Tide detergent for drugs? In USA?

From New York Mag Jan 6, 2013

                                     
                                        Copied from NY Mag post


Blame it on American ingenuity or the innovativeness of P & G with its Tide liquid detergent.  Tide detergent are shoplifted by the carloads.  For what?

It was discovered in police investigation that a plastic bottle of Tide can fetch as much $5@ and used in drug traffic.  The ordinary retail price is $20.00.  Why this high pricing?   Because Tide products are revolutionary and short of miracle in washing clothes.

This is quite surprising to happen in America.  Is this sign of really bad times in USA?

All the while, I thought that plastic bottles fetch P10.00 per kg in recycling;  these Tide products fetch PHP 200.00 each in the drug market.   Wow.