Excerpted from a longer post written by Peter Grant:
...I developed contacts with members of the FBI, US Marshals Service, and other agencies that I've maintained to this day. I'm hearing interesting things from them about the supply of illegal drugs in our major metropolitan areas. Basically, that supply is being cut off at the knees by the slowdown in world trade. I hadn't realized how much the drug trade was dependent upon Chinese chemicals and precursor materials to process coca leaves into cocaine, or to make methamphetamine or heroin. Also, apparently most of the synthetic marijuana (a.k.a. "spice") on the market comes from China, or is made with ingredients supplied from there.
This is apparently resulting in a severe shortage of illegal narcotics on the street in many cities. I'm told that drug addicts (particularly among the homeless) in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland are finding it very difficult to locate their next "fix", and to afford it if and when they do, because the shortage has led to increased prices. There doesn't appear to be any relief in sight in the short term, and not much in the medium term. One of my contacts is expecting unrest among the homeless community, including a significant increase in violence, as desperate addicts try to get drugs any way they can. He says he won't be surprised if it leads to more general criminal violence - highly aggressive panhandling (with attacks if the victim won't offer assistance), robberies, assaults, etc. He also reports growing disputes between gangs who have drugs to sell, and those who don't, leading to increased conflicts among criminals. Drugs have allegedly been hijacked in transit or stolen from rival dealers on the street, and "turf wars" are said to be increasing. The term "public service homicides" may have been bandied about . . .
He advises heightened situational awareness if travelling in urban areas. Always good advice.
He also links to this article at Vice:
Coronavirus Is Leading to Shortages of Fentanyl And Meth
Disruptions to global supply chains due to the spread of the coronavirus is hampering production of methamphetamine and fentanyl by Mexico’s cartels, according to VICE sources.
Sinaloa cartel operatives in Mexico told VICE this week that importing the chemical precursors they need to make methamphetamine and illicit fentanyl has become harder and more complicated, which is creating a shortage and pushing up prices.
Not a bad problem to have.
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