The city of Atlanta, Georgia, has been identified as the drug trafficking capital of the state, serving as a major hub for the distribution of illicit drugs across the eastern United States. Several factors contribute to Atlanta’s central role in the drug trade, including its strategic geographic location, extensive transportation infrastructure, and the presence of powerful drug trafficking organizations.
Atlanta’s Role as a Drug Trafficking Hub
Atlanta’s prominence in drug trafficking is largely due to its position as a transportation nexus. The city sits at the convergence of major interstate highways-Interstates 20, 75, and 85-which provide direct routes from the Southwest U.S. border to drug markets throughout the East Coast and Southeast regions.
Additionally, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, facilitates the movement of drugs and drug money by air. The city’s extensive road, rail, and air networks make it an ideal “warehouse” and distribution center for drug cartels, especially Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Types of Drugs and Trafficking Trends
The Atlanta area is a primary distribution center for several major drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine (particularly Mexican ice methamphetamine), marijuana, heroin, and increasingly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Cocaine and methamphetamine are widely available, with significant seizures reported in recent years. The availability of Mexican ice methamphetamine has surged, with seizures increasing dramatically, reflecting increased production in Mexico and distribution through Atlanta…