Washington State  

Drug Situation 2008

Sharing a border with Canada, Washington is a transshipment point for drugs and monies entering Canada, as well as Canadian marijuana (street name BC Bud), MDMA (street name Ecstasy) and other drugs entering the United States. Canadian criminal organizations have used profits from the sale of high-potency BC Bud marijuana to purchase cocaine for redistribution in Canada. In particular, Vietnamese organized crime groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs such as the Hell’s Angels are suspected of heavy involvement in this activity. Crystal methamphetamine is widely available in Washington and distributed by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. The greater Yakima Valley is home to large scale drug trafficking organizations responsible for the distribution of drugs throughout the United States. Money laundering and bulk cash smuggling are additional threats in Washington, with organizations engaging in a variety of methods to legitimize and reposition illicit proceeds.

 - U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration