North Florida Synthetic Drug
Trends 2013
Presenter: Ralph Little,
North Florida HIDTA
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVaa4jkk3_A
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NFHIDTA
• Ten LE Initiatives
– Jacksonville - 5
• Violent Crime/Gang/Prescription/FAST/NFHTF
– I-75/10 Corridor - 3
• Gateway/CADET/UDEST
– Multi-area - 2
• Tri-County/Maritime & Land
• Other Initiatives
– Prosecutor/Investigative Support/Training
• Liaise w/ Non-HIDTA police, sheriff, Florida,
federal agencies
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NFHIDTA Geographic Area
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TREND JUDGMENTS
 ANNUAL THREAT ASSESSMENT
 CURRENT ANECDOTAL REPORTING
 FEDERAL, OTHER HIDTAs
 TREATMENT, POISON CONTROL
 DRUG AMOUNTS SEIZED BY NFHIDTA
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SYNTHETIC TREND ACTIVITY
• UP
– Spice
– Molly
– Bath salts/MDMC
• PENDING
• TRANSITIONAL
– Meth
• LINGERING
– LSD
– Amphetamine
– Krokodil
– Kratom
– Phenethylamines (25I,
2CI, NBOMe-series)
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Synthetic Classes of Concern
Cannabinoid
CHINA
Cathinone
MDPV
CANADA,
NETHERLANDS
MDMA
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NFHIDTA 2013 Synthetic Seizures
As of: 1 November
DRUG
AMOUNT
MDMA
730
13,930
d.u./3.3kg
Duval (13,200)
Alachua (730)
MDA
5,014 d.u.
5,014
Alachua
MDMC
5.5 kg.
22,000
Duval
2,859
Duval (2848)
“MOLLY” 715 gm.
DOSAGE
UNITS
DOMINANT
AREA
43,803
BATH
SALTS
2.04 kg.
n/a
Duval (all)
SPICE
1060 kg.
n/a
St. Johns (437)
Duval (412)
Research
Chemical
13 kg.
n/a
Duval (11)
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NFHIDTA 2013 Synthetic Seizures
As of: 1 November
DRUG
AMOUNT
MDMA
730
13,930
d.u./3.3kg
Duval (13,200)
Alachua (730)
MDA
5,014 d.u.
5,014
Alachua
MDMC
5.5 kg.
22,000
Duval
2,859
Duval (2848)
“MOLLY” 715 gm.
DOSAGE
UNITS
DOMINANT
AREA
43,803
BATH
SALTS
2.04 kg.
n/a
Duval (all)
SPICE
1060 kg.
n/a
St. Johns (437)
Duval (412)
Research
Chemical
13 kg.
n/a
Duval (11)
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NFHIDTA 2013 Synthetic Seizures
As of: 1 November
DRUG
AMOUNT
MDMA
730
13,930
d.u./3.3kg
Duval (13,200)
Alachua (730)
MDA
5,014 d.u.
5,014
Alachua
MDMC
5.5 kg.
22,000
Duval
2,859
Duval (2848)
“MOLLY” 715 gm.
DOSAGE
UNITS
DOMINANT
AREA
43,803
BATH
SALTS
2.04 kg.
n/a
Duval (all)
SPICE
1060 kg.
n/a
St. Johns (437)
Duval (412)
Research
Chemical
13 kg.
n/a
Duval (11)
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ANNUAL RESULTS
MDMA
40,000
35055
30,000
25,000
23797
20343 17184
20,000
Synthetic Cannabinoid
15,000
10,000
3486
5,000
2573
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
2011
2012
Kilograms Seized
D.U.s Seized
35,000
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
81.5
24.5
2011
2012
Year
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SYNTHETIC SIMILARITIES
 CHEMICAL BASE IS MOSTLY WHITE POWDER
 MORPHING FORMULAS
 LOW OR UNKNOWN LETHALITY
o DOSAGE IS A PROBLEM
 CHINA SOURCE
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EFFECTS
 MDMA – Desired: EMPATHY, EUPHORIA
 Unwanted: CONFUSION, ANXIETY
 MOLLY/MDMC/MDPV - MORE LIKE BATH SALTS
 BATH SALTS – Desired: STIMULANT
 Unwanted: HALLUCINATION, PARANOIA, VIOLENCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZovAREYmtA
 SPICE – Desired: ENHANCE PERCEPTION, EUPHORIA
 Unwanted: HALLUCINATION, NAUSEA, ANGER
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq9RV1g
P_wk
MDMA VERSIONS
 UP 29% FROM 2012 AND 1,656% FROM 2011
 USERS COLLEGE AGE, SOME High School
 VERSIONS DOMINATE
o MDMA/ecstasy/XTC
o MDMC/Methylone – Emergency Scheduled
o MDA – Schedule I
o “MOLLY”- no longer pure
 POWDER/CAPSULES, GRANULAR vs. PILLS
 DEATHS - 4 in 2012; 7 IN 2011
 PROFIT – CUT AND USE NON-MDMA
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPygvCb
qsc
BATH SALTS
KHAT
 SEEN LESS THAN OTHER SYNTHETICS
o SIMULATES CATHINONE IN KHAT
o MORE CATHINONE VARIANTS CONFUSE
• MDMC/METHYLONE
 USERS AGED 25-40
 MOST SEVERE EFFECT AND LETHALITY
o DEATHS NOT TRACKED WELL
 POWDER MOSTLY IN VIALS OF 500 mg
o NOT PROCESSED
 MOSTLY INTERNET SALES
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SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID
(SYN. MARIJUANA/HERBAL INCENSE/POTPOURRI/SPICE)
 UP 1200% FROM 2012
 SIMULATES THC IN MARIJUANA
 MOST USERS 15-30; USE IS SMOKED
 NOT MARIJUANA, EFFECTS STRONGER
o DEATHS INFREQUENT – But notable….
 PROFIT AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
 SOLD IN LOCAL STORES, HEAD SHOPS, ONLINE
o DILUTED CHEMICAL ON HERBS
o 1 TO 14 gm. FOIL BAGS, MOSTLY 3 gm.
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Game Change?
August 23, 2013 – Brunswick, GA.
Georgia DPH Warns Of Potentially Deadly ‘Herbal Incense’
Crazy Clown … indications chemicals or ingredients
altered to be far more dangerous or deadly.
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OUTBREAK
 Sept. 6 CDC and Colorado declare outbreak
 Sept. 12 some 200 in hospital + 25 in Georgia.
 Sept. 26 DEA Bulletin reports PCP-like effects,
3 potential deaths, multiple brands and
chemicals, esp. ADB-PINACA
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Left to right – increasing severity of negative effects
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SPICE DAMAGE
 UNTESTED CHEMICALS
 ACETONE
 DOSAGE
 Too much chemical
 Unreliable formula
 Same chemical; different brands
 Different chemical; same brand
 UNSANITARY PROCESS – China & domestic
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SPICE FOR SALE
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PACKET CHANGES
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PACKET FEATURES
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THE PROCESS
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THE LEVELS
 PERSONAL
 LOCAL – LIMITED SALES
 ORGANIZATIONAL
o MANUFACTURER
 SUPPLIERS
 MONEY LAUNDERERS
o DISTRIBUTOR
o SELLER
 HEAD SHOP
 TOBACCO OUTLET
 LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE
 GAS STATION
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MANUFACTURING SITE A
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SITE A PACKET FILLING
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THE CHEMICAL
 536 “RESEARCH CHEMICALS
o JWH-018, AM-2201,
5-FLUORO-PB-22,
AB-FUBINACA, etc.
 WHITE POWDER, 2 kg. FOIL BAG
 $2,100 TURNS INTO 2,000 3 gm.
PACKETS
o $12,000 WHOLESALE/
$65,000 RETAIL
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OTHER INGREDIENTS
LEAF
FLAVORING
ACETONE
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MEASURE
MANUFACTURE
MIX, SPRAY, DRY, FLAVOR
FILL
SEAL
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DISTRIBUTION
OPTIONS
 MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTES
o INTERNET
o DIRECT
o STORES ONLY
o ALL THE ABOVE
 MANUFACTURER SELLS TO DISTRIBUTOR
o DISTRIBUTOR SELLS ON INTERNET
o DISTRIBUTOR SELLS TO OTHER STORES
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TYPICAL SELLER SITE
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ISSUES
CHEMICAL CHANGE
o MAY NOT BE SCHEDULED
o MAY BE NEW
SYNTHETIC BAN CYCLES
Generation
Popular
Cannabinoid
High Point
Year
Year First Banned
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JWH-018
2010
2011 Florida, US
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JWH-250
2011
2012 Florida, US
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AM-2201
2011
2012 Florida, US
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UR-144
2012
2012 FL/2013 US
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AB-Fubinaca
2013
2013 Florida
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AB-Pinaca
2013
2013 Florida
PACKETS
o GONE TO STANDARD
o BRAND MAY NOT BE MEANINGFUL
 SAME MAY HOLD DIFFERENT CHEMICAL
 DIFFERENT MAY BE THE SAME CONTENT
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LEGAL COUNTERMEASURES
 FLORIDA AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION CYCLE
 Specific chemicals – 9 Oct latest
 Analogues
 Class
 COUNTY SHERIFF’S LETTER
 Columbia, Putnam, Bradford, Gilchrist
 LOCAL AND COUNTY ORDINANCES
 Ocala, Lake City, Bunnell, Flagler Beach
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CONTACT:
RALPH LITTLE
Office PH: 904-256-5940
EMAIL: [email protected]
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