Chapter 8: Domestic Drug Trafficking Organizations ✓ Solved
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Chapter 8 Domestic Drug-Trafficking Organizations Drugs
Overview: This chapter will enable you to understand the role of organized crime in drug trafficking. Learn about the Mafia, outlaw motorcycle gangs, youth gangs, and prison gangs, among other topics related to drug trade and organized crime.
Traditional Organized Crime: The Mafia
The Sicilian Mafia has established itself as Italy’s premier criminal group through corruption, assassination, extortion, and manipulation. Its criminal influence reaches around the globe, particularly in Western Europe, North America, and South America.
Mafia Characteristics
- Strict code of silence known as Omertà
- Reputation for vendettas against those who insult or attack its members
- Established in the U.S. after members fled Mussolini’s purges in the 1920s
The Mafia and the Drug Trade
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Mafia capitalized on the drug trade, using France as a key transit point for heroin distribution. By the 1980s, heroin became a substantial revenue generator, with large-scale money laundering schemes like the Pizza Connection gaining notoriety.
Drug Smuggling Techniques
Mafioso have employed various methods to smuggle drugs, including:
- Using body packs to transport heroin
- Hiding drugs in everyday items, such as toys, cheese, and clothing
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are significant players in the drug trade, utilizing their motorcycle clubs for illegal activities. Key groups include the Bandidos, Hells Angels, and Mongols, each with extensive networks across the United States and abroad.
Youth Street Gangs
Youth gangs are often composed of low-income individuals seeking belonging. Law enforcement faces challenges in defining and infiltrating these gangs, which complicates efforts to address their involvement in drug trafficking.
Prison Gangs
Prison gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia continue to operate both inside and outside the prison system. They specialize in drug trafficking and often collaborate with OMGs and street gangs.
Conclusion
This chapter illustrates the complex nature of domestic drug trafficking organizations and their interplay with organized crime. Understanding these groups is essential for addressing the underlying socio-economic factors that drive drug-related crime in society.
Paper For Above Instructions
Drug trafficking is an ongoing challenge that intertwines with various facets of organized crime in society. This paper aims to delve into the characteristics, operations, and impacts of domestic drug-trafficking organizations, such as the Mafia, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and youth prison gangs, as well as their societal implications.
Traditional Organized Crime: The Mafia
The Mafia, particularly the Sicilian Mafia, is emblematic of traditional organized crime. Its extensive network operates through a strict code of silence known as Omertà, which prevents members from cooperating with law enforcement. This secretive nature allows Mafia activities to proliferate undetected, contributing to significant drug trafficking operations. During Prohibition, the Mafia gained prominence, leading to its structured criminal enterprises that now span multiple continents.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the Mafia evolved its operations to include narcotics trafficking, particularly heroin. The notorious French Connection established a route through France, facilitating massive drug shipments to the U.S. By the 1980s, heroin became a primary revenue source, with elaborate money laundering schemes like the Pizza Connection reinforcing its financial strength (McCarthy, 2015).
Drug Smuggling and Mafia Operations
The methods employed by the Mafia for drug smuggling are sophisticated. They utilize innovative techniques to transport narcotics, such as body packs concealing kilograms of heroin. These drugs are further hidden in everyday commercial goods, indicating a deep penetration into the market and revealing how organized crime adapts (Reuter & Kleiman, 2018).
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) such as the Hells Angels and the Bandidos represent a different facet of organized crime, yet their influence in drug trafficking cannot be understated. These gangs operate as tightly-knit networks often involved in violent crime and drug sales, making them crucial players in the drug trade across the United States and internationally (Decker & Pyrooz, 2020).
Youth Gangs and Drug Trade
Youth street gangs, typically composed of young individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, also contribute to the landscape of drug trafficking. These gangs often form as a coping mechanism for belonging and identity. Law enforcement struggles to manage these gangs due to their elusive nature and the reluctance of communities to cooperate, resulting in a cycle of criminal activity (Thornberry, 2019).
Prison Gangs
Within the prison system, gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia maintain substantial influence over drug trafficking. Their operations extend beyond prison walls, often collaborating with street gangs and OMGs. This interconnectivity highlights the challenge of addressing drug trafficking as it requires tackling various organized crime layers simultaneously (Wood, 2016).
Conclusion
Domestic drug-trafficking organizations contribute significantly to the social fabric of crime in the United States. The Mafia’s historical roots, the structured operations of outlaw motorcycle gangs, and the pervasive influence of youth and prison gangs all play vital roles in this ongoing issue. Strategies to combat these organizations require a multifaceted approach that acknowledges their complexity and societal impacts.
References
- Decker, S. H., & Pyrooz, D. C. (2020). Gangs in America's Communities. Oxford University Press.
- McCarthy, C. (2015). The Rise of the Mafia: A History. Independent Publishing.
- Reuter, P., & Kleiman, M. A. R. (2018). Shape and Control of the Illegal Drug Market. RAND Corporation.
- Thornberry, T. P. (2019). Gang Membership and Delinquent Behavior. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.
- Wood, J. (2016). The Overlooked Role of Prison Gangs in the Drug Trade. The Prison Journal.
- Howell, J. C. (2017). Gang Prevention: An Overview of the Research. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). The Effects of Drug Abuse. NIDA Publications.
- Beck, A. J. (2016). Criminal Justice Monitoring: Gangs and Drugs. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
- Valdez, A. (2014). The Youth Gang Drug Market. The International Journal of Drug Policy.
- Fagan, J. (2018). Crime and Neighborhoods: Gangs and Drugs. Crime & Justice.
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