Drugs in the United States: Rhode Island

State Facts Population: 1,048,319 Law Enforcement Officers: 2,481 State Prison Population: 1,909 Probation Population: 21,753 Violent Crime Rate National Ranking: 37

2001 Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 31.9 kgs. Heroin: 0.8 kgs. Methamphetamine: 0 kgs. Marijuana: 8.5 kgs. Clandestine Laboratories: 1 (DEA, state, and local)

Cocaine is the primary drug of choice in Rhode Island. High quality cocaine is available in Rhode Island and is generally 60%-90% pure. Cocaine traffickers in Rhode Island also service customers in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, and utilize Rhode Island as a transshipment point for distribution throughout New England.

Cocaine: Cocaine continues to be readily available throughout Rhode Island. The cocaine is transported from South America through Southwest Border States via commercial airlines and motor vehicles fitted with sophisticated hidden hydraulic compartments. Cocaine is also brought to New England from the Mexican border, hidden within shipments of legitimate goods being transported by tractor-trailer. Much of the cocaine HCl is converted into crack cocaine for sale at the retail level. Cocaine is distributed primarily by Colombian and Dominican traffickers. The majority of the cocaine purchased in Rhode Island is transported in by local suppliers who travel to New York and return to distribute the product.

Heroin: Heroin is widely available in the Rhode Island area and can be purchased in nearly every town and city. Heroin is available in Rhode Island at very high purity levels. During 2001, heroin submitted to the DEA Northeast Laboratory has been analyzed at purity levels as high as 94%. Dominican, Colombian, and Puerto Rican traffickers continue to dominate the heroin trafficking market in Rhode Island. Heroin is transported by courier to Providence via airplane, train and automobile for distribution. Heroin is sold at the retail level in bags, bundles, browns and bricks.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is rarely seen in Rhode Island.

Club Drugs: The state of Rhode Island is seeing an increase in the abuse of “club drugs,” such as MDMA and GHB. MDMA is found in various Nightclubs located in Providence, RI and at rave parties throughout the state. Almost all-local Police departments in Rhode Island have reported and increase in Ecstasy, GHB and Ketamine or “K”. The majority of the MDMA seen in Rhode Island comes from Canada, New York and Boston, MA. The Providence Resident Office seized the first operational ecstasy lab in the state in July 2001. The ecstasy lab had been operational for approximately two months. The lab was located in Central Falls, RI and was capable of producing thousands of tablets.

Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available in all areas of Rhode Island. Prices of marijuana will vary seasonally as the supply fluctuates. The marijuana available in Rhode Island is mostly Mexican, however it is supplemented by limited amounts of other foreign based and domestic marijuana. The majority of the marijuana is imported from the southwest border via parcel carriers and couriers on commercial airlines. Hydroponically produced marijuana and “BC Bud” marijuana are available in Rhode Island. A majority of the “hydro” marijuana and “BC Bud” is transported into Rhode Island via tractor trailers. Canada is the major source of supply for this type of marijuana in Rhode Island.

Other Drugs: The most popular pharmaceutical substance abused in Rhode Island is OxyContin. Much of the diversion is through fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, pharmacy break-ins, and hospital thefts.

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 have been two MET deployments in the State of Rhode Island since the inception of the program: Pawtucket and Providence. These deployments resulted in 56 arrests and the seizure of 7 pounds of cocaine; 11.4 pounds of crack cocaine; 1 pound of heroin; 3,455 Ecstasy pills; 10 vehicles; and over $31,000 in U.S. currency and property.

Special Topics: There are currently two drug treatment courts operating in the state of Rhode Island. According to the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, there are currently 58 drug and alcohol treatment centers operating in the state of Rhode Island.

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