Mapping Variables Influencing Illicit Drug Flow

National Drug Intelligence Center Corridor Map

Inspired by the original map concept featured in the National Drug Intelligence Center's National Drug Threat Assessment 2006, this project embarks on updating and expanding the scope of understanding.

United States Interstate Highway System

The US interstate system serves as a critical artery for the transportation of goods and people across the country, but unfortunately, it also plays a significant role in the illicit drug trade. The interconnectedness and efficiency of the interstate highways facilitate the movement of illegal substances, enabling drug traffickers to transport their products swiftly and discreetly. Major cities along these highways often serve as hubs for drug distribution, with traffickers exploiting the dense networks of roads to distribute drugs to smaller towns and rural areas. Moreover, the anonymity provided by interstate travel makes it challenging for law enforcement agencies to track and intercept drug shipments effectively. As a result, understanding the correlation between the US interstate system and drug flow is crucial for devising targeted strategies to combat drug trafficking and related crimes.

Since the National Drug Threat Assessment in 2006, the US highway system has undergone significant changes, reflecting both growth and evolving patterns of transportation. With advancements in technology and changes in population demographics, the highway infrastructure has expanded and adapted to accommodate increasing traffic volumes and changing travel patterns. The introduction of new highways, upgrades to existing routes, and shifts in population centers have altered the landscape of drug trafficking routes across the country. Additionally, improvements in data collection and mapping technologies have enabled more accurate and detailed representations of highway networks, providing researchers and law enforcement agencies with valuable insights into drug flow dynamics. By understanding how the highway system has changed from 2006 to the present, policymakers and law enforcement can better adapt their strategies to address emerging challenges in combating illicit drug trafficking.

Map Data: Census TIGER Data

Map Visualization:

1. Data Upload:
   1. Open ArcGIS Pro and create a new project.
   2. Add your dataset containing the relevant information, such as TIGER road data.
2. Creating Two Views:
   1. Once your data is added to the project, navigate to the Table of Contents.
   2. Right-click on your dataset and select "Properties."
   3. In the Layer Properties dialog box, go to the "Definition Query" tab.
   4. Create two separate queries to filter the data: one for roads greater than 500K and another for quantities less than 500K.
   5. Apply the queries to create two separate views of your data.
3. Changing Symbology:
   1. With your dataset selected in the Table of Contents, navigate to the Symbology pane.
   2. Choose a symbology that stands out against the basemap but is visually appealing and coherent with your final map's design.
   3. Adjust the symbology properties, such as color, size, and transparency, to effectively represent the drug seizure data.
   4. Apply the symbology to both views of your data.
4. Creating Highway/Interstate Shields:
   1. Ensure you have a dataset containing information about highways and interstates, including their names and locations.
   2. Add this dataset to your ArcGIS Pro project.
   3. Symbolize the highways and interstates using a line symbol that represents their width and color.
   4. To create shields for the highways/interstates, navigate to the Symbology pane.
   5. In the Symbol Layer properties, choose a shield symbol style and adjust its size and color to make it visually distinct.
   6. Apply the shield symbol to the highways/interstates in your map.

U.S. Border Security Field Offices Seized Illicit Drugs

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's borders and preventing illicit drug trafficking. With field offices strategically positioned across both the Southern and Northern borders of the United States, CBP agents work tirelessly to intercept illegal drugs and other contraband entering the country. These field offices serve as frontline defense against drug smuggling activities, conducting inspections at ports of entry, patrolling remote border areas, and utilizing advanced technologies to detect and apprehend smugglers. CBP's presence along the Southern border, particularly in key locations such as San Diego, Tucson, El Paso, and Laredo, is vital in combating the influx of drugs from Mexico, while field offices along the Northern border, including Seattle and Detroit, help prevent the smuggling of drugs from Canada.

The results of CBP's efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking are evident in the significant quantities of seized drugs reported from various field offices across the nation. Major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, New York, Chicago, and Seattle have consistently reported high volumes of seized drugs, highlighting the prevalence of drug smuggling activities in these urban centers. These field offices serve as crucial hubs for intercepting drug shipments and dismantling trafficking networks, contributing to the overall efforts to disrupt and dismantle illicit drug trade routes across the United States. By displaying the illicit drug seizure data from each field office, policymakers and law enforcement agencies gain valuable insights into the geographical distribution and magnitude of drug trafficking activities, enabling them to allocate resources effectively and develop targeted strategies to combat the illicit drug trade.

Map Data: U.S. Border and Customs Patrol (Seizure Collections 2022)

Map Visualization:

1. Download Data: Obtain the data from the U.S. Border and Customs Patrol, typically in point format representing field offices or relevant locations.
2. Turn on Labels: Activate labels to display names or other relevant information associated with each point.
3. Select Label Symbology: Choose green text with a high halo effect for labels to ensure visibility against the background, aligning with the green and white color scheme of border security sectors.
4. Enable Labels Group Attributes: Activate the Labels Group Attributes feature to manually adjust label placement for optimal readability and visual appeal.
5. Choose Point Symbology: Select a badge symbol to represent law enforcement field offices and set it to green and white to match the border security sector colors. Use Natural Breaks.
6. Utilize Graduated Symbols: Configure the point symbology as graduated symbols based on the quantity of illicit drugs seized. Set the symbol size or color to represent the severity of drug seizure activity at each location.

Image: Border Security and Customs Badge

United States Census County Population Density

Census counties population data provides crucial insights into the demographic landscape of the United States, offering detailed information on population distribution, density, and demographic characteristics. By analyzing population data at the county level, researchers can identify patterns of urbanization, population growth, and migration trends, which are essential factors in understanding the dynamics of drug trafficking. Population data helps law enforcement agencies and policymakers assess the demand for illicit drugs in various regions, identify areas of high population density where drug distribution networks may thrive, and allocate resources effectively to combat drug trafficking and related crimes. Additionally, population data enables policymakers to implement targeted prevention and intervention strategies, such as drug education and treatment programs, to address the root causes of drug abuse and addiction within communities.

The results of the map display major populated cities and drug ports labeled, along with field offices, highlighting the influence of population data on both drug trafficking patterns and law enforcement strategies. Major cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, which are hubs of population and economic activity, are often focal points for drug trafficking operations due to the high demand for illicit drugs. Similarly, drug ports such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and Miami, which are major entry points for goods and people into the country, are prime targets for drug smugglers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the transportation network. By overlaying population data with the locations of major cities, drug ports, and field offices, the map provides a comprehensive visualization of the intersection between population demographics, drug trafficking routes, and law enforcement efforts, informing strategic decision-making and resource allocation to combat the illicit drug trade effectively.

Map Data: U.S. Census Data, Major Cities (I created in Excel with Latitude and Longitude), and Border Sector Field Offices

Map Visualization:

1. Download Census Data and Border Security Field Office Data: Begin by obtaining census data and compiling a list of major cities and drug ports along highways. Utilize Border Security Field Office data to identify relevant locations for law enforcement presence.
2. Census Data Visualization:
   1. Symbology: Set the symbology of the census data to represent population density.
   2. Normalize Distribution: Apply normalization techniques, such as natural breaks, to ensure a balanced representation of population density across the map.
   3. Color Selection: Choose visually pleasing colors that enhance the clarity and aesthetics of the map. In this case, an ombre orange/brown color scheme is selected to highlight population density variations.
   4. Field Office and Major City Visibility: Opt for colors that allow field offices and major cities to stand out against the background, ensuring they are easily identifiable.
3. Field Office Labels: Transfer field office labels from the previous map onto the new map to maintain consistency and provide context regarding law enforcement presence.
4. Major Cities Visualization:
   1. Convert Excel Table to XY Data: Utilize latitude and longitude coordinates from the Excel file to plot major cities on the map as point data.
   2. Label Placement: Display city names as labels to identify major urban centers. Customize label symbology, such as using black and bold fonts, to ensure clarity and readability.
   3. Labels as Group Attribute: Enable the labels as a group attribute, allowing flexibility in moving them around the map to avoid clutter and overlap.
   4. Point Symbology: Customize the point data symbology for major cities, opting for a clear circle with a black outline. This design choice allows visibility of field office circles or underlying population data without obstruction.

Interpreting the Relationship of Seized Illicit Drugs and City Population

Bivariate maps offer a powerful tool for visualizing the relationship between two different variables across geographical regions. In the context of the current map, which examines CBP Field Office illicit drug seizure data in relation to population, bivariate mapping allows for the simultaneous representation of both variables to identify patterns and trends. By overlaying data on population density with information on drug seizure quantities at CBP Field Offices, the map provides insights into how these variables interact and influence each other across different regions of the United States.

The results of the bivariate map highlight several interesting findings. Regions with high population density and correspondingly high drug seizure quantities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, El Paso, New York, and Chicago, underscore the connection between urban centers and drug trafficking activities. These areas, characterized by bustling urban environments and significant transportation infrastructure, often serve as major hubs for drug distribution and consumption. Conversely, regions with low population density and low drug seizure quantities, including Harve Sector, Grand Forks Sector, Blaine Sector, Swaton Sector, and Houlton Sector, indicate areas with fewer opportunities for drug trafficking due to sparse populations and limited transportation networks. Additionally, the map identifies regions where population density is high but drug seizure quantities are low, such as Atlanta and Portland, suggesting potential areas for further investigation into factors influencing drug trafficking dynamics. Similarly, areas with low population density but moderate drug seizure quantities, like Big Bend Sector, highlight the unique challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in rural border regions. Overall, bivariate mapping offers a comprehensive visualization of the complex interplay between population demographics and drug trafficking patterns, providing valuable insights for law enforcement efforts and policy interventions.

Map Data: U.S. Border Security Seized Data; New Excel Created with Population from 2022 of the Cities each Sector or Field Office is in

Map Visualization:

1. Create Excel File of Population Data:
   1. Compile population data for each Border Security sector or field office city and organize it into an Excel spreadsheet. Ensure that the data is accurately represented and includes relevant information for each location.
2. Join Excel Table to Border Security Seizure Data:
   1. Open the U.S. Border Security Seizure Data in your mapping software.
   2. Join the newly created Excel table containing population data to the Border Security Seizure Data based on a common field, such as the city name or field office identifier. This step links population data to each location in the seizure dataset.
3. Open Symbology:
   1. Navigate to the Symbology settings for the Border Security Seizure Data layer in your mapping software.
4. Choose Bivariate Relationship:
   1. Select a bivariate symbology option that allows you to represent the relationship between two different fields: seized illicit drugs and population.
   2. Assign the field corresponding to seized illicit drugs as Field 1 and the field representing population as Field 2.
   3. Adjust the color scheme to your liking, ensuring that it effectively visualizes the relationship between drug seizures and population density. For example, you may choose contrasting colors to highlight areas with high drug seizures relative to population and vice versa.
5. Use Field Office Labels:
   1. Incorporate field office labels from previous maps onto the current map to provide context and identify Border Security field office locations.
   2. Ensure that the labels are placed appropriately and are clearly visible without cluttering the map.

New Corridor Map

The new corridor map represents a significant advancement in understanding illicit drug distribution patterns within the United States. Unlike previous maps that primarily focused on drug flow from the south to the north, this updated version comprehensively analyzes distribution dynamics in both directions—from north to south and south to north. By incorporating updated data on major cities and the highway system, this corridor map provides a more accurate depiction of drug trafficking routes and hotspots across the country. It characterizes drug flow patterns with greater precision, offering insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing illicit drug distribution. Moreover, this updated corridor map serves as the foundation for ongoing research projects, such as modeling interstate illicit drug flow and assessing the potential influence of interdiction efforts. By building upon this comprehensive understanding of drug flow patterns, researchers can develop more effective strategies for combating drug trafficking and mitigating its societal impacts.

Map Data: U.S. Census TIGER Data, Major Cities Data (created in previous step), U.S. States Shapefile (ArcOnline)

Map Visualization:

1. Add Data Layers:
   1. Begin by adding the necessary data layers to your mapping software. This includes highway data, major cities data, and the U.S. states shapefile.
   2. Ensure that each dataset is properly formatted and contains the relevant information needed for your analysis.
2. Set Labels as Group Attributes:
   1. Once all data layers are added to the map, set both labels (for major cities and highways) as group attributes.
   2. This allows you to move the labels and points together, ensuring they can be viewed clearly and minimizing overlap on the map.
   3. Adjust the placement of labels and points as needed to optimize visibility and readability.
3. Create Polygons for Corridors:
   1. Click on the "Edit" tool in the toolbar to enable editing mode.
   2. Next, click on the "Create" option to start creating new features.
   3. On the right toolbar, select the appropriate tool or option to create polygons. In this case, you used the state shapefile as a reference to build the polygons.
   4. Create eight polygons to represent different major flows of movement along the interstate highway system. Each polygon should encompass the relevant highways and major cities within a specific corridor.