Houston is one of the major distribution points for several international crime groups into the US. IIRC more than 28% of Houston's population is foreign born( first generation.) There is a major presence in Houston of the Mexican, Latin American, Asian and Nigerian crime syndicates. Unfortunately the Feds seem slow to understand that the Cartels have been in the area for 20+ years, and the 'straw buyers' are invariably linked to the trafficking of narcotics as well.