Drugs and the Mafia

The Accuracy of Drugs as




portrayed in the Godfather by Mario Puzo, as opposed to reality














Throughout history Writers have been writing fictional novels based on real




historical events. The Godfather by Mario Puzo is such a book in which Puzo




portrays Mafia life and business starting at the late 40’s. The Corleone crime




Family in this novel is shown having troubles with the other organized crime




syndicates concerning drugs. Many of the other families are pushing the idea




of joining the narcotics market, however the Corleones do not want to




intervene in such a disagreeable business. Much tension forms as mobster wars




starts within the syndicates and most favor drugs.




My purpose of this paper will be to analyze whether Mario Puzo the author of




The Godfather , represents an accurate portrayal of narcotics as a major part




of Mafia business.




As the demand for illegal narcotics rose in the United States, it was the




Mafia who would jump on it as they did all other illegal activities, such as




gambling operations, prostitution, extortion, and loan sharking. The whole




drawback to this was, from where could they get it. Depending on what it was,




it had to be found and brought in from over-seas. From Ecuador they could




obtain opium poppies with which to make heroin, and virtually unlimited supply




of coca leaves, with which to make cocaine from Bolivia and Peru. Plus their




smuggling routes and expertise were solidly established. Hence, the first drug




laboratories were established in Medellin, supposedly with Mafia money (Eddy




and Hugo, 45). The New York Mafia as well as other American crime...