Lt. Benjamin Hout
Deputy Director, Interdepartmental Investigation Service

Distribution: RK Arbites command officers

SUMMARY S'moot production and distribution is being managed outside of traditional criminal family organizations. Wholesale distributors are extremely dangerous, and local Arbites are encouraged to refer interdiction efforts to the Interdepartmental Investigation Service.

Following raids against S'moot distribution centers in Dowling, the IIS has learned significantly more about the sale and distribution of s'moot, and some potential methods of combating the spread of this drug.

Organization of Distribution Networks

Intelligence indicates that s'moot production and importation is managed outside of existing organized crime networks. Operations of s'moot networks in Dowling were heavily opposed by the existing criminal organizations, and were only successful once street-level distribution was subcontracted to those networks.

The crime families in Dowling designated a single point of contact to manage the logistics of the s'moot trade, including collecting it from the Dowling distribution center and the street-level operations. The families do not respect the s'moot importers and so far have not defended their operations.

Wholesale S'moot Distribution

In Dowling it was found that all importation of s'moot was managed through a single well-protected location. The product is imported in a highly refined liquid form. The distribution centers convert the liquid product to a green powder which is sold to the contacts within the local criminal organizations at the wholesale level.

The original point of origin of the product is uncertain. Captured senior-level operatives have indicated that the product comes from offworld, which is in keeping chemical analysis provided by SB scientists. This importation vector could not be confirmed by other sources, who have indicated that the product is not coming in via existing smuggling channels.

It is possible that the product is being produced on-planet in a remote location (or locations). SB analysis indicates that this would require a fairly sophisticated operation, using custom environments to produce the raw materials. Additionally, senior operatives of s'moot networks have been seen making fairly regular journies to the countryside to pick up the refined product.

Interdicting Distribution

Street level retail distribution of s'moot is not heavily protected. These dealers are considered expendable assest by both the s'moot distributors and the criminal operations they belong to. They can be arrested much like any other narcotics dealer.

The wholesale distribution centers should not be approached using conventional tactics. They are heavily guarded, and field experience has shown that they are exceptionally well armed. They also have sophisticated intelligence networks that are capable of detecting movements of large Arbites forces.

Raids against wholesale distribution centers must be conducted covertly and using overwhelming force. The defenders appear to have heightened reactions and awareness consistent with the use of combat drugs or advanced military training techniques. Local Arbites are discouraged from attempting interdiction on their own, and should instead refer suspected distribution centers to IIS operations.

It should be noted that senior operatives and muscle in these networks do not themselves use s'moot. They do not exhibit the lassitude normally associated with habitual users.

Ideology

Interrogation of senior-level operatives from a s'moot distribution network indicate a patriotic or religious motivation to the establishment of the distribution networks.

One captured operative indicated that their distribution was organized by a religious figure named "Timet." This does not match any know religious figures or organizations, but research is proceeding in that direction.

Additionally, members of these networks act with a religious fervor to avoid capture or interrogation. Several prisoners have taken their own lives to avoid interrogation following capture.