Epidemiology: What are the Hierarchical Patterns of the Market?
(Bruce D. Johnson, Ph.D. and Researcher)
Lower-level DistributorsAs the lowest hierarchical level, these distributors contain members who are responsible for either the drugs or funds. They have no substantial income of their own and often rely on stealing (1793).
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Retail SellersThese sellers contain members who handle both the drugs and funds, but their main focus is collecting the funds and safely storing them (1793).
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Wholesale DistributorsThese distributors contain members who purchase drugs by some "wholesale" method of weight, such as ounces or grams (1793).
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Upper-level DistributorsAs the highest hierarchical level, these distributors do most of the importing, selling, and purchasing of the drugs. They rely on other members of their group to manage the secrecy of their business. and are very organized (1793).
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Law Enforcement: Who Do They Target?
Capt. C.W. Jensen states, "A SWAT team will be called out in high risk warrants, where the suspect is barracaded, where he's made threats against citizens or the police, or he's known to be armed and dangerous." Many big time crimes such as major drug dealing require a SWAT team to move in on the scene, but it is especially common in high risk drug busts.
This particular drug bust would most likely fall under the lower-level distributor level, because of the poor organization and street dealing. But, are these the dealers the law enforcement agencies are really out for? |
Generally speaking, they tend to focus on the wholesale distributors and upper-level distributors (Johnson 1794). However, they are hardly caught because of the top-notch organization and secrecy they emphasize. Johnson explains that these distributors do not reveal themselves in public; they hire other people to do the dealing for them.
According to Johnson, "the vast majority (over 80%) of arrestees and court cases are minor sellers and low-level distributors" (1794). These sellers and distributors are often users themselves, so thinking is impaired, hence the paramount mistakes made in the dealing. |
Johnson, Bruce D., Ph.D. "Patterns of Drug Distribution: Implications and Issues." Academic Search Complete. 2003. Web. 1 Nov 2012.
Number of Arrests, by Type of Drug Law Violations, 1982-2007. Digital image. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Office of Justice Programs, n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.
SWAT Open Fire on Fleeing Drug Dealer. Dir. Fox 8. YouTube. YouTube, 08 Dec. 2006. Web. 27 Nov. 2012