I think Lucky's role in American crime, post-deportation is historically overstated and that Newark isn't too far off the mark. Lucky tried one time to stick his hand back in the pot in Cuba and was run out of the country. He really couldn't do anything in Italy without the police and even American agents watching his every move.

I certainly don't discount the possibility that he had a hand in drug smuggling but I don't think he acted in much more than a liaison-type role between the Americans and the Sicilians. He simply had too many eyes watching him. Once Costello was shot, he probably lost what little influence he still retained in the States.