This may be a little bit off topic, but I think it is really interesting and somewhat relates to the gun control issue that we talked about last week. Either way, I believe there are significant financial implications regarding the war on drugs and organized crime. This has always been a very controversial issue because taxpayers are currently spending what is estimated at about $40 billion dollar a year (and climbing) to fight the war on drugs alone; yet drugs in America continue to grow. However, this article sheds some light for all the money that is currently being spent on this issue.
NEW YORK - Federal agents dealt another major blow to New York's five Mafia crime families by arresting more than 100 suspected mobsters throughout the Northeast on charges including murder, extortion and narcotics trafficking. The FBI said most of the arrests were made in pre-dawn raids Thursday. Many were in Brooklyn, but they occurred throughout New York City, in New Jersey and New England. Law enforcement officials tell CBS News that this is considered "the largest one-day mob roundup in U.S. history."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/20/national/main7265045.shtml?tag=cbsContent;cbsCarousel
These arrests, I believe are going to have a significant impact on many of these major Mob families, and therefore will affect the rest of the gangs that did business with them. First, do arrests like these make the billions in taxpayers money worth it or do you think arresting such powerful mob family members is only going to piss people off and create even more violence? Do you think these busts are large enough that they will influence illegal drugs and organized crime markets not only in these couple of states but across the country?
Matt-- I know your week is almost up.. but I can't click on the hyperlinks. You can embed them in the text with the little infinity sign looking doodad when you post!
ReplyDeleteI hope the busts due "scare" others who are participating in illegal markets. But to be frank, with the current job market situation, black market activities provide a tax free source of income.
ReplyDeleteIf certain drugs were decriminalized, do you think the usage would increase or would it be a way to cut the budget on the war on drugs?
Right, as Laura stated. Usually, when things are taken away, made illegal or become increasingly stingy, the rate that they occur actually goes up. This can be said from the mundane grounding children from watching TV to the illegal possession of drugs. This is certainly a step in the right direction, nabbing over 125 mafia in one grab, possibly decreasing the amount of drugs that are transferred around in the New York area, but they must be prepared for a backlash from those who they angered. This is definitely a good thing though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that there will be a huge backlash of violence by any means, but I think it's a good, but temporary win, for FBI and DEA officials. I'm sure these crime bosses have plenty of people waiting in the wings to step up to a higher position in the criminal underworld, but I'm sure there was a large amount of trust that needs to be replaced. So while the families reorganize, I think there will be less drugs on the street, but soon enough they'll be right back to it.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that there will be a huge backlash of violence, but I dont think the mafia is going away either. Everytime a boss is arrested or killed, someone else becomes the boss. Just because they arent flashy like Gotti doesnt mean they arent around. They will continue to exist as long as there is money to be made just like corporations. As far as the war on drugs goes, the disgusting amount of money that has been spent is not justified by the arrest of 100 people. Until the foreign governments that house the drug cartels change course and truly combat the drug trade, the war on drugs will continue to be a failure. That is not likely to happen, because there is money to be made by looking the other way. I'm sorry, but if I am the police chief making $5000 a year in some run down village, I am taking the $100,000 and turning my attention toward catching some teenage car thieves.
ReplyDeleteI think these raids probably hit these mob families pretty hard, and for the time being organized crime in the illegal drug market will probably slow down. But, as already mentioned, these underworld criminals will simply move up the ranks within these mob families; once they are restructured, I'm sure the criminal activity will pick back up again full force.
ReplyDeleteI also think Laura brought up a good point: what if certain drugs (e.g., marijuana) were made legal? Instead of the government having to put a great deal of money and resources towards catching those who buy and sell illegal drugs on the black market, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail, the government could put this money towards more vital issues in today's struggling economy. In addition to saving money, the government would also be able to collect taxes on legal marijuana, and the creation of a legal marijuana industry could help create jobs in America.
Thats wild to think that government pays $40billion a year fighting the "war on drugs", and the more I think about it, the more I wonder... How much money is to be made by the government in these operations?
ReplyDeleteFor this one example alone, with all of the drugs and money confiscated and with more than 120 people in jail, what's the total add up to in bail money alone?? Just this weekend, 2 drug traffickers in the Chelsea area are being held on bail for $5million!
In flint, $600,000 cash and $500,000 in drugs were confiscated just a few years ago, and although the drugs may be worthless to police and government officials, what happens the the millions of dollars confiscated in these types of operations?
I feel like the government will get involved anywhere money is to be made. First alcohol in the 20s, then tobacco in the late 70s, I do not think it will be long until they tap into the marijuanna industry.
Truthfully, I think the black market and mafia type operations will continue to be prevelent for the rest of time. As stated by the many before my post, these leaders don't get removed, they get replaced. If it weren't for the large amount of deaths involved with the black market and mafia scene, I'd say it is just another source of revenue for our government and such activity should be encouraged. (kind of a bold statement, but I hope you all know what I mean)
From all the hard substances out there I definitely thing marijuana at least should be legalized. It really does not have the harmful effects of any of the other drugs and there are more accidents, deaths and injuries related to alcohol then there are related to marijuana. While busting criminals is a good thing, busting/confiscating drugs just seems like a waste of money to me (economically speaking obviously). Sure, the economic activity generated by the confiscated drugs would not have been part of official statistics but it still would count for something. Everyone knows its happening, everyone knows its a losing battle so it is about time people realize that legalizing and internalizing these black markets is actually they way to go!
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