I know the Genovese were heavily involved during Vito Genovese reign. After that, you didn't hear of many members being arrested for drugs.

The Bonannos definitely were back during the Carmine Galante time. I didn't hear much about it after the Brasco infiltration.

The Luccheses were during the Amuso/Casso reign and were through the 1990's with several capos being sent ot prison for dealing heroin.


The Gambinos were heavily into it with the Cherry Hill Gambinos and the Gotti crew along with others.

I've never heard of the Outfit dealing in drugs. What about the other families?

All families have been involved in drugs at some point and some still are. The Bonnanos just got busted today and a Genovese soldier just got busted a few months ago.

Chicago is most strict about the rule.

I mean more heavily involved. I know there will always be a few members dealing in any large to medium sized family. I've never heard of Chicago guys dealing in heroin or cocaine. I did read about John DiFronzo and his brother being busted for a pot farm though.

Correct.

@Chicago: Is this true and what to your knowledge has been the extent of dealing within the Outfit?

Thx in advance.

It's never been big in Chicago but some guys have here and there. Some people think Jarret was killed because of drugs but it's not known. I know Difronzo's son overdosed so he's for sure against it.

Joey merlino was indicted for buying and selling cocaine in partnership with the patriarca family.

All OF THEM.

To answer ur second question mulberry, on the gambinos are big into it like the old days. The westside doesnt let there guys do it, but it happens on the sneak 24/7 and its not exactly a hanging offense anymore.

Don't believe the myth. The mob has always been involved in drugs, albeit fairly discreetly.

During the 40's and 50's the Gambinos were flooding the city with drugs. The narcotics boss was Joe Biondo. The Luccheses were doing the same but appointed Big John Ormento. The only difference between now and then is that the narcotics trade is open to all made men and no longer quartered off to a specific family member (and thus kept fairly under wraps).

Stefano Magaddino and Joe Bonanno, were big drug game players by the 1960s.

No Bufalino involvement as far as I can tell. Pittsburgh's 80's era boss, Michael James Genovese had always dabbled in drug dealing. In Philly, some of Bruno's men believed he was receiving commissions from the Cherry Hill Gambinos who were operating in his territory. Peter Casella and John Martorano dealed but all in all drug activity was sidelined in the state of Pennsylvania.

The Detroit Partnership had 5 top men. Black Bill Tocco, Joe Zerilli, Angelo Meli, Pete Licavoli, and John Priziola. Priziola, probably the most obscure of the 5 bosses was in fact the narcotics manager for the Partnership.

Kansas City, St. Louis, and Tampa families operated a heroin ring in the 30's.

The Marcello Family was always involved in marijuana distribution.

Relatively speaking, if we're looking their entire hisotry, the Gambinos and Bonannos have probably had the most involvement in the drug trade due to their closer connections with the Sicilians. But the other NY families have been right there as well. Interestingly enough, back in the 1950's, a greater percentage of Genovese and Lucchese members had been arrested for drug trafficking than the other families. Over the last few decades, the Genovese family has had relatively less involvement in drugs compared to the others. But there's still plenty of examples with them too.

Again, relatively speaking, the Chicago Outfit has had little involvement in the drug trade. At least compared to the NY families. And that includes today. But even they have had exceptions. Of the other remaining families over the past decade, the New England family has had some involvement, Philadelphia less so, and the DeCavalcantes nothing at all from what I can tell. The NY families are the only ones that are still significant players in narcotics. But even they have been marginalized in the trade for 25 years now.

I don't think the syndicate wants u if u gotta resort to drug dealing

you can make a lot of money without drug dealing in Chicago

Every families on some level was into drugs from sell it to shaking drug dealers.

They have people in the right places.

Have the families move one from cocaine and heroin to Marijuana and Prescription pills? or are they still involved with the most dangerous drugs?

Well The bonnano bust yesterday said that the crew was pushing pot and viagra.

Sal larca, Genovese soldier was recently indicted for moving multiple tons of marijuana
His capo is Ernie muscarella

Which family doesn't is the more appropriate question.

Though frowned upon in Chicago, Rocky Infelise did time for drugs before he got made and then later became a Capo in the Cicero Crew after Ferriola died. Chicago picks and chooses as to whom they enforce the rule upon and to whom they do not.

I dont think the decalvacantes are to involved in it, ofcourse some members and associates might be doing some small time deals on their own, but as a whole i dont believe they have much involvment in it. In gerorge annastasias article "what ever happened to the south philly mob" he states that the philly guys might do a one time loan to get a guy started in the business and in a few cases dealers would kick up small percentigaes to individual members but its not like theyre putting product out on the streets or have guys dealing for them.

They don't seem to be nearly as involved in heroin as in the old days. Cocaine and marijuana is more common now and prescription drugs are the newest thing.