Remember in Goodfellas when Paulie told Henry to "stay away from da garbage"?
That was funny because Paulie was a drug trafficker too.
The real rule was don't deal unless you have the permission of the boss. You can't tell me that Carlo Gambino and Paul Castellano didn't know the Cherry Hill Gambinos were dealing. Most of the Bonanno bosses were dealing. Most of the top Lucchese guys were dealing.
It seems the deal and die rule was used as a controlling measure to make sure drug dealing didn't become rampant and turn every crew into a drug ring. Keep it tight and efficient and distance yourself from those crews that were bigger players (such as the Cherry Hill Gambinos) so when guys get arrested and flip it can't be linked to the administration.
"I die outside; I die in jail. It don't matter to me," -John Franzese
