Drug Trafficking Statistics

 Posted on November 08, 2017 in Drug Crimes

In Illinois and the United States, drugs have always been a societal problem. Even though drugs still negatively affect many lives today, there has been a massive change in the use of drugs over the past several years. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), there has been a sharp increase in drug seizures for certain types of drugs, and a decrease in other types.

Overview of Drug Arrests in the United States

The number of arrests made for the use of drugs has slightly increased from 2006 to 2015. As of now, there is no supporting data for the years 2016 and 2017. For the years 2007 and 2008, the number of arrests has decreased, but then the number has gone up in 2009 and has stayed around the same number.

• In 2006, there was a total of 30,691 arrests for drug use;
• In 2008, there were 28,607 arrests;
• In 2011, there was a total of 32,530 arrests; and
• In 2015, there were 31,027 arrests for drug use.

From the years 2006 to 2015, the number of arrests made for drug use has stayed about the same. There would be some slight decrease in the number and then some increase, but there was really not much change in the number of arrests.

Drug Seizures in 2005

In the 2000’s, drugs were a major problem in the United States. Even though the drug usage remains an adversity to society, there have been several increases and decreases in the type of drugs that have been seized.

• 118,128 kilograms of cocaine were seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration;
• 622 kilograms of heroin were seized;
• 283,382 kilograms of marijuana were reported;
• 2,161 kilograms of methamphetamines were seized; and
• 8,868,465 dosage units of hallucinogens were seized by the DEA.

Drug Seizures in 2014

There was an increase in the seizure of heroin and methamphetamines in 2014 from 2010. However, there was a massive decrease in the seizure of cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogens in the same time frame.

• 33,770 kilograms of cocaine were reported;
• 1,020 kilograms of heroin were confiscated by the DEA;
• 74,225 kilograms of marijuana were seized;
• 2,946 kilograms of methamphetamines were confiscated; and
• 48,970 dosage units of hallucinogens were seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

At the time that this report was created, the 2014 statistics were considered preliminary and subject to updating. This is just a brief overview of the number of drug seizures thus far.

Contact a Chicago Drug Crime Defense Lawyer

Drugs often account for the change in many people’s quality of life. Whatever the reason for the drug use, there are many serious consequences that the user may face, such as massive fines and several years behind bars. If you or a loved one has been accused of a drug crime, the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney will help you fight the legal battle. To schedule a free initial consultation, please call a Chicago criminal defense attorney at 312-629-0669 to get the help you deserve.

 Sources:

https://www.dea.gov/resource-center/statistics.shtml