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Dope seized by Wilmington, Delaware police increased 1,000 percent since 2000
Cocaine and marijuana long have been the dominant illegal drugs bought and sold in Wilmington,Delaware police say.
While that still is the case, heroin is emerging as the fastest-growing narcotic bought and sold on streets of Delaware - most notably in the Hilltop and Riverside areas of Delaware.
Heroin addicts and dealers, many from out of state, are descending on Wilmington, Delaware. Seizures of the drug by the city police drug squad are up about 1,000 percent from 2000, when 40 grams of heroin were seized. In 2001, 200 grams were confiscated - a 500 percent jump.
As of last week, 463 grams have been seized.
"Heroin is huge," said Capt. Sean Finerty, commander of the Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division.
Of the 409 grams of heroin seized between January and October of this year in Delaware, 386 grams were taken from the West Side, primarily in Hilltop, according to police statistics. Nineteen grams were seized in northeast Wilmington, including Riverside, Delaware.
About half of the buyers who come to Hilltop and Riverside, Delaware have out-of-state license plates, mostly from Maryland, Wilmington, Delaware Police Sgt. Mark Christopher said.
"The people who usually go to Philadelphia have found it is easier to come here," he said, adding that officers have seen an increase in the number of buyers from North East, Rising Sun, Elkton and even Ocean City, Md.
"This year is the first year I've seen that many people from Maryland," Christopher said.
Detective Danny Silva of the drug division said he recently arrested a Maryland man and asked him why he came to Wilmington, Delaware. "Everybody knows to go to Fifth and Franklin," the man said.
According to a report released earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Justice's National Drug Intelligence Center, heroin "poses the greatest drug threat to Delaware."
The report cited the low cost and purity of the drug, along with a significant increase in the number of new abusers, particularly teens and young adults.
Last year, more people were admitted to Delaware treatment facilities for heroin than any other illicit drug, according to an August report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which is headed by John Walters. There were 2,153 people admitted for treatment for heroin addiction in Delaware, 400 more than those who sought treatment for alcohol abuse.
And while treatment is one way to attack the problem of heroin abuse, Finerty is trying to combat drug abuse on a different front. He has started a program to alert unsuspecting parents and spouses that their loved ones may be buying drugs in Wilmington, Delaware.
Last month,Delaware police began sending letters to the registered owners of cars spotted prowling the city's worst drug-infested neighborhoods.
The letter, personally signed by Wilmington, Delaware Police Chief Michael Szczerba, is meant to send a warning signal.
Cocaine and marijuana long have been the dominant illegal drugs bought and sold in Wilmington,Delaware police say.
While that still is the case, heroin is emerging as the fastest-growing narcotic bought and sold on streets of Delaware - most notably in the Hilltop and Riverside areas of Delaware.
Heroin addicts and dealers, many from out of state, are descending on Wilmington, Delaware. Seizures of the drug by the city police drug squad are up about 1,000 percent from 2000, when 40 grams of heroin were seized. In 2001, 200 grams were confiscated - a 500 percent jump.
As of last week, 463 grams have been seized.
"Heroin is huge," said Capt. Sean Finerty, commander of the Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division.
Of the 409 grams of heroin seized between January and October of this year in Delaware, 386 grams were taken from the West Side, primarily in Hilltop, according to police statistics. Nineteen grams were seized in northeast Wilmington, including Riverside, Delaware.
About half of the buyers who come to Hilltop and Riverside, Delaware have out-of-state license plates, mostly from Maryland, Wilmington, Delaware Police Sgt. Mark Christopher said.
"The people who usually go to Philadelphia have found it is easier to come here," he said, adding that officers have seen an increase in the number of buyers from North East, Rising Sun, Elkton and even Ocean City, Md.
"This year is the first year I've seen that many people from Maryland," Christopher said.
Detective Danny Silva of the drug division said he recently arrested a Maryland man and asked him why he came to Wilmington, Delaware. "Everybody knows to go to Fifth and Franklin," the man said.
According to a report released earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Justice's National Drug Intelligence Center, heroin "poses the greatest drug threat to Delaware."
The report cited the low cost and purity of the drug, along with a significant increase in the number of new abusers, particularly teens and young adults.
Last year, more people were admitted to Delaware treatment facilities for heroin than any other illicit drug, according to an August report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which is headed by John Walters. There were 2,153 people admitted for treatment for heroin addiction in Delaware, 400 more than those who sought treatment for alcohol abuse.
And while treatment is one way to attack the problem of heroin abuse, Finerty is trying to combat drug abuse on a different front. He has started a program to alert unsuspecting parents and spouses that their loved ones may be buying drugs in Wilmington, Delaware.
Last month,Delaware police began sending letters to the registered owners of cars spotted prowling the city's worst drug-infested neighborhoods.
The letter, personally signed by Wilmington, Delaware Police Chief Michael Szczerba, is meant to send a warning signal.
