121)
2,114
(2,089/25)
HIDTA Total
38,313
(8,046/30,267)
84,426
(14,759/69,667)
50,573
(12,759/37,814)
19,613
(12,857/6,756)
18,673
(9,121/9,552)
21,108
(8,199/12,909)
Statewide Total
85,701
(8,805/76,896)
230,011
(19,863/210,148)
204,937
(16,511/188,426)
140,313
(15,081/125,232)
33,273
(13,197/20,076)
28,035
(9,115/18,920)
Marijuana Plants Seized in HIDTA Region and Statewide, 2008-2013
HIDTA Region

64

XV. ENDNOTES

1
Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1,
2013 (NST-EST2013-01), U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, December 2013.
2
State and County QuickFacts, Oregon, U.S. Census Bureau, 2013.
3
2013 Oregon Population Report, Population Research Center, Portland State University, extracted January 2014.
4
National Threat Assessment: The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use on American Society. National Drug Intelligence
Center, Department of Justice, May 2011.
5
What Americas Users Spend on Illegal Drugs, 2000-2010, RAND Corporation, February 2014.
6
Table 1. Illicit Drug Use in Past Month, by Age Group and State: Annual Averages Based on 2011 and 2012 NSDUHs,
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, downloaded April 2014.
7
Population Demographics, Oregon Department of Corrections, January 1, 2014.
8
Inmate Population Profile for 05/01/2014, Oregon Department of Corrections.
9
DOC Admissions for Drug Possession /Manufacturing/Delivery, Theft, and ID Theft, Oregon Department of Corrections,
March 2014.
10
Drug Related Deaths 2013, Oregon State Medical Examiner, Oregon State Police.
11
National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2013.
12
Ibid.
13
HIDTA Performance Management Process database, May 2014.
14
Mexican drug cartels move deeper into United States to maximize profits, Associated Press, 4/1/13.
15
Oregon HIDTA Performance Management Process database, April 2014; Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA
Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2014.
16
Drug cartels in Oregon: Violence in the Northwest, Oregonian, 6/21/13.
17
HIDTA Performance Management Process database, April 2013.
18
19
United States Marshal's Service, District of Oregon, e-mail correspondence, March 2014.
20
DrugFacts Heroin, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Revised April 2013.
21
Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
22
The International Heroin Market, Office of National Drug Control Policy, http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/global-
heroin-market; World Drug Report 2013, United Nations; National Drug Threat Assessment Summary 2013, Drug
Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
23
National Drug Threat Assessment Summary 2013, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
24
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2014.
25
26
27
Oregon Drug Arrest Graphs, Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, April 2014.
28
Addictions and Mental Health Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, April 2014.
29
30
Community-Based Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs Providing Naloxone United States, 20101, MMWR News
Synopsis for February 16, 2012, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
31
Moving the Needle, Willamette Week, 4/16/14.
32
2013 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
33
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey HIDTA, March 2014.
34
Ibid.
35
DrugFacts: Heroin, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Revised April 2013.
36
DEA Drug Fact Sheet: Methamphetamine, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
37
38
Ibid.
39
40
Addictions and Mental Health Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, April 2014.
41
Ibid.
42
43
Drug Related Deaths 2013, Oregon State Medical Examiner, Oregon State Police; Oregon meth-related deaths jump 22
percent in 2010, most in a decade, OregonLive.com, May 13, 2010.
44
45
Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Highlights, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration, 2013.

65

46
Ibid.
47
Table 3. Marijuana Use in Past Month, by Age Group and State: Percentages, Annual Averages Based on 2011 and 2012
NSDUHs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, downloaded April 2014.
48
Addictions and Mental Health Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, March 2013.
49
Brain changes are associated with casual marijuana use in young adults, News Releases Archives, Society for
Neuroscience, 4/15/14; Topics in brief: Marijuana, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Revised December 2011.
50
Marijuana users have abnormal brain structure and poor memory, Northwestern University, 12/16/13.
51
Casual marijuana use linked with brain abnormalities, study finds, FoxNews.com, 4/15/14.
52
Quarterly Report Number 120, Reporting Period 12/16/2012 03/15/2013, Potency Monitoring Program, University of
Mississippi, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
53
Data received from the Potency Monitoring Project, University of Mississippi, April 2013.
54
High-Potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis, British Journal of Psychiatry, 2009; Non-Medical Marijuana III: Rite of
Passage or Russian Roulette?, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, June 18,
2008.
55
Eradication Estimates, Domestic Cannabis Cultivation Assessment 2007, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S.
Department of Justice, February 2007.
56
Email communication, MADGE task force, March 30, 2012.
57
Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Department of Human Services, April 1, 2014.
58
Cops: Crooks Hide Behind Medical Marijuana Law, KVAL.com, May 20, 2011; Rampant Medical Marijuana Abuse
Attracting Drug Trafficking to Southern Oregon, KPIC.com, March 15, 2010.
59
Rate of poison center calls for unintentional pediatric marijuana exposures more than tripled in states that decriminalized
marijuana before 2005, CESAR FAX, Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland, College Park, 3/3/14.
60
61
Dispensary Directory, Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program, Oregon Health Authority, updated 5/16/14.
62
City and County Moratorium s, Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program, Oregon Health Authority, updated 5/1/14.
63
CDC Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses a U.S. Epidemic, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, January 13, 2012; 2013 National Drug Threat Assessment, Drug Enforcement
Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, November 2013.
64
Prescription drug deaths rise with opioid sales, www.Medscape.com, 11/12/13.
65
Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables, 2013.
66
Table 8. Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers in the Past Year, by Age Group and State: Percentages, Annual Averages
Based on 2011 and 2012 NSDUHs, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
67
Unintentional prescription drug overdose in Oregon, Oregon Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Public Health
Division, Oregon Health Authority, Winter 2013.
68
69
Ibid.
70
Oregon State Medical Examiner Releases 2013 Drug-Related Death Statistics, Oregon State Police.
71
Oregon State Medical Examiner Releases 2012 Drug-Related Death Statistics, Oregon State Police, June 4, 2013.
72
Unintentional Prescription Drug Overdose in Oregon, Oregon Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Public Health
Division, Oregon Health Authority, Winter 2013.
73
2013 Annual Report to the PDMP Advisory Commission, Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, Oregon Health
Authority, January 2014.
74
Prescription drug deaths rise with opioid sales, www.medscape.com, 11/12/13.
75
Responding to the Prescription Drug Epidemic: Strategies for Reducing Abuse, Misuse, Diversion, and Fraud, Testimony
by Gil Kerlikowske, Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC, Senate Judiciary
Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism Hearing, May 24, 2011.
76
High School Seniors Who Misuse Prescription Narcotics Most Likely to Obtain Drugs from a Friend/Relative or a
Personal Prescription, CESAR FAX, Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland, College Park, April 23,
2012; PATS Key Findings: Released April 23, 2013, 2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study; Policy impact: Prescription
Painkiller Overdoses, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
77
78
Policy Impact: Prescription Drug Overdose State Rates, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
79
FDA Approves New Formulation for OxyContin, FDA News Release, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, April 5, 2010.
80
Prescription Pill Use Among Teens Leads to Heroin Addiction, NJ Experts Testify, JoinTogether, June 16, 2011; Painkiller
Use Breeds New Face of Heroin Addiction, NBC News, June 19, 2012.
81
Initiation into Prescription Opioid Misuse Amongst Young Injection Drug Users, International Journal of Drug Policy,
June 19, 2011.

66

82
Associations of nonmedical pain reliever use and initiation of heroin use in the United States, Center for Behavioral Health
Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, August 2013.
83
New pain pills approval: Genuinely frightening, CNN, 2/26/14; Emerging Drug Trends, ROCIC Special Research
Report, Regional Organized Crime Information Center, 2014.
84
85
National Drug Threat Assessment, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, November 2013; Survey
Shows Significant Drop in Cocaine Production in Colombia, Office of National Drug Control Policy, The White House, July
30, 2012; World Drug Report 2013, United Nations.
86
87
88
Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance Abuse, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
April 2010; Data obtained from the Addictions and Mental Health Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, March
2011.
89
90
91
92
2013 National Drug Threat Assessment, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, November 2013.
93
Cannabis, Synthetic Cannabinoids, and Psychosis Risk: What The Evidence Says, Current Psychiatry, Vol 10, No. 9.
September 2011.
94
Kidney Failure Cases Linked to Synthetic Marijuana, News Release, Oregon Health Authority, October 5, 2012.
95
The Drug Threat in Plain Sight, TIME, 4/21/14.
96
Oregon HIDTA Performance Management Process database, April 2014.
97
Situation Report: Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts): An Emerging Domestic Threat, National Drug Intelligence Center,
U.S. Department of Justice, July 2011.
98
99
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Surveys, March 2013 and 2014.
100
101
Drug Alert Watch: Misuse of Buprenorphine-Related Products, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of
Justice, February 22, 2011; Buprenorphine Now More Likely Than Methadone to Be Found in U.S. Law Enforcement Drug
Seizures, CESAR FAX, Center for Substance Abuse Research, University of Maryland, College Park, April 2, 2012.
102
103
Ibid.
104
Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program, February 2014.
105
Oregon HIDTA Performance Management Process database, March 2014.
106
Data collected through DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP) and National Marijuana
Initiative (NMI).
107
National Drug Control Strategy 2013 Annual Report, Office of National Drug Control Policy.
108
DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP), February 2014.
109
Ibid.
110
Liquid THC, Information Bulletin, Investigative Support Network, Gulf Coast HIDTA.
111
Honey Oil Extractors, Officer Safety, Oregon State Police Bulletin, 4/24/14.
112
Butane hash oil: A single spark can lead to an explosion during production, The Oregonian, 5/12/14.
113
Marijuana Situation Report, Washington State 2012, Northwest HIDTA.
114
National Drug Threat Assessment 2011, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Justice, September 2011.
115
DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP), April 2013.
116
Data collected through the DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP) and National Marijuana
Initiative (NMI).
117
DEA Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP) data reported to the Oregon Department of Justice,
2014.
118
Estimated Cost of Production for Legalized Cannabis, Working Paper, RAND Drug Policy Research Center, July 2010.
119
Methamphetamine laboratory seizures reported to the Oregon Department of Justice, April 2014.
120
National Drug Threat Survey 2011, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Justice, March 2011.
121
World Drug Report 2013, United Nations; National Drug Threat Survey 2011, Gangs Beyond Borders, California and the
Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime, California Department of Justice, March 2014.
122
Gangs Beyond Borders, California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime, California Department of
Justice, March 2014.

67

123
Justice, March 2014; World Drug Report 2012, United Nations.
124
Justice, March 2014; Business Plan Remakes Meth Market, Wall Street Journal, September 13, 2012.
125
Business Plan Remakes Meth Market, Wall Street Journal, September 13, 2012.
126
Methamphetamine laboratory seizures reported to the Oregon Department of Justice, May 2014.
127
Ibid.
128
World Drug Report 2012, United Nations.
129
130
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013 and 2014.
131
132
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013 and 2014.
133
2010 National Drug Threat Assessment, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Justice.
134
Domestic Highway Enforcement Program statistics, January 2008 through December 2013.
135
Heroin on the Rise in Southern Oregon, KDRV.com, February 15, 2012; 55 Pounds of Heroin Found During Traffic Stop,
KPTV.com, August 26, 2012; Domestic Highway Enforcement Program statistics, January 2008 through December 2013.
136
Domestic Highway Enforcement Program statistics, January 2008 through December 2013.
137
Ibid.
138
Oregon Snapshot, U.S. Freight Railroad Industry Snapshot, Association of American Railroads, 2011.
139
Oregon Titan Fusion Center analysis, April 2010.
140
December, 2013: Calendar Year Report, Monthly Traffic Report, Portland International Airport.
141
Port of Portland Marine Terminal Statistics, 1983 2013, Port of Portland.
142
Oregon Domestic Highway Enforcement program data, January 2008 through December 2013; Oregon HIDTA
Performance Management Process database.
143
144
Ibid.
145
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2012 and 2013.
146
Oregon Domestic Highway Enforcement program data, January 2008 through December 2013.
147
148
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013; Drug Bust Reveals Meth
Now Being Disguised as Liquor, ABC news, November 20, 2012; Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Threat
Assessment Survey, March 2013.
149
Drug Bust Reveals Meth Now Being Disguised as Liquor, ABC news, November 20, 2012.
150
151
152
153
Ibid.
154
155
Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
156
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013 and March 2014.
157
158
Oregon HIDTA Performance Management database, April 2014.
159
2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs,
March 1, 2013.
160
Synthetic Drugs, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, February 2, 2011.
161
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013 and March 2014.
162
Email communication, Strategic Services Division, Drugs and Vice Division, Portland Police Bureau, 4/22/14.
163
164
Ibid.
165
Ibid.
166
Police net 40 arrests, 8 pounds of meth in gang bust, The Columbian, 12/9/2013.
167
OSP Traffic Stop Uncovers Second Large Seizure of Suspected Cocaine, Oregon State Police News Release, February 27,
2009; I-5 traffic Stop Leads Police to 31 Pounds of Cocaine, The Oregonian, February 24, 2009.
168
169
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Threat Assessment Survey, March 2013 and March 2014.
170
Most Rogue Sites Operate from Abroad, and Many Sell Counterfeit Drugs, Government Accountability Office, 2/27/14.

68

171
Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program, Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: April 2014, National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
172
Money Laundering, DEA Programs. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice.
173
US Fed cash-flow data called underused weapon in war on drugs, Complinet Special Report, January 31, 2011.
174
National Drug Threat Assessment 2010, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Justice.
175
Oregon Department of Justice/Oregon HIDTA Drug Threat Survey, March 2014.
176
National Drug Threat Assessment 2010, National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Department of Justice.
177
The SAR Activity Review By the Numbers, Issue 18 (May 2013), Section 1, Exhibit 2, Filings by States and Territories,
January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2012, FINCEN, Oregon.
178
The SAR Activity Review By the Numbers, Issue 18 (May 2013), Section 1, Exhibit 8, Characterization of Suspicious
Activity by State and Territory By Year, January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2012, FINCEN, Oregon.
179
Money Laundering, DEA Programs, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice; Factsheets, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
180
181

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