Gangs of the Valley

Abstract

This chapter recalls that prison gangs—not the drug cartels—were the true facilitators of the drug trade along the border in El Paso, especially on the US side. It also mentions that prison gangs in Paso del Norte were the important facilitators for much of the wholesale trade across the border and were responsible for the lion's share of the retail trade in El Paso. With such in mind, the chapter highlights that understanding prison gangs meant understanding the drug trade. It then begins with a discussion of how the business model of illicit drug entrepreneurs unfolded in Phoenix. Since the Valley of the Sun had its share of street and prison gangs, the chapter seeks to understand their role in the drug trade. It also examines the claims of Arizona law enforcement that over 90 percent of the crime that occurs in the state is attributable to gangs. To understand the Phoenix-area gang makeup, the chapter recounts the author's conversations to a wide range of people, including community workers, police officers, and current and former street and prison gang members. It concludes by analyzing how prison gangs continued to have a significant presence in the Arizona prison system. As in Texas, Arizona prison gangs generally self-segregate by race.