DRUG WAR SHIFTING TO POINTS OF ENTRANCE

Seizures Of Cocaine At Airport Have Risen

Most illegal drugs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, including marijuana, cocaine
and heroin, are mailed or driven from Mexico, according to a recent police
study.

That's been the case for years.

Now, an increasing amount of drugs, particularly cocaine, are coming to
Charlotte from Jamaica aboard commercial flights and in the bellies of
smugglers.

The evolving tactics of drug traffickers, based on data from local and
federal law enforcement, will be part of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police
drug assessment report presented to City Council tonight. Police say the
findings mirror national trends and may be used to better plan their
interdiction efforts.

Among the findings:

. Marijuana, followed by cocaine, is the most commonly used drug in
Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

. Cocaine and crack are believed to have the most significant impact on
Charlotte crime, because users often rob or steal to support their habits.

. Charlotte has a small, but steady heroin market.

. Ecstasy seizures have increased steadily since the late 1990s, but are
starting to decline in nightclubs due to a related city ordinance and a
crackdown on raves.

. Drug Enforcement Administration has made at least two significant
methamphetamine seizures in recent years in Monroe and Kannapolis. Seizures
are on the rise in the region.

. OxyContin abuse is on the decline in Charlotte, suggesting abusers might
be traveling farther to obtain the prescription pain killer.

. Drug-related homicides are down, along with reported drug possessions at
schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Police say none of the findings is particularly alarming. The information
contained in the drug threat assessment could be valuable to area treatment
programs, police say.

U.S. Customs Service agents made 26 cocaine seizures at Charlotte/Douglas
International Airport last year, an increase of 150 percent from the year
before, the report shows.

The cocaine seizures, nearly all of them from Montego Bay, Jamaica, have a
street value of about $500,000. Police say the amount of drugs could grow
as the number of flights from Charlotte increase not only to Caribbean
destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Belize, but also to Mexico
City.

Aviation director Jerry Orr said the numbers could be on the rise because
of increased enforcement.

"Or maybe they're just getting better at detecting the drugs," he said Sunday.

"The Caribbean gateway is growing and every flight presents an
opportunity," Orr added. "Federal law enforcement efforts are covert, but
I'm sure they're doing all they can."

On Charlotte streets, police say most of the seized cocaine was produced in
South America and transported to the United States through Mexico.
Traffickers supply local dealers who then sell to abusers for up to $100 a
gram, according to the Charlotte drug assessment.

Street-level drug dealers and users in Charlotte come from all racial
groups, though "the majority of kilo-level drug arrests in (2001) have
involved Mexicans," the report shows.

Most cocaine seizures in Charlotte, based on 2001 police data, came from
the police districts that cover parts of northern, east and northwest
Charlotte.

Vice detectives say that across Charlotte a single rock of crack cocaine
can be purchased for $20, the report shows.

Police say cocaine users are more likely than abusers of other drugs to
commit crimes to support their habits.

Like cocaine, marijuana is available on Charlotte street corners, at
nightclubs, houses and parking lots, police say.

It's often grown in North Carolina, but vice and narcotics detectives say
marijuana is more often driven to the Carolinas in tractor-trailers from
Mexico.

The drug is also mailed to Charlotte from California and Texas or driven in
regular vehicles that have secret compartments, police say.

At a Glance

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in Charlotte.

Most illegal drugs seized in Charlotte come from Mexico.

Police say cocaine seizures are increasing at Charlotte/Douglas
International Airport.

Drug-related murders are on the decline.