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Understanding the Structure of a Large Heroin Distribution Network: A Quantitative Analysis of Qualitative Data

NCJ Number
214960
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 171-192
Author(s)
Mangai Natarajan
Date Published
June 2006
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A total of 2,408 wiretap conversations recorded in the course of prosecuting a heroin-dealing organization in New York City in the 1990s were analyzed to determine the structure of a large heroin distribution network.
Abstract
The analysis revealed a loosely structured group of 294 individuals, most of whom had limited contacts with others in the group. The group's core consisted of 38 individuals with extended contacts. There was little status differentiation among these core members and some task specialization. A smaller more tightly connected group of 22 individuals was somewhat independent of the remainder of the core group. Although the prosecution described a large criminal conspiracy that operated at all levels of trafficking and dealing, the wiretaps did not confirm such an extensive network. Rather, the 294 individuals apparently composed 1 segment of the heroin market in the city. This study supports other recent analyses that have found organized crimes, such as drug trafficking, to be the work of small groups of loosely linked entrepreneurs rather than large, highly structured criminal syndicates. The analysis of the wiretaps was conducted in five steps. First, for each identified individual, counts were made of the number of people with whom he/she had telephone contact. Second, the major tasks performed by each of the core individuals were identified. Third, a coding guide was used to determine the relative status of the core individuals through the conversations in which each was involved. Fourth, links between core individuals and others were analyzed by using a UCINET VI software program for social network analysis. Fifth, the addresses of outgoing telephone calls from the tapped phones were examined to see if this revealed any geographic specialization among the core group.