Officials speculate heroin overdoses are caused by the high level of purity, which has risen from 25 to 50 percent four years ago to almost 99 percent. Jordan said law enforcement officials correlate price drops to more availability. Heroin, which was once produced almost exclusively in Asia, now is being produced in Mexico. Methamphetamines were once produced by small operations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border, but cartels are now taking over, DEA officials have said. Robert Castillo, the special agent in charge of the El Paso DEA field division office, said methamphetamines were being produced in large quantities in Juarez and Tijuana, Mexico.
Numerous labs exist in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Officials said Mexican cartels are soaking up the meth and heroin markets because they are lucrative and they do not have to share the profits with Colombians, who experts say produce most of the cocaine found in the United States. Primary entrance points for heroin and methamphetamines are through Texas and California, officials say. However, they say smugglers also are using routes through Arizona and New Mexico. David Monnette, a DEA spokesman in El Paso, said the agency was currently reviewing interdiction efforts and planned to formulate new strategies. We do not own nor are responsible for visitor comments.