A Novel Method for Measuring the Extent of Cocaine Flows Across the U.S

We propose a novel method to measure the spatial extent of cocaine flows in the US using data on the price and purity of cocaine observed in drug seizures or undercover drug purchases. We then compare the cocaine trafficking network extracted using this method to anecdotal knowledge about cocaine flows using network analytic methods. Based on the network analysis, the trafficking networks inferred from price and purity data appear to be more elaborate in their geographic extent than prior anecdotal evidence suggests. The analysis uncovers previously unrecognized flows, notably identifying multiple possible cocaine source points along the US-Canadian border, challenging the traditional and likely incomplete narrative focused on the southern border. This study demonstrates that variation in cocaine purity across space and over time can help detect unconventional patterns of cocaine flows, complementing the conventional understanding of the extent of cocaine flows.