The Most Common Federal Drug Trafficking Routes and Methods

Major Drug Trafficking Routes into the US

• The Southwest Border – The border between the US and Mexico is one of the busiest trafficking corridors. The majority of illicit drugs smuggled into the US come across the nearly 2,000 mile land border. Tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles are often used to conceal drugs and smuggle them through official border crossings. Drugs are also transported via underground tunnels, small boats, ultralight aircraft, and backpackers traversing remote areas.
• The Caribbean Corridor – The Caribbean Sea provides traffickers with many concealed routes to smuggle drugs from South America into the US. Go-fast boats, fishing vessels, and commercial shipping containers are used to transport cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and other drugs through island chains and into South Florida and other coastal entry points.
• The Northern Border – While smaller in volume compared to the southern border, the 5,500 mile border between the US and Canada is exploited by traffickers as well. The vast expanse and rugged terrain provides opportunities for smuggling via land, water, and air.
• International Airports – Major airports across the country have emerged as key entry points for drug traffickers. International airline passengers and air cargo provide cover for concealing and transporting drug shipments.
• International Mail Services – Traffickers leverage private shipping and mail services to distribute drugs domestically and internationally. Packages containing illicit substances are intermingled with legitimate business and personal shipments.

The DEA assesses that the most commonly abused drugs – cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana – are predominantly smuggled from Mexico and Colombia across the southwest border and through the Caribbean[1]. However, the northern border and airports continue to be active drug transit zones that allow traffickers to reach broader distribution networks across the country.

Common Drug Concealment Methods

Traffickers go to great lengths to conceal drugs and evade law enforcement detection while in transport. Some of the most frequent concealment methods include:

• Hidden Compartments – Constructed within passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, rail cars, planes, boats, and even produce shipments.
• Body Cavities – Cocaine, heroin and other drugs are concealed on the body of individual smugglers.
• Liquids & Solutions – Cocaine and other drugs dissolved into liquid solutions or impregnated into clothing and fabrics.
• Swallowed Pellets – Traffickers known as “swallowers” or “internal carriers” ingest balloons or pellets filled with small amounts of drugs.
• Modified Food & Beverages – Cocaine and other drugs integrated into food products through a variety of chemical processes.
• Impregnated Materials – Absorption of drug liquids into fabrics, paper products, plastics, wax materials which are then molded into common shapes.

As detection methods evolve, traffickers continue to demonstrate creativity and innovation in developing new concealment tricks. Law enforcement officials need to stay vigilant and keep pace with the latest trends in trafficking techniques[2].

Distribution Networks in the US

Once drugs are smuggled across the border and pass through transit hubs, they are distributed through networks across the US. Distribution methods include:

• Highway Systems – Interstate highways provide efficient means to transport drug shipments to cities across the country.
• Domestic Airports – In addition to entry points, airports also serve as distribution hubs for traffickers to connect to regional markets.
• Train & Bus Lines – Traffickers exploit commercial train and bus routes to distribute drugs to buyers and street gangs.
• The US Mail – Providing broad reach across the country, mail systems are used to distribute drugs directly to buyers.
• Local Drug Gangs – Street and prison gangs play a major role in selling and distributing drugs at the local level.

While the southwest border sees the largest volume of drugs entering the country, the distribution networks spread across the entire US homeland. States across the Midwest, South, Northeast, and Pacific regions all have active drug markets sourcing from the major trafficking corridors[3].

Trafficking Trends and Patterns

Drug trafficking routes and methods are dynamic and evolve in response to enforcement policies, market forces, and global events. Some notable trends include:

• Increased heroin production and opioid trafficking across the southwest border, leading to growing rates of opioid addiction and overdose deaths across the country[4].
• Marijuana legalization in some US states resulting in shifts in domestic production and trafficking patterns.
• Expanded use of online marketplaces and crypto-currencies enabling more direct distribution networks between international traffickers and US buyers.
• Influx of extremely potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl being mixed with or substituted for heroin and other drugs.

As methods and routes adapt over time, law enforcement and policy makers need to continually reassess strategies and resource allocations to disrupt trafficking operations and enhance community education and health programs to reduce demand.

While the illicit drug trade continues to evolve, enhanced collaboration between international, federal, state and local agencies can help restrict the flow of drugs, prosecute traffickers and mitigate the devastating impacts of addiction on individuals and communities across the country.

[1] DEA 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment

[2] DEA 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment

[3] DOJ Drug Movement Into and Within the US

[4] CDC Drug Overdose Data