POLICE: COCAINE SUPPLY HAS FALLEN

A recent crackdown by Mexican officials on drug traffickers has
resulted in a shortage of cocaine in the U.S. that's had an apparent
ripple effect in the Cumberland County area, officials say.

Rising use of other illegal drugs, and even the presence of imitation
narcotics, are possible results.

Narcotics officers assigned to the Cumberland County Organized Crime
Unit report increased incidents involving crack cocaine, a derivative
of cocaine along with other drugs, Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella said.

"Crack cocaine is manufactured from cocaine and does not require as
much product," he said. "We're also seeing people turning to other
drugs such as methamphetamines, something we have not seen for some
time."

Casella was unable to provide street-level prices for cocaine sold
locally. But he said a kilogram of cocaine that sold for $18,000 last
year in the northeast part of the country now goes for between
$25,000 and $30,000.

"In New York (it's) more like $32,000," the prosecutor
said.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that a gram of
pure cocaine went from $95.89 in April to $118.70 in June, an
increase of 24 percent.

"Even with increased prices, it seems that users will find a way to
finance their habit," Casella said. "This sometimes involves burglary
and theft along with other criminal activity."

In Millville, two narcotics officers are assigned to the Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Unit.

"Street-level prices seem to remain constant," Millville police Capt.
Ed Grennon said, "but there might be an increase higher up the chain."

Grennon said his officers have detected an increase in fake or
imitation narcotics that could be tied to a shortage. The majority of
Millville's arrests involve crack cocaine, he said.

In Vineland, Lt. Tom Ulrich said detectives are mainly in contact
with three types of drug users and sellers.

"Most of our arrests involve crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana," he
said. "In recent months there has been a slight price increase that
could be related to supply and demand."