What's in Store for the Illicit Drug Market in 2024 and the Top Stories of 2023
2023 marked a notable year in the illicit drug market, witnessing the emergence of new drugs and evolving drug trends. Dominating these trends were a significant increase in fentanyl-related incidents and the introduction of novel synthetic drugs, averaging two new substances per week, predominantly sourced from Chinese laboratories.
This article aims to dissect these critical developments, offering an in-depth analysis of 2023's drug landscape. Additionally, we'll venture into predictions for 2024, exploring potential shifts and challenges in the illicit drug world.
On a separate note, 2023 was also a milestone year for the Drug Intelligence Bulletin. We transitioned to Substack, reaching an impressive milestone of 14,500 subscribers. Thanks to your continued support and engagement, articles focusing on these emerging drug trends garnered the most interest. Here, I'll revisit these popular articles, reflecting on what captured our readers' attention the most in 2023.
What’s In Store for the Illicit Drug Market in 2024?
Fentanyl
Without a doubt, fentanyl will still be a problem in 2024. But, I’m interested to see where this goes. The Chapitos, as noted several times in Narco News Weekly, have said that they are not allowing fentanyl production anymore. They followed that statement up with execution of manufacturers still making the drug. Initially, I thought this was just a stunt. The chapitos put this statement out the day after their brother was sent to an American jail in Chicago for smuggling fentanyl. But, we also see that fentanyl seizures are down at the border.
Fentanyl Seizures are Dropping at the Border, But Why?
Analysis of Decline in Fentanyl Seizures: Understanding the Dynamics In recent months, there has been a significant decrease in the seizure of fentanyl at the United States' southern border. From April to October, the quantity of fentanyl confiscated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has dropped sharply from 1,445.5 kilograms to just 598 kilograms. This development follows the U.S. Department of Justice's announcement in April about intensifying efforts to capture key members of the Sinaloa Cartel, including the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
CJNG did not make this declaration though and I’m sure they are more than happy to fill the void. Fentanyl is still being seized at the border as well and the market demands fentanyl. I would expect that fentanyl is still going to occupy a lot of investigative time. I’m also predicting that tranq, fentanyl laced with some type of CNS Depressant drug like Xylazine, will continue to infiltrate the drug supply. The reason for this is simple; fentanyl only lasts for 2-3 hours. By adding Xylazine and other depressants, it can stretch the high out for 8 hours. It’s a bonus that the dealer can put less fentanyl in their street dope, which will stretch out their profit.
Fentanyl/Xylazine Combo
In the previous week, a joint report on the sourcing of xylazine was unveiled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Operating in unison under the umbrella of the Joint Intelligence National Threat Response – El Paso Illicit Drug Lab (Joint INTREPID Laboratory), th…
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine seizures are skyrocketing while the price of the drug is plummeting. When I first became a narc in 1995, I bought a pound of methamphetamine for around $15,000. Today, I have friends buying meth undercover for as little as $500 a pound. That means the market is flooded with meth and I’ve never seen it so cheap.
With the flood of methamphetamine coming into the US, also comes an increase in Officer Involved Shootings (OIS) with people high on methamphetamine. I wrote a story in 2022 where I was tracking an increase in OIS’s involving people high on meth. Why is this? The cartels have changed the way they make methamphetamine. With this new formulation, they are now making super potent meth that is increasing psychosis and violent confrontations with the police. If you want to know more about this method of meth manufacturing, I have a 3 hour course on Methamphetamine: From the Lab to the Pipe over at OnlineDrugTraining.com.
Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis and Officer Involved Shootings
You can't even call this methamphetamine anymore. The methamphetamine of today is made differently than it was just a few short years ago. With this change in manufacturing, there was a huge change in the way users reacted to this new meth and now methamphetamine
So, what lays ahead for methamphetamine in 2024? Conventional wisdom and history would say that it would go down. Historically, every stimulant epidemic is followed by an opiate epidemic. Every opiate epidemic is followed by a stimulant epidemic. That is how it has gone in the past. However, neither the stimulant epidemic nor the opiate epidemic dissipated. With seizures so high, a glut of meth supply in the country that has plummeted the price of methamphetamine, and with a wide open border you can expect meth to remain a problem for 2024.
Synthetic Drugs
As I noted in the beginning of this article, on average two new synthetic drugs came to market each week. It is daunting trying to predict which ones will take hold, but I have had a pretty good track record of predicting the breakout synthetics. The best way to keep track of which synthetic drugs are hitting the market is to pay attention to our posts about quarterly drug stats.
Synthetic drugs will continue to dominate the illicit drug market. This is for several reasons:
People are looking for alternatives to traditional street drugs that are legal, more potent and cheaper
Users need to take employment or court mandated drug testing, but still want to get high. Synthetic drugs offer a way for them to still get high without testing positive. We do put out info each year on what drugs you should be testing for that aren’t traditionally checked in drug tests.
Chinese chemical companies are making a killing selling these drugs around the world.
Expect that traditional plant based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, will slowly be replaced by synthetic drugs. Unless we address China, this problem will not go away.
Top Illicit Drug Articles of 2023
In 2023, the DIB had several million views of our articles. Here are 2023’s top articles.
Everything You Need to Know about Liquid Fentanyl Showing Up in the U.S.
There is some good intelligence for you below. I don’t want to paywall it because you need to hear about this. With that said, please consider a paid subscription to the DIB. It helps me justify putting out intelligence to you each week. The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a prominent Mexican drug trafficking organization, has been identified…
The Illicit Captagon Dilemma: Unraveling Syria's Mass-Produced Addictive Drug
Captagon, originally a brand name for the synthetic drug fenethylline, has evolved into an addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant that is now at the center of a burgeoning illicit drug trade. Initially developed for medical use to treat conditions like attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy, Captagon has found a new, darker life as a substance of abuse, particularly in the Middle East. But, it’s use is starting to spread beyond the Middle East. It is now being found in multiple other countries and we should all be more aware of this growing trend.
Rat Poison is Being Used as an Adulterant in K2/Spice Again
Law enforcement agencies and the judicial system are facing an alarming trend: the adulteration of synthetic cannabinoids like K2 and Spice with a highly toxic rodenticide called Brodifacoum. This is not the first time we've discussed the dangerous combination of synthetic cannabis and rodenticides. In a
FREE TRAINING FOR PARENTS/TEACHERS
Bottom line up front: This is a free 2 hour training for parents, teachers and anyone that deals with kids. I’ll give them the tools they need to identify drug impairment, drugs and drug paraphernalia and how to talk to kids about drugs. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE THAT SHOULD ATTEND!
Vapes Disguised as School Supplies Like Highlighters and Pens
Please forward this email to parents (including in our LEO community) and SRO’s that need to see this. It is a free article. Photo by Karl Edwards on Unsplash As the 2023 school year gets underway, parents, teachers, and law enforcement agencies are increasingly alarmed by a growing trend—vapes disguised as school supplies. This cunning innovation by e-c…
Beyond Narcan: Opvee is the Next Generation Opioid Overdose Reversal for Law Enforcement
Bottom line up front: Opvee is a new and improved Narcan. It lasts much longer than Narcan and can be beneficial to officers working the streets or narcotics.
Huffing Canned Air or Dust Off is Increasing: What You Should Know
Our friend Don McNeil, the Director of Forensics Ascertain Forensics, gave us a heads up about an increase in toxicological samples containing difluoroethane (DFE). DFE is most often associated with canned air, or dust off. Use of this product as a drug of abuse comes and goes, but we feel it is important to give you all a heads up and a refresher of th…
Tusi (2c-b): The Pink Cocaine Rocking the World
What is Pink Cocaine and how it differs from regular cocaine? Definition of Pink Cocaine Pink Cocaine, also known as Tusi, is a relatively new drug that has gained popularity in recent years. Unlike regular cocaine, which is a naturally occurring stimulant derived from the coca plant, Pink Cocaine is a synthetic drug. Its chemical name is 2C-B, and it falls under the category of phenethylamines, a group of substances known for their psychedelic effects.
Fentanyl Slang Terms: A Cross-Country Overview
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been the topic of much conversation in recent years due to its prevalence in the illicit drug market and the significant dangers associated with its use. As the national conversation around the drug continues, understanding its many street names, or "fentanyl slang terms", can help in raising awareness about it…
The K2 Jail Paper Dilemma: Understanding the Impact on Inmates and Staff
K2 being smuggled into jails is coming up a lot in my classes. In this article, I’ll talk about K2 Jail paper, along with a bonus video of someone making it as well as a photo of the process of drying it on paper. It is a really simple process and helps you understand why it is so popular in the jail system.
Methamphetamine in Pill Form: Video Training
The Insiders Briefing On Fridays, we try to do a little something extra for the paid subscribers. Whether it is a little training, or it is downloads or guides that help them do their job a little better. Meth Pills For subscribers only, I’ll be talking about methamphetamine that is showing up in pill form. This isn’t a one off. This is happening all over…
The Illicit Use of Vyvanse: A Guide For Law Enforcement
What is Vyvanse? Vyvanse, also known by its generic name lisdexamfetamine, is a prescription-only stimulant used to treat ADHD as well as binge eating disorder. Chemically, it functions similarly to Adderall. However, in recent years, Vyvanse has become increasingly popular due to the Adderall shortage.