How New York became a hub for the heroin trade

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Podcasts Take Two

May 20, 2014

Listen • 9:10

How New York became a hub for the heroin trade

In New York City, import and export of heroin has surged to the highest levels seen in two decades.

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT - FEBRUARY 06: Drugs are prepared to shoot intravenously by a user addicted to heroin on February 6, 2014 in St. Johnsbury Vermont. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin recently devoted his entire State of the State speech to the scourge of heroin. Heroin and other opiates have begun to devastate many communities in the Northeast and Midwest leading to a surge in fatal overdoses in a number of states. As prescription painkillers, such as the synthetic opiate OxyContin, become increasingly expensive and regulated, more and more Americans are turning to heroin to fight pain or to get high. Heroin, which has experienced a surge in production in places such as Afghanistan and parts of Central America, has a relatively inexpensive street price and provides a more powerful affect on the user. New York City police are currently investigating the death of the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman who was found dead last Sunday with a needle in his arm. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In New York City, import and export of heroin has surged to the highest levels seen in two decades.

In New York City, import and export of heroin has surged to the highest levels seen in two decades. During the first four months of the year, authorities have seized more than 288 pounds of heroin — and that doesn't count the smaller deals taking place on the streets every day.

Sam Quinones of the LA Times joins the show with more. He's currently working on a book about the heroin trade.