The Bruno Family of Philadelphia, Essay Example

Italian organized crime reflects that of today’s drug trafficking organizations in terms of rival groups. Motorcycle gangs, street gangs and prison gangs all relate to each other which in terms of the goal of destructing their rival groups. However, these groups provide a context for them to come together in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.

Ethnic races and cultures have aligned to work in the very profitable sphere of drug trafficking, and differences are put aside because of their need to co-exists in order for them to receive monetary funds or illicit drugs. These drug trafficking organizations form a family-like structure, mirroring that of Italian organized crime, when it first emerged.

These people who participate in their organizations have a sense of loyalty, and were initiated prior to being welcomed into their “family”, thus trust is established (Haller, 1994).

Street gangs are divided into ethnic and/or racial groups, usually found in low-income urban areas. These gangs, particularly youth gangs participate in illegal drug trafficking, these are usually caused by the harsh realities of increasing poverty, starvation and even the lack of political and socio-economic justice.

This drug trafficking is due to the gangs’ involvement in organized crime. However, the level of involvement in street youth street gangs in the business of drug trafficking is not as extreme as that of the Italian Organized crime. Mostly, countries which involve street gangs and drug trafficking are not those which produce these drugs. They would obtain drugs from other sources through a web of connections, inter-related with other gangs.

Generally, these youth street gangs take part not only in drug-trafficking, but smuggling of people, arms and cars as well. Drug-trafficking may lead to sticky situations such as robbery, murder, violence and kidnapping (Manwaring, 2005). According to Manwaring (2005) youth gangs are involved in the sales of drugs, and drug abuse. These drugs are not necessarily a product they create or “harvest”, they would find it from other sources such as other gangs. Youth gangs mostly are involved with drucgs such as crystal meth, cocaine, heroin, etc.

It is surprising the level of drug trafficking these youth gangs are involved in. In the research conducted, Manwaring (2005) states that in some socio-economically poor environments, these youth gangs suffer less harsh punishments for their crimes, which involve drug trafficking because of the lack of discipline the police may be showing. Sometimes, even the police, in these environments are involved in such crimes, and these youth gangs are just taking it from influences they see around them.

References

Haller, M. H. (1994). The Bruno Family of Philadelphia: Organized Crime as a Regulatory Agency. Handbook of Organized Crime in the United States. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, pp. 159.

Manwaring, M. G. (2005). Street Gangs: The New Urban Insurgency. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, pp. 14.