Thread: Charlotte, N.C., becomes heroin hub for Mexican traffickers

"Saturday, Apr. 04, 2009

Charlotte becomes heroin hub
City key spoke in Mexican drug rings
By Franco Ordoez - McClatchy Newspapers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mexican drug traffickers have turned Charlotte into a key distribution point for "black tar" heroin in North Carolina, according to the Justice Department.

Heroin-related arrests have jumped. And while officials have not seen an increase in drug-related violence, they worry that could change.

The U.S. Department of Justice's 2009 National Drug Threat Assessment identified Charlotte as one of 230 cities where Mexican traffickers "maintain drug distribution networks" to sell cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines and heroin.

John Emerson, assistant special agent in charge for the N.C. bureau of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, would say only that "multiple" cells operate in Charlotte, but at least three have been shut down in the past two years.

One was run out of a small house on quiet Mary Jo Helms Drive until it was busted last year. Israel Hernandez, 21, ran a nearly million-dollar business from the family neighborhood, preparing black tar and dispatching couriers to deliver it to suburban customers waiting outside public places like Office Depot and Walgreens.

In September 2007, authorities arrested seven men and seized $114,000 and 24,000 doses of heroin hidden in the garage of a southwest Charlotte house less than two miles from Steele Creeke Elementary.

In another investigation, dubbed Operation Black Gold Rush, federal and local authorities busted Jairo Nunez, 27, for leading 13 people in a Charlotte black tar ring. The same organization was also active in South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, California, Ohio and Arizona.

The cartels don't discriminate among customers. They sell their drugs to low-income users and uptown bankers, police and treatment officials say. And they're increasingly selling to young people - "teens in high schools," said Capt. Mike Adams of the CMPD's vice and narcotics unit.

Statewide, heroin seizures increased 77 percent last year, according to the DEA.

Heroin abuse is also surging. On average, last year, the McLeod Addictive Disease Center in Charlotte had seven to eight new people a day seeking methadone treatment. Ronnie Bradley, the center's program manager, said they now get 15 to 20.

"The past two, three months, especially - it's been crazy." Bradley said. "Yesterday, our doctor in Gastonia saw 17 methadone clients."

Made from poppies in western Mexico, the drug gets its name from its color and texture. One officer described it as being like "a warm tootsie roll." And at $12.50 a dose, it's about half the price of other available forms.

Federal drug-enforcement officials said the increase in drug trafficking is a direct correlation with immigration.

Charlotte has one of the country's fastest growing immigrant populations. An estimated 390,000 illegal immigrants live in North Carolina, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

While most immigrants are not involved in drug trafficking, federal authorities say the growing Latino community allows traffickers to blend into the community and conceal their activities.

Maudia Melendez, head of Jesus Ministry, a group that advocates for immigrants, said it's unfair to attribute drug problems to immigration.

"Drugs have been a problem in the United States for years," she said. "We're talking about hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The ones who are smuggling the drugs are maybe half of one percent. Most people probably don't even know about the drugs."

Charlotte has seen nothing like the violence that engulfs much of northern Mexico - more than 7,000 have died since January 2008. But law enforcement officials here say they're working to protect Charlotte from the violence that other cities have seen.

Adams, the CMPD captain, likened the Mexican drug organizations to a Fortune 500 company.

They have managers and distribution supervisors. They have strict rules and keep detailed budgets, including planning for annual losses.

At the time of his arrest, Hernandez made $2,000 to $7,000 a day delivering heroin, according to court records.

"It's a business," Adams said. "To them it's about money. It's all about the money."

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/848395.html

International Airport - Are passengers immigration status being checked?

North Carolina is E-Verify the law of the land?

Charlotte, NC are you using the 287g Program?

Federal drug-enforcement officials said the increase in drug trafficking is a direct correlation with immigration.

Charlotte has one of the country's fastest growing immigrant populations. An estimated 390,000 illegal immigrants live in North Carolina, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Comments (26)
Charlotte emerges as hub for potent heroin
Mexican traffickers control market. Arrests, abuse are up.
By Franco Ordoñez

Posted: Sunday, Apr. 05, 2009

Statewide, heroin seizures increased 77% last year.

In Charlotte, heroin seizures have risen 233% since 2005.

Mexican drug traffickers have turned Charlotte into a key distribution point for “black tarâ€

At the time of his arrest, Hernandez made $2,000 to $7,000 a day delivering heroin, according to court records.

Wow, that's definitely a job American will do.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg was one of the first enrolled in 287g and is now the site of a new immigration court. But I think the law enforcement around here has just been overwhelmed by the people, especially the illegals coming here after losing jobs in other states because of the economy, especially construction. The swarm of people coming is making it a lot easier for drug dealers to blend into the ethnic populations. Charlotte is also home to Bank of America and the former Wachovia headquarters. Unemployment in the state is now at 10.7 percent, and I just don't have the stomach to go and look at what has happened to residential property prices around here.

Mexican drug organizations have taken over most of the Charlotte heroin market while Colombian heroin feeds addicts in Raleigh-Durham.

This is absolutely disgusting! Mexico. Columbia. Fighting over the illegal drug trade in North Carolina. Selling addicting heroin to teens and children in schools as well as destroyed adults. This is why illegal drug distribution must be stopped in our country!
I want to see more news articles like this so Americans know how bad it is.
Instead, the politicians, the press, health organizations, and community activists spend millions to persecute cigarette smokers.
How screwed up is that?

Federal authorities say the growing Latino community allows traffickers to blend into the community and conceal their activities.

Every one of these 230 cities should be forced to use 287g.

What is our government doing with the drug money? Shouldn't our taxes be reduced? Now if we can get tariff on imports? And deport all undocumented immigrants to reduce cost? Have our government start earning money for us instead of having the citizens to pay over and over for the some services or items. Why isn't recycling earning for the citizens instead of us paying higher prices for energy?

With all the prison labor - why aren't they required to work in field instead of bringing immigrants to work crops?