Drugs in the United States: Connecticut

State Facts Population: 3,405,565 Law Enforcement Officers: 8,485 State Prison Population: 18,206 Probation Population: 55,070 Violent Crime Rate National Ranking: 32

2001 Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 24.5 kgs. Heroin: 4.1 kgs. Methamphetamine: 0 kgs. Marijuana: 42.6 kgs. Clandestine Laboratories: 0(DEA, state, and local)

Powder cocaine and crack cocaine pose the greatest drug threat in Connecticut. Crack cocaine is a significant problem in the urban areas of the state. Located between the drug distribution centers of New York and Boston, Connecticut is an important transit and destination area for drugs. Interstate 95, the major north-south route on the East Coast, extends along Connecticut’s southern shore through Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London; it connects New York City with Boston and continues to the U.S-Canada border. Interstate 91 extends from New Haven north to Massachusetts, Vermont, and the U.S.-Canada border. These interstates intersect in New Haven and form what is known by law enforcement as the New England Pipeline.

Cocaine: Cocaine is widely abused in Connecticut. However, crack cocaine seems to dominate street level distribution. Jamaican and Hispanic groups are largely responsible for the cocaine supply in Connecticut. African American, Puerto Rican and Dominican groups are responsible for street distribution. The majority of the cocaine purchased in Connecticut is transported by local suppliers who travel to New York City and return to distribute the product. Intelligence indicates that large amounts of cocaine are transported into the Hartford area from Jamaica via airline couriers.

Heroin: Heroin is readily available in Connecticut. Heroin is particularly popular in the Southwest and South Central districts of the state. In the Hartford area, heroin is coming back into popularity as the members of area gangs are being released from prison. Heroin vendors are Hispanic, mostly Dominican and Puerto Rican. Wholesale quantities of heroin are purchased in New York City; heroin is transported into Connecticut by couriers using various modes of transportation from New York City and other areas.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is rarely distributed or abused in Connecticut. Caucasian independent dealers distribute the limited quantity of methamphetamine available in the state.

Club Drugs: MDMA (Ecstasy) is readily available and has become a popular drug of choice among college age individuals residing in Connecticut. Intelligence information indicates that Israeli Organized Crime Groups are responsible for a portion of the distribution of MDMA throughout the state. Intelligence indicates that on the weekend, local dealers are selling approximately 100-150 pills, offering college students an opportunity to make fast money. In early 2001, three popular rave clubs were closed in Hartford. The nightclubs were closed using the State of Connecticut Nuisance Abatement Statutes, which combine civil remedies and innovative problem solving with traditional policing and criminal prosecution to address chronic problems eroding the quality of life in communities throughout Connecticut. With the seizure of an MDMA lab in Connecticut, it is evident that MDMA is manufactured here. In mid-2001, Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Task Force with the assistance of DEA Hartford RO executed a state search warrant on the first ever MDMA lab in Connecticut. The MDMA was being manufactured in a garage; the lab was capable of producing 200 pills, 2 to 3 times a week.

Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available in all areas of Connecticut. The marijuana available in Connecticut is Mexico-produced and distributed by Mexican groups located in Arizona, southern California, and Texas. A majority of the marijuana destined for Connecticut is transported by Jamaican groups via tractor trailer. Smaller quantities of marijuana typically are transported into Connecticut using package delivery services. Locally produced marijuana is also available in Connecticut. Cannabis is cultivated indoors and outdoors in Connecticut. Law enforcement officials have seized cannabis plots ranging from small grows intended for personal use to large grows containing hundreds of plants. Outdoor cannabis plots usually are found in forests, on public land, intermingled with crops such as corn or in vegetable gardens. Outdoor cannabis grows are seized primarily in the northwestern and eastern areas of the state.

Other Drugs: Oxycontin is becoming the most popular pharmaceutical drug of choice in Connecticut. Other abused drugs are Vicodin, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Percocet, Valium and Diazepam. Another drug, “Wet”, is a mixture of embalming fluid and mint leaves or PCP and mint. It is purchased in small containers and smoked alone or can be combined with marijuana. “Wet” is becoming popular with young urban kids in Connecticut. In 2001, DEA Hartford seized 5,000 tablets of suspected MDMA from a UPS package sent from Austin, TX. The DEA Northeast Regional Lab reported that the 5,000 tablets tested negative for MDMA and that the tablets were chemical substances formally known as piperazines(BZP). Piperazines produce stimulant and hallucinogenic effects similar to MDMA. These chemicals are not currently controlled under the Controlled Substance Act.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. There have been 348 deployments completed resulting in 14,794 arrests of violent drug criminals as of June 2002. There has been one MET deployment in the State of Connecticut since the inception of the program. The MET deployment to Bridgeport, Connecticut resulted in 274 arrests and the seizure of .7 pounds of crack cocaine; .5 pounds of heroin; 490 Percocet pills; two vehicles; three weapons; and over $73,000 in U.S. currency and property.

Special Topics: Currently there are 9 state treatment facilities in Connecticut.

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