News (Media Awareness Project) - US NH: Crack, Heroin Dealers As Different As Their Products |
| Title: | US NH: Crack, Heroin Dealers As Different As Their Products |
| Published On: | 2000-08-14 |
| Source: | Union Leader (NH) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 12:41:48 |
CRACK, HEROIN DEALERS AS DIFFERENT AS THEIR PRODUCTS
For undercover narcotics agents in New Hampshire, there is a distinct
difference between how a deal goes down with a crack cocaine dealer and a
heroin dealer.
"Crack dealers are extremely paranoid," said the agent involved in last week
s heroin bust in Manchester.
"They ask a lot of questions and want you to use with them. But you cant do
it. You cant even pretend to do it," she said.
Heroin dealers, on the other hand, seem to be more relaxed, more laid back,
she said.
State Police Sgt. Michael Hambrook, a supervisor in the Narcotics
Investigations Unit, believes the difference between the dealers reflects
the difference in the penalties for selling crack and heroin.
Most crack cocaine dealers have faced federal charges in New Hampshire in
recent years, which come with stiff mandatory sentences.
"You see people who wont sell crack anymore because the penalties are so
stiff," Hambrook said. "They might sell powder cocaine and let people make
their own crack."
The penalties for heroin are not nearly as harsh, he said, so even when a
user/dealer is arrested, the source will still sell to him.
"They can drive down tonight and buy more heroin from the source," he said.
"They dont seem to have a fear that hes cooperating, because the
punishment isnt like crack."
The Puerto Rican cousins arrested in Manchester last week were, Hambrook
said, "close to the source," evidenced by their ability to come up with 100
to 200 bags of heroin at a time.
The undercover trooper said, "Typically, when youre dealing with heroin,
you might be able to get 5 to 10 bags. He doesnt have any problem getting
what I need."
Hambrook said a lot of New Hampshire dealers are addicts themselves who deal
to support their own habit.
"Most of the Latino dealers dont use heroin. Those guys that are that close
to the sources are smarter than that," he said.
When officers searched the apartments of the Puerto Rican cousins last week,
they found little to convince them the two men were actually living in
Manchester.
"One place had a half-couch/half-bed," Hambrook said, "and nothing else. No
food, nothing."
A state trooper who worked a case in Manchester recently that led to the
arrest of two teenagers for selling heroin said the alleged dealers were
much easier to work with than those who sell crack.
The troopers identity is being withheld because she continues to work
undercover.
For undercover narcotics agents in New Hampshire, there is a distinct
difference between how a deal goes down with a crack cocaine dealer and a
heroin dealer.
"Crack dealers are extremely paranoid," said the agent involved in last week
s heroin bust in Manchester.
"They ask a lot of questions and want you to use with them. But you cant do
it. You cant even pretend to do it," she said.
Heroin dealers, on the other hand, seem to be more relaxed, more laid back,
she said.
State Police Sgt. Michael Hambrook, a supervisor in the Narcotics
Investigations Unit, believes the difference between the dealers reflects
the difference in the penalties for selling crack and heroin.
Most crack cocaine dealers have faced federal charges in New Hampshire in
recent years, which come with stiff mandatory sentences.
"You see people who wont sell crack anymore because the penalties are so
stiff," Hambrook said. "They might sell powder cocaine and let people make
their own crack."
The penalties for heroin are not nearly as harsh, he said, so even when a
user/dealer is arrested, the source will still sell to him.
"They can drive down tonight and buy more heroin from the source," he said.
"They dont seem to have a fear that hes cooperating, because the
punishment isnt like crack."
The Puerto Rican cousins arrested in Manchester last week were, Hambrook
said, "close to the source," evidenced by their ability to come up with 100
to 200 bags of heroin at a time.
The undercover trooper said, "Typically, when youre dealing with heroin,
you might be able to get 5 to 10 bags. He doesnt have any problem getting
what I need."
Hambrook said a lot of New Hampshire dealers are addicts themselves who deal
to support their own habit.
"Most of the Latino dealers dont use heroin. Those guys that are that close
to the sources are smarter than that," he said.
When officers searched the apartments of the Puerto Rican cousins last week,
they found little to convince them the two men were actually living in
Manchester.
"One place had a half-couch/half-bed," Hambrook said, "and nothing else. No
food, nothing."
A state trooper who worked a case in Manchester recently that led to the
arrest of two teenagers for selling heroin said the alleged dealers were
much easier to work with than those who sell crack.
The troopers identity is being withheld because she continues to work
undercover.
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