Mafia

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 families,

would buy the drugs from Colombian drug lords. One of the major Colombian

syndicates- commonly referred to as the "Medellin Cartel". As opposed to

actuality, in the Godfather, poppies, mainly used to make heroin would be

harvested from Turkey