Cocaine Price, Purity, and Trafficking Trends

Abstract

Despite seizures of nearly 800 metric tons from 1991 to 1995, cocaine is still readily available in large quantities throughout the US. Since 1980, purity has increased and price has declined, indicating high availability of cocaine. Crack prices suggest the large city market is saturated, and smaller towns have experienced an increase in crack trafficking and distribution. Jamaican posses and Los Angeles, California based street gangs, the Crips and Bloods, are currently the most effective marketers of crack.

Key Words:

• Cocaine
• Trafficking
• Rural
• Street gangs