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South Carolina
Drug Threat Assessment
Preface
This report is a brief update to the South Carolina Drug Threat Assessment, which is a strategic
assessment of the status and outlook of the drug threat to South Carolina. Analytical judgment
determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current
quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transpor-
tation, and distribution, as well as the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society as a whole.
While NDIC sought to incorporate the latest available information, a time lag often exists between
collection and publication of data. NDIC anticipates that this update will be useful to policymakers,
law enforcement personnel, and treatment providers at the federal, state, and local levels.
The South Carolina Drug Threat Assessment was produced in December 2001 and is available on
NDIC’s web site www.usdoj.gov/ndic or by contacting the NDIC dissemination line at 814-532-4541.
South Carolina
Drug Threat Assessment Update
least 80 percent of all cocaine-related treatment African American criminal groups and street
admissions. According to the Treatment Episode gangs are the primary transporters of cocaine into
Data Set (TEDS), in 1999—the most recent year and through South Carolina. These groups and
for which these data are available—the number of gangs typically transport cocaine from New York
cocaine-related treatment admissions per 100,000 and Florida using private vehicles. Local indepen-
population in South Carolina (121) exceeded the dent dealers and, to a lesser extent, Haitian,
number per 100,000 nationwide (104). Jamaican, and Mexican criminal groups as well
Powdered cocaine and crack cocaine are as OMGs also transport significant quantities of
readily available in South Carolina. According to cocaine into and through the state. Colombian
Federal-wide Drug Seizure System (FDSS) data, drug trafficking organizations occasionally
federal law enforcement officials in South Carolina smuggle large quantities of cocaine into South
seized 102.1 kilograms of cocaine in FY2001. U.S. Carolina by commercial maritime vessels
Sentencing Commission (USSC) data indicate that through the Port of Charleston. Transporters also
70.5 percent of all drug-related federal sentences in use commercial vehicles, aircraft, buses, trains,
South Carolina in FY2000 were cocaine-related and package delivery services to ship cocaine
compared with 44.2 percent nationwide. into and through the state.
The DEA Atlanta Division reported that in Various criminal groups, street gangs, and
the first quarter of FY2001, powdered cocaine in local independent dealers distribute cocaine in
South Carolina sold for $100 per gram. Accord- South Carolina. African American street gangs
ing to the Drug Enforcement Administration and various local independent dealers are the pri-
(DEA) Columbia District Office, powdered mary wholesale powdered and crack cocaine
cocaine sold for $25,000 to $30,000 per kilo- distributors in South Carolina. African American,
gram in May 2002, with purity levels ranging Caucasian, Caribbean, Colombian, and Mexican
from 75 percent to 95 percent. Responses to the criminal groups also distribute cocaine at the
National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) wholesale level in the state. African American
National Drug Threat Survey 2001 indicated that street gangs and various local independent dealers
crack cocaine sold for an average of $100 per are the principal retail distributors of powdered
gram in South Carolina in 2001. Survey respon- and crack cocaine in South Carolina. Powdered
dents indicated that in 2001 the price of a rock of cocaine is sold at some nightclubs in urban areas
crack cocaine ranged from $10 in Port Royal to and through established contacts. Crack cocaine,
$50 in Anderson. Crack cocaine purity levels which usually is converted at stash houses in the
were unavailable. state, is most often sold at open-air drug markets
and private residences.
2 This document may contain dated information.
It has been made available to provide access to historical materials.
ARCHIVED
National Drug Intelligence Center
Cocaine, particularly crack, is the drug most during the late 1990s and earlier this decade.
often associated with violent crime in South Marijuana produced in Canada is also available,
Carolina. Law enforcement officials across the but to a much lesser extent.
state report that cocaine distributors frequently According to FDSS data, federal law
carry firearms and have committed homicides, enforcement officials seized 4,283.6 kilograms
drive-by shootings, and assaults. Further, crack of marijuana in FY2001. USSC data indicate that
abusers often commit crimes to support their drug the percentage of federal sentences in South
habits, resulting in increased property crime and Carolina that were marijuana-related increased
violent crime rates. from 7 percent in FY1997 to 15.8 percent in
FY2000. According to the DEA Columbia Dis-
Marijuana trict Office, commercial grade marijuana, typi-
cally produced in Mexico, sold for $750 to $850
Marijuana is the most readily available and
per pound in May 2002. According to responses
frequently abused drug in South Carolina; how-
to the NDIC National Drug Threat Survey 2001,
ever, it poses a lower threat than cocaine because
the price for an ounce of marijuana averaged
it is less often associated with violent crime.
$125 in South Carolina.
According to the 1999 National Household Sur-
vey on Drug Abuse, 3.8 percent of South Carolina On May 18, 2002, Edgefield County Sheriff’s
residents reported having abused marijuana in the deputies along with agents from the U.S.
past month compared with 4.7 percent nation- Customs Service (USCS), DEA, and South
wide. Marijuana-related treatment admissions to Carolina State Law Enforcement Division
publicly funded facilities increased each year, arrested four individuals and seized 1,100
from 3,901 in FY1997 to 6,100 in FY2001, and pounds of marijuana from a tractor-trailer in
the number of marijuana-related treatment admis- Trenton, South Carolina. The marijuana—con-
sions exceeded the number of treatment admis- cealed inside 23 cedar fireplace mantels—was
sions for any other illicit drug in FY2000 and packaged in 1-kilogram bricks, vacuum-sealed
twice, wrapped in carbon paper, and covered
FY2001, according to the South Carolina Depart-
with varnish. The shipment originated in
ment of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
Mexico and initially was discovered by USCS
(See Table 1 on page 2.) In 1999—the most inspectors using x-ray technology at the
recent year for which these data are available— Laredo (TX) Port of Entry. After arresting and
the number of marijuana-related treatment admis- obtaining delivery information from the driver
sions per 100,000 population in South Carolina of the tractor-trailer, USCS officials in Laredo
(118) was greater than the number per 100,000 hired a private contractor to drive the tractor-
nationwide (103), according to TEDS. trailer to its intended destination (a Mexican
grocery/convenience store in Trenton) and
Marijuana is the most readily available drug
contacted Edgefield County authorities to
in South Carolina. Most of the marijuana avail-
coordinate a controlled delivery. The owner of
able in the state is produced in Mexico, although the store as well as two Mexican nationals and
marijuana produced in the state also is available. a North Carolina resident were arrested and
Local independent Caucasian dealers and abusers charged with marijuana trafficking.
produce small quantities of marijuana for local
Source: Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office.
distribution and personal use. African American
independent dealers, Caucasian OMG members,
Mexican criminal groups are the primary
and Hispanic dealers also cultivate small quanti-
transporters of marijuana available in South
ties of cannabis in the state, but to a lesser extent.
Carolina. These groups transport multikilogram
Most cannabis in South Carolina is cultivated out-
shipments of marijuana from southwestern states,
doors; however, indoor cultivation is increasing,
California, Florida, and Georgia using commercial
partially due to a prolonged drought in the state
into South Carolina from production sites and dis- Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, heroin-
tribution centers in Mexico, California, and south- related treatment admissions to publicly funded
western states, and they frequently transport facilities decreased from 421 in FY1997 to 356 in
methamphetamine along with shipments of FY1998 then increased to 501 in FY2001. (See
marijuana. Mexican criminal groups commonly Table 1 on page 2.) In 1999—the most recent year
transport methamphetamine into the state via for which these data are available—the number of
commercial and private vehicles, while OMGs heroin-related treatment admissions per 100,000
primarily use private vehicles to transport the drug population nationwide (105) dramatically
into South Carolina. Local independent dealers exceeded the number per 100,000 population in
transport small quantities of methamphetamine South Carolina (10), according to TEDS.
into the state from North Carolina and Georgia in Small quantities of heroin from all major
private vehicles. Law enforcement authorities also source areas are available in South Carolina, pri-
report that methamphetamine is transported into marily in cities and areas frequented by tourists
South Carolina by couriers traveling aboard com- along the Atlantic Coast. South American and, to
mercial aircraft and buses; however, there have a lesser extent, Southeast and Southwest Asian
been no recently reported seizures to indicate that white powdered heroin are the types most com-
these transportation methods are frequently used monly available. Mexican brown powdered and
to transport methamphetamine. A limited amount black tar heroin are available in very limited
of locally produced methamphetamine is trans- quantities. According to FDSS data, federal law
ported by independent producers within the state enforcement officials seized 3.2 kilograms of her-
primarily via private vehicles. oin in FY2001. USSC data indicate that, in
Criminal groups, OMGs, street gangs, and FY2001, 3.4 percent of all federal drug-related
local independent dealers distribute methamphet- sentences in South Carolina were heroin-related
amine in South Carolina. Mexican criminal compared with 7.7 percent nationwide. Accord-
groups are the primary wholesale distributors of ing to the DEA Atlanta Division, the limited
methamphetamine produced in Mexico, Califor- quantities of heroin available in South Carolina
nia, and southwestern states. OMGs and street sold for $60,000 to $120,000 per kilogram,
gangs distribute wholesale quantities of metham- $2,500 to $5,000 per ounce, and $200 to $500 per
phetamine produced in Mexico, California, and gram in the first quarter of FY2001. The DEA
southwestern states, to a lesser extent. There is Columbia District Office reported that 0.06 grams
little wholesale distribution of methamphetamine of heroin sold for $20 in May 2002.
produced locally by Caucasian independent deal- Dominican criminal groups and African
ers; they typically consume most of what they American local independent dealers and street
produce and sell only small quantities of metham- gangs are the primary transporters of heroin into
phetamine to known associates to fund further South Carolina, typically transporting the drug
production. Mexican criminal groups, OMGs, into the state via private vehicles. Nigerian and
and street gangs distribute methamphetamine pro- Mexican criminal groups transport heroin to a
duced in Mexico, California, and southwestern lesser extent. Dominican criminal groups based in
states at the retail level. Retail sales usually occur New York typically transport heroin from New
at truck stops, bars, and private residences. York to South Carolina coastal regions. African
American local independent dealers travel out of
Heroin state, often to Atlanta and Charlotte, to purchase
heroin and transport it back to South Carolina for
Heroin constitutes a low threat to South Caro-
retail distribution. Nigerian criminal groups oper-
lina, with availability and abuse concentrated in
ating in Greenville transport small quantities of
urban areas and coastal regions of the state.
Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin into South
According to the South Carolina Department of
Carolina. Mexican criminal groups transport
small quantities of Mexican brown powdered and $30 per tablet in May 2002. MDMA primarily is
black tar heroin into the state. distributed and abused at nightclubs, raves, and
Dominican criminal groups, African Ameri- on college campuses.
can street gangs, and local independent dealers MDMA, also known as ecstasy, Adam, XTC,
are the primary wholesale distributors of heroin in E, and X, is a stimulant and low-level halluci-
South Carolina. To a lesser extent, Mexican crim- nogen. Sometimes called the hug drug,
inal groups distribute Mexican heroin at the MDMA purportedly helps abusers to be more
wholesale level. African American street gangs “in touch” with others and “opens channels of
and local independent dealers are the primary communication.” However, abuse of the drug
retail distributors of heroin in the state. Most can cause psychological problems similar to
retail heroin distribution occurs in private resi- those associated with methamphetamine and
dences and open-air drug markets. cocaine abuse including confusion, depres-
sion, sleeplessness, anxiety, and paranoia.
The physical effects can include muscle ten-
Other Dangerous Drugs sion, involuntary teeth clenching, blurred
Other dangerous drugs (ODDs)—including vision, and increased heart rate and blood
pressure. MDMA abuse can also cause a
the stimulant MDMA, the depressants GHB and
marked increase in body temperature leading
ketamine, the hallucinogen LSD, and diverted
to muscle breakdown, kidney failure, cardio-
pharmaceuticals—are a low but increasing threat vascular system failure, stroke, or seizure as
to some areas of South Carolina. Teenagers and reported in some fatal cases. Research sug-
young adults distribute and abuse many ODDs gests that MDMA abuse may result in long-
at nightclubs, raves, and on college campuses, term and sometimes permanent damage to
and rates of abuse for many ODDs appear to parts of the brain that are critical to thought
be increasing. and memory.
MDMA
GHB
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphet-
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is distrib-
amine) availability and abuse are most prevalent
uted and abused primarily in cities and areas fre-
in cities and areas frequented by tourists along the
quented by tourists along the Atlantic Coast.
Atlantic Coast. Most of the MDMA available in
Caucasian local independent dealers are the dom-
South Carolina is produced outside the United
inant distributors of GHB in the state. The drug
States, typically in laboratories in the Netherlands
typically is abused by teenagers and young adults
and Belgium. The MDMA usually is transported
at nightclubs, raves, and on college campuses.
to the United States via package delivery services
The DEA Columbia District Office reported that
and by couriers aboard commercial aircraft to dis-
GHB sold for $20 per tablet in May 2002.
tribution centers such as Miami, New York City,
Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Caucasian GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, Georgia
local independent dealers are the primary MDMA homeboy, grievous bodily harm, liquid X, and
transporters and distributors in South Carolina. goop, is a central nervous system depressant that
These independent dealers commonly travel to was banned for human consumption by the Food
Atlanta, Charlotte, New York City, Washington, and Drug Administration in 1990. It is odorless,
D.C., and cities in Florida to purchase MDMA tasteless, and virtually undetectable if added to a
and transport it back to South Carolina via private drink. An individual can lose consciousness
vehicles. They also ship the drug into the state via within 20 minutes of ingesting GHB and often
package delivery services. According to the DEA has no memory of events following ingestion. It is
Columbia District Office, MDMA sold for $15 to difficult to trace because it usually is eliminated
from the body within 12 hours. Because of these (Vicodin), alprazolam (Xanax), and oxycodone
properties, GHB has been used to commit drug- (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan)—pose an
facilitated sexual assault. increasing threat to South Carolina. Pharmaceuti-
cals are commonly diverted using forged, stolen,
Ketamine or altered prescriptions as well as by doctor shop-
ping—visiting numerous physicians to obtain
Ketamine, also known as K, special K, vita- drugs in excess of what should be legitimately
min K, and cat valium, is an anesthetic that has prescribed—and through theft from pharmacies,
hallucinogenic properties when taken in high nursing homes, and private residences.
doses. It is available on a limited basis in South
According to public health officials in the
Carolina and is primarily abused by Caucasian
state, OxyContin increasingly is abused in South
teenagers and young adults at nightclubs, raves,
Carolina. From January 1 to May 22, 2002, there
and on college campuses. It is diverted from legit-
were 181 OxyContin-related treatment admissions
imate sources such as veterinary clinics and is
to publicly funded facilities, more than the total
available as a powder, liquid, or pill. As a powder,
number of admissions in the previous year. In
ketamine is smoked or snorted, and as a liquid it
FY2001 there were 177 OxyContin-related treat-
is injected or mixed into drinks. Caucasian local
ment admissions in the state, a dramatic increase
independent dealers are the primary distributors
from a single admission in FY2000. Diverted
of ketamine in the state. According to DEA, a vial
pharmaceuticals are primarily distributed by Cau-
of ketamine sold for approximately $80 in South
casian criminal groups and local independent
Carolina in 2001.
dealers. Caucasians of varying ages are the princi-
LSD pal abusers of diverted pharmaceuticals.
groups will remain the primary transporters and most common type of heroin available in the
wholesale distributors of marijuana produced in state. South American heroin availability may
Mexico because of their well-established trans- increase if Mexican criminal groups, which cur-
portation and distribution networks. rently transport and distribute cocaine, marijuana,
Methamphetamine production, availability, methamphetamine, and small quantities of Mexi-
and abuse will likely continue to increase in South can black tar and brown powdered heroin within
Carolina. Methamphetamine produced in Mexico, the state, begin to transport and distribute the
California, and southwestern states will continue more popular South American heroin.
to be the predominant type of methamphetamine ODDs, such as MDMA, GHB, ketamine,
available in the state. Mexican criminal groups, LSD, and diverted pharmaceuticals, will remain a
with their established distribution networks, will lesser drug threat than cocaine, marijuana, meth-
remain the primary methamphetamine suppliers. amphetamine, and heroin. However, the availabil-
Local methamphetamine production may ity and abuse of many of these drugs likely will
increase, particularly in the Upstate and Midlands increase, particularly among teenagers and young
regions, as abusers attempt to produce metham- adults who perceive these drugs to be less harm-
phetamine for their own consumption. ful than other illicit drugs. Nightclubs, raves, and
Statewide, heroin availability and abuse will college campuses will remain popular venues for
most likely remain low. However, increasing the distribution and abuse of many ODDs. Oxy-
treatment admission numbers may indicate an Contin likely will continue to be increasingly
expanding abuser base. White powdered heroin, diverted and abused in South Carolina.
principally from South America, will remain the