RISING GANG VIOLENCE RESULT OF "TURF WARS"

By Amy Grant, Medical Correspondent

Chicago, IL. - The recent shootings of two Chicago Police officers, and the wounding and killing of hundreds of other Chicago citizens are the direct or indirect result of an ongoing attempt by "streetgangs" from out of state to gain control of given neighborhoods here, according to Clark Staten, Executive Director of the Chicago-based Emergency Response & Research Institute. Staten, who studies all types of emergency response issues, says that there are at least four major "gang and drug" pipelines operating into and out of the Chicago area.

According to the veteran paramedic, former police officer, and intelligence analyst, one of the major "pipelines" leads to New York. This can be evidenced, he says, by the recently announced fugitive status of three reported Jamaican gang members who are suspected in the recent Chicago Police shootings. In New York City, the "Jamaicans" are known as some of the most violent and ruthless of gang members. The Jamaicans are also known to be extremely "closeknit", and are said to have a very closely held network of drug couriers to and from the Caribbean.

New York City Police and Paramedics report a recent, violent, expansion of their activities in the New York and New Jersey area. Distribution of drugs, particularly cocaine, is now reportedly being carried out throughout other parts of the country. Intelligence sources indicate that the "Jamaicans" are now currently operating in the Kenmore/Winthrop corridor on Chicago's Northeast side. Further, they have reportedly been attempting to gain control of drug traffic in several Uptown and Roger's Park neighborhoods. This has led to several recent shootings and attempts at intimidation. Reports have also been recieved of an ongoing conflict between the Jamaicans and members of a Chicago gang called the "Black Gangster Disciples" over the control of areas in which to sell drugs.

A second and burgeoning "pipeline" leads to Los Angeles and the "Crips" streetgang. Evidence of involvement by Los- Angeles based gangs on Chicago's Westside is continually being gathered by Chicago police and paramedics. On at least two occasions weapons and explosives have been confiscated, that supposedly belong to members of the now infamous California gang.

For example, a November 4th, 1991 "raid" on a garage in the 1400 block of So. Ridgeway Ave. resulted the in the confiscation of Seven (7) military fragmentation hand grenades, three (3) Soviet "AK-47" Assault rifles, one (1) Soviet "SKS" Assault rifle, one (1) British "Sten" Machinegun, one (1) Ruger Semi-auto carbine, several 9mm and .45 caliber pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. A burglary suspect that voluntarily helped to locate the weapons is quoted as saying that the weapons belonged to a member of the L.A. "Crips" street gang.

Reports have also been recieved that members of the "Crips" are said have formed an temporary alliance with members of at least two factions of the Westside Chicago "Vice Lords" street gang. The alliance is said to have involved the outright distribution of large quantities of drugs and the trading of guns for drugs. The "Vice Lords" are said to control much of the drug traffic on the Westside and are thought to expanding into other areas of the country. Reportedly there are Chicago connected "chapters" of the Vice Lords in such unlikely places as Green Bay, Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa.

Due to a desire for expansion by both the Chicago and L.A. gangs into untapped drug markets, a reputable crime analyst who has requested anonymity, says that in some ways the linking of the "Crips" and "Vice-Lords" is "an evil natural". He said, "They both are in it for the money... and in Chicago, the Vice Lords already control much of the traffic on the Westside". "They either have to form some sort of strategic alliance or fight each other for each block and street corner", he continued.

"If they combine forces, the `Vice Lords' obtain vast quantities of drugs and exotic weaponry, and the "Crips' are afforded the protection that they need to operate in a `hostile' environment", he continued. "In the case of any out-of-state expansion their combining resources makes good business sense because, together, there is often no one with the power to fight the two of them... in the smaller towns that they are now invading", he told EmergencyNet NEWS.

"Presently, the violent struggles are about determining who gets what share of what territory and how the `spoils' will be distributed", the veteran reviewer said. "There are also several groups that do not want to form any sort of alliance and are protecting their `turf' with automatic weapons and explosives... the large numbers of dead and wounded in recent months are the results of this resistance", the analyst concluded.

An informed drug enforcement agent say that there is also evidence of the "Crips" attempting to also gain a foothold on parts of Chicago's Southside. Recent reports have been received that suggest that members of the "Crips" have been linked with selling drugs and guns in the vicinity of the Chicago Housing Authority's Robert Taylor Homes.

Another report indicates that members of the "Crips" are thought to be fighting with members of both the "Black Disciples" and the "Gangster Disciples" in order to further drug distribution networks in the Chicago Housing Authority projects. There is a definite difference between the two Chicago groups, and they also frequently shoot at each other for control of the "valuable" drug territories in the South State Street corridor.

The third drug "pipeline", leads to Mexico and several points South of there. It involves the "Hispanic connection". The largest hispanic gang in the city is the "Latin Kings". They have various chapters throughout the city and are known for their participation in and control of narcotics sales, in the neighborhoods that they frequent. The "Latin Kings" are also known as one of the most violent street gangs in the City of Chicago.

Involvement has been reported between the notorious "Herrera Drug Family" and the "Latin Kings". Although several family members are in jail, the Herrera's were previously known to be the distributors of high potency Mexican "Brown Heroin" that has been popular at various times with Chicago's "Junkie" population. The "Latin Kings" also deal in large amounts of cocaine. It is believed that it is smuggled from Peru and Columbia, through Mexico, by gang "mules" of Mexican descent. Reportedly, more than one "Latin King" has returned to Mexico or Central America "for a short vacation" and soon turned up "back in the hood" with a new car and lots of spending money.

At least one Chicago analyst says that there are hints of a direct connection between a faction of the "Latin Kings" and couriers of the Columbia-based Mendallin drug cartel. A continued proliferation of regular and "crack" cocaine would seem to signify significant supplies are constantly being made available to members of the "Latin Kings". Police sources confirm that the "Kings" are frequently arrested for possession of varying amounts of the high-quality and illicit substance. Police also say that the "Latin Kings" run several "drive-up" drug delivery operations in the Humboldt Park area of Chicago.

The fourth connection "pipeline" involves Asian-Americans, particularly those of Chinese extraction. The links to the old "Burma Triangle" drug production area, that were shown to have been exploited throughout the Viet Nam War, are still thought to be active in a small segment of the Chinese community. Although extremely difficult to infiltrate, some drug intelligence information has still been obtained that indicates that there is an "Asian Connection".

The primary drugs provided by the Asian drug couriers are "Poppy-based" and generally involve the addicting opiates. "China White" Heroin is a particular example of the type of drugs that are sold, often in bulk, by Asian wholesale dealers. Many, if not most, of the transactions involve sales by Chinese "merchants" to black or hispanic middle-men, who then sell them to street level dealers. There are also Asian "street gangs" who are used as enforcement tools by the drug dealers. Although small in number, the members of the "Asian Connection" are thought to control a substantial part of the heroin Traffic in the Chicago area.

Staten points out that not all drug transactions are exclusively tied to "streetgangs", and that there are numerous unorganized sources of purchase. Traditional organized crime is also responsible for a sizable percentage of the drug traffic in the Chicago area, according to Police crime statistics. Although commonly involved in prostitution, gambling, extortion, and protection rackets, the "mafioso" is reportedly now heavily involved in drug distribution in the Midwest and elsewhere. This is unlike several years ago, when the "Wiseguys" were prohibited by strict internal rules from trafficking in drugs. Recent years, however, have seen much "Mob" involvement in this most profitable business.

In conclusion, Staten indicated that the ties between the various groups mentioned are transient and often disjointed. Further, he indicated that the dynamics of drug buying and selling are based on a fairly traditional supply and demand scheme that causes alliances and enemies to "change as frequently as the weather". But, he noted, the violence perpetrated by the combination of these groups is certainly reason for everyone's concern. According to Staten, "The continued proliferation of these gangs and drugs does nothing...but, breed death and destruction for the rest of us". He strongly recommends that additional resources be made available to Police to combat this growing menace.

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