Colombian Drug Cartel

The mafia is a well organized enterprise that deals with drugs, prostitution, loan sharking, and other illegal activities. They also have investments in several legal enterprises. These enterprises are usually cash-only businesses. This is one way that they can launder their monies. Ponzi schemes are also an organized enterprise. If violators are caught, they are charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). 

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 3–5 pages:
• Research mafia organizations within the United States.
  • What is their involvement in the illegal drug industry? Explain.
  • How are drugs transported and sold by mafia organizations within the United States? Explain.
  • What criminal activities result from this drug trafficking? Explain.
• Research the Colombian drug cartel.
  • What types of crimes are commonly committed by members of these types of organizations? Explain.
  • Regarding criminal activities, how does international drug trafficking compare to drug trafficking within the United States?
• Compare being charged under RICO to being charged under IRS violations. 
• What are the penalties of each, and is there any civil redress in either one?
• Compare and contrast the organizational structure of the mafia with that of a motorcycle gang. Do you think that drugs are their main source of income? How do they distribute their goods?

  Assignment Guidelines

  • In 5–6 paragraphs, address the following:
    • How do you think the organizational structures of U.S. mafia organizational and domestic motorcycle gangs different? Explain.
      • How might this affect the production and distribution of goods? Explain.
    • What methods of drug distribution utilized by these organizations do you think are the most problematic for law enforcement agencies? Why?
    • At what level should a criminal organization involved in the drug trade be targeted in an attempt to halt drug distribution? Should it be at a higher or lower level? Explain your reasoning.
      • What issues exist with regard to drug law enforcement, and how might these issues be avoided? Explain.