Opium, the raw material for heroin, undergoes a purification process that can be perilous, particularly the fourth stage involving ether and hydrochloric acid. McCoy highlights the inherent dangers, noting that in the hands of an inexperienced chemist, the volatile ether gas can easily ignite, leading to a powerful explosion capable of destroying clandestine laboratories. The end result of this process is number four heroin, a fluffy, white powder highly sought after in the drug trade.
When heroin leaves laboratories in places like Bangkok or Hong Kong, it enters a complex distribution network. Top-level brokers typically handle large shipments, ranging from 20 to 100 kilos. A broker operating in New York may then divide these bulk shipments into smaller wholesale lots of 1 to 10 kilos for distribution to their subordinates. In 1997, the Drug Enforcement Administration estimated that a kilo of Southeast Asian heroin cost between $100,000 and $120,000.
Interestingly, despite the clandestine nature of the heroin trade, the one-kilo bricks are often brightly packaged and branded with logos that wouldn’t be out of place on Madison Avenue. For example, heroin originating in Burma’s Shan State might feature a red-lettered logo, “Double UO Globe Brand”, flanked by a pair of lions.
By the time heroin reaches the streets and is sold in small “bags” for $5 to $100, its value has increased tenfold since its arrival in the United States.
In the past, the heroin sold on American streets was heavily diluted, rarely exceeding 10 percent purity. However, in the mid-1990s, purity levels rose dramatically, often reaching 50 to 60 percent. This increase was driven by dealers seeking to expand their market beyond those who injected heroin intravenously. According to DEA administrator Thomas Constantine, higher purity allows users to inhale or smoke heroin, eliminating the risk of AIDS associated with intravenous needles, as reported in a Washington Post article.
The higher purity also reflects a significant increase in global opium production. U.S. estimates indicate that illicit raw opium production reached a record 4,300 tons last year, nearly 1,000 tons more than in 1992. In 1996, Burma produced over 2,500 tons, making it the world’s leading opium producer by a significant margin.
Using a general rule of thumb, every 10 tons of raw opium can be converted into one ton of heroin. Therefore, the global opium output in 1996 translated into approximately 430 tons of heroin, with about half of that amount destined for the United States.
In conclusion, opium’s composition is intrinsically linked to the production and distribution of heroin, influencing its purity, methods of consumption, and global availability. The increase in opium production directly contributes to the availability of higher purity heroin, impacting both the market and the associated health risks.
