In a high-security lab located in downtown Chicago, a forensic chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Oliwia Nazaruk, prepares a brick of cocaine for analysis.
This particular consignment, marked with an ‘L.A.’ logo and packaged in bright blue-and-white Dodgers-colored plastic, is indicative of a Mexican drug cartel’s branding.
As the DEA and law enforcement agencies report an increase in cocaine seizures in the Chicago area and surrounding states, the evidence suggests that cocaine’s presence in U.S. markets is increasing once more.
Leah Law, a supervisory chemist at the DEA, notes, “Right now, cocaine seems to be coming back,” marking a significant revival of interest in the substance.
Inside the lab’s massive vault, where cardboard boxes filled with millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine are stacked, the atmosphere is rife with urgency.
In 2022, the DEA forewarned of an impending influx of cocaine due to burgeoning production levels in Colombia.
Indeed, the agency’s Chicago office saw substantial cocaine seizures last September, a development corroborated by reports of a continued rise in the drug’s availability and usage attributed to record Colombian output.
Preliminary figures for 2023 indicate that DEA cocaine seizures in the Chicago region could surpass previous years, further emphasizing the drug’s resurgence.
Statistics present a clear narrative:
In the DEA’s Chicago Field Division, covering Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, nearly 3,300 pounds of cocaine were seized throughout 2022, with that number rising to approximately 4,210 pounds by July 30, 2023.
Moreover, Illinois ranked fifth nationwide for DEA cocaine seizures, trailing states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
One striking trend is the increased purity of cocaine entering the U.S., now averaging around 84%, a significant rise from 54% in 2020.
However, purity levels in Illinois remain slightly lower than the national average.
Testing performed by the DEA lab reveals crucial information about adulterants mixed into the cocaine to enhance volume and maximize profits.
These tests are critical, as they also identify potentially lethal substances like fentanyl, which may threaten users through cross-contamination in clandestine laboratories in South America.
While the lab’s ambiance is made homey with succulents and colorful toys, the atmosphere is underscored by stringent security measures.
Nazaruk keeps her samples safely stored in a padlocked metal box, knowing the combination completely.
Despite rising cocaine seizures, Leah Law reassures that the lab is fully staffed and capable of managing the increased workload efficiently.
“We’re not in a place where we have so much cocaine coming in we don’t know what to do with it,” Law explains.
Samples that relate to fatal overdoses or major cartel investigations receive priority and are processed within a month, while other samples complete testing in under two months.
Drugs submitted to the lab come from agents within the DEA and other federal entities, including the FBI.
When agents wish to ascertain the production points of the cocaine, they send samples to a Virginia lab for further analysis, pinpointing regions within Colombia to ultimately help connect drugs to their respective cartels.
The shift in cocaine’s use also echoes through the voice of Margarito “Jay” Flores, once one of the highest-profile cocaine traffickers in Chicago alongside his twin brother Pedro.
Now a consultant to law enforcement, Flores notes the latest trend viewing cocaine as a ‘party drug,’ reminiscent of the 1970s.
He observes a demographic switch in its user base, highlighting that powder cocaine is increasingly prevalent among white and Hispanic individuals in social contexts, as opposed to its earlier association with crack cocaine, predominantly seen in African-American communities.
“Today, there’s a shift toward powder cocaine as a ‘party drug,’ similar to its popularity in the 1970s,” Flores emphasizes.
He points to an evolving marketing strategy that includes flavored additives aimed at enticing consumers in nightlife settings.
According to a United Nations report released in June, cocaine is now the quickest-growing illicit drug market worldwide, with European regions witnessing alarming levels of violence among traffickers.
Around 25 million people globally engaged with cocaine in 2023, a striking rise from 17 million just a decade ago, according to assessments that analyzed wastewater to gauge local consumption rates.
The report also indicates that global cocaine production surged by 34% since 2022.
To effectively diminish cocaine trafficking, law enforcement should focus on disrupting key figures such as mid-level managers, chemists, and money launderers, as highlighted by the report.
Random enforcement efforts typically ensnare the lowest-ranking, replaceable members of the trafficking chain, failing to address the crucial underlying structures.
The Sinaloa drug cartel, previously领导 by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, remains a primary supplier of cocaine to the United States, alongside the Jalisco New Generation and Beltran Leyva cartels.
El Chapo’s conviction on federal drug conspiracy charges in 2019, largely attributed to contributions from Margarito Flores, exemplifies the deep-rooted connections and intricacies within the industry.
Flores, who cooperated with the DEA following his impressive trafficking career, endured a 14-year prison sentence and now offers insight into the current rise in cocaine availability.
He elementarily states that the recent upsurge in DEA cocaine seizures results from multiple factors, including the cooperation of cartel leaders’ children with U.S. authorities.
Flores adds, “The market is saturated, and pricing reflects it.
Chicago is currently witnessing historical lows in kilo prices, a reflection of high availability and fierce competition amid drug trafficking organizations.”
As larger volumes are shifted with lesser cuts to encourage faster sales, law enforcement finds themselves not only noting but also seizing significant quantities.
Determining whether the increased cocaine supply is corresponding with a rise in overdose fatalities remains challenging, particularly as cocaine is less lethal compared to substances like fentanyl and heroin.
Data from the Cook County medical examiner’s office illustrates a drop in cocaine-related deaths in 2023, with 302 fatalities reported by July 18, a remarkable decline from 485 during the same period in 2020.
Additionally, fentanyl-related deaths have also decreased since 2020, suggesting shifting dynamics in the drug market.
Test strips designed for detecting fentanyl contamination began to gain traction among cocaine users in urban settings, serving as a rudimentary yet essential method for checking the safety of their drugs.
Experts like Flores point out, “While fentanyl contamination remains a real risk, I believe most users today are not testing their cocaine before use.
Higher purity levels and trust in their suppliers reduce the perceived need for testing, but the risk is still present and has not gone away.
It’s just not top of mind when the purity appears high.”
image source from：chicago
