Cocaine: Maryland (Allegany County)

Cocaine is one of the major problems in the state of Maryland because it has a direct correlation with other crimes. Cocaine- both powered and crack is frequently abused and readily available in the state, particularly in the Baltimore area. The primary transporters are Dominican and Columbian criminal groups based from New York City, and the local Maryland independent dealers. These groups supply wholesale and retail distributors throughout the state. With that being said the drug abuse of cocaine in Maryland in very high. Finding out the correct statistics on cocaine use is nearly impossible because using cocaine in Maryland is illegal just like every other state in America. According to date from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the percentage of Maryland residents who reported using cocaine this year prior to the survey was 1.6 percent comparable to the nation’s percentage of 1.7.  

            Just like the central part of the state, cocaine poses a significant threat to Allegany County as well. The Allegany Highland Drug Task Force took action on this problem in April with their “Operation Sunrise”. This was when after investigating for more than a year, more than 60-officers from the Alleghany County area targeted 73-suspects on 248 cocaine related charges. Suspects are suspected drug users or dealers in Allegany County. "It'll shake things up for a while, hopefully clean up the streets,” said Sheriff Kevin Hall. Hall feels like “Operation Sunrise” not only gets a lot of drug dealers off the streets, but will act as a reminder to anyone thinking about selling drugs in Allegany for a while. The operation was a success because the officers were able to catch 57 out of the 73 suspects, no one was injured during arrest, and they only had to bust in one door to get their man.