New Jersey is known as the Garden state. It also has a reputation for being home to organized crime and corruption. Because of these criminal organizations willingness to do anything to make money, and their close proximity to the largest city in the United States, the drug trade has proven to be a very profitable enterprise for them. New Jersey contains both an international airport and major commercial shipping centers. Consequently, the state presents an attractive transportation hub for drug organizations, as well as a major challenge for law enforcement entities combating this illicit activity. While Colombian and Dominican drug organizations predominantly control heroin and cocaine trafficking, recent intelligence indicates that Mexican traffickers from the West Coast are now moving cocaine shipments into the New Jersey and New York areas. There continues to be a significant drug abuse problem in New Jersey. In urban areas such as Newark, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Camden, widespread crack cocaine and heroin use continue. In nightclub areas throughout the state and particularly around the casino areas of Atlantic City, club drugs remain popular.

Since the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, there has been an increase in the availability of heroin in New Jersey. This has been primarily attributed to the increased law enforcement presence in New York. Narcotics officers have reported large amounts of narcotics are being rerouted to New Jersey before distribution in New York. County narcotics task force commanders have reported an increase in heroin related deaths. Intelligence indicates drug traffickers may be shipping narcotics in cargo containers to the port in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Heroin distributors are also reportedly utilizing two way pagers with text messaging to communicate with each other.

Because New Jersey is so diverse, criminal organizations from all over the World are trying their hand at getting their products into the Country without going directly through New York City. New Jersey is a transshipment area for cocaine which is transported by various means, including shipping, tractor-trailers, commercial air and private vehicles. In some cases, couriers are utilized to bring in smaller shipments into airports and other public transportation facilities. Cocaine is predominantly distributed by Colombian and Dominican nationals who supply Puerto Rican, African-Americans, and Caucasians who distribute at the street level. For the first time in the State of New Jersey, gang members were recently prosecuted under federal law. The Newark Division’s Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) successfully targeted members of the violent “Crips” street gang, which had controlled drug sales in an area of Newark. Two members of the gang were charged with narcotics violations and were subsequently convicted. They are awaiting sentencing. New Jersey has a big drug problem and it is important that there are many available resources for people who are struggling to fight back. Finding an effective drug rehab in New Jersey is needed for so many individuals.