Mexican Cartels Bringing Meth Back

Mexican cartels are bringing meth back in a big way. Methamphetamine has long been closely connected to illegal gangs. Once known as "crank" due to its being hidden within biker gangs' "crank cases" now in light of crackdowns on pseudoephedrine and other components, it is being smuggled in by the tons by the Sinaloas and other cartels. In light of the opioid crisis, the focus as per drugs has been on illegal substances like heroin and legal or illicit use of powerful narcotics like fentanyl and oxycontin, but meth is definitely making a comeback and may give the opiates a run for its money.

Albuquerque Journal reports a repetitive situation involving high-quality, inexpensive methamphetamine being pumped into reservations and areas in rural New Mexico. Methamphetamine is incredibly addictive and due to the incredible lowering of inhibitions it is connected with, use of the drug has been connected to violence, murder sexual assault, child trafficking and other horrors. Several brutal attacks of young girls in Albuquerque and the Mescalero Reservation, as well as the shooting death of a police officer in Rio Rancho, were all tied back directly to the drug that is colloquially known as "glass," "clear," "crystal" or "speed."

The exponential growth in popularity (and all that comes with its widespread use) is dramatic and evident by the numbers. In 2008 there were 23 overdose deaths in all of New Mexico that were related to methamphetamine usage. 2014 saw that number skyrocket to 111. In 2007 a gram of methamphetamine with a purity of about 40% sold for $300. In 2014, the national average had dropped to around $70 and the purity had jumped to around 90% or greater.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A decade ago, meth was all over the US. Congress restricted pseudoephedrines, so people flocked to opioids. Now Mexican cartels are filling the void, making meth cheaper &amp; purer than ever, killing many. Meth is back. The Drug War is as stupid as it is evil <a href="https://t.co/xmw7179iIt">https://t.co/xmw7179iIt</a></p>&mdash; Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) <a href="https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/963760916813811712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>

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2010 saw 4,000 kilograms seized at the Mexican border in the Southwest. In 2015, that number increased to 16,282 kilograms. At the same time, the number of domestic labs dropped more than 50% from 2010 to 2015. Most of the domestic labs being nickel and dime operations capable of producing around 2 ounces or less at a time. This is due to more than 90% of US methamphetamine now being produced in Mexico. It's like a scene out of Breaking Bad, which may, in retrospect be somewhat prophetic.

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Will Glaspy, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge, El Paso Division.

Transit point had this to say:

<quote>“They are controlling more of the distribution line, the entire line from the manufacture … to the actual distribution."</quote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So basically, immigration is in halvesies with the Mexican drug cartels, just not in on the back end.<br>Nice!<a href="https://t.co/7Qnh0xFQWD">https://t.co/7Qnh0xFQWD</a></p>&mdash; Troy🇺🇸 (@Troy75801) <a href="https://twitter.com/Troy75801/status/963589860958318592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2018</a></blockquote>

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A pound of the drug now sells for as low as $7,200 but the average price per pound in New Mexico hovers around $8,000. For those who distribute the drug this can mean major profits as the contents are packaged in baggies for $25, $50 or $100 to "tweakers." Users of the drug can spend days on end awake for a couple hundred dollars worth of "product." Considering the fact the drug can result in aggression and amphetamine based psychosis, this is seriously exacerbated by sleep deprivation.

Being from a small, Southern town that was hit hard from the early 90's into the early 2000's I fear for the future of the youth who may mistakenly fall prey to this deadly drug. I've seen first hand the horrors of meth as it dissolves moral boundaries, teeth and the very soul of its users.

Source:

https://www.abqjournal.com/950174/next-door.html