‘I’m Mr Frank Lucas – I work for Bumpy Johnson.’ ibid. Frank
Lucas decided to create his own connection in the poppy-growing fields of south-east Asia’s golden triangle. ibid.
‘We came up with this idea about putting it in the coffins.’ ibid. Frank
Soon, Lucas was selling heroin to the Mafia. ibid.
His most famous rival was Leroy Nicky Barnes. ibid.
Leroy Nicky Barnes: June 5th 1977 one of Harlem’s most famous citizens appeared on the cover of The New York Times magazine. American Gangster: Nicky Barnes
He was the leader of a seven-man council that pumped thousands of kilos of heroin into Harlem. ibid.
He did come out with a connection – the Mafia. ibid.
250,000 addicts in New York City. ibid.
Nicky and the Council reputedly moved 25-50 kilos of smack a month. ibid.
‘I had every reason to testify against them, and no reason at all to feel guilty.’ ibid. Barnes
He actively set up his wife, the remaining council members, and kept on going. ibid.
Harlem: July 1976 ... Nicky Barnes wasn’t worried about the Italian mob. Barnes felt invincible as the most powerful drug dealer in New York City. Mobsters: Nicky Barnes, 2009
By 1959 27-year-old Nicky Barnes was no longer just a street hustler but a highly successful heroin dealer, making more money than ever before. But success came with a price: he was a heroin addict. ibid.
He was in with la Cosa Nostra. ibid.
Nicky thought Gallo could help him expand his business. But Gallo gave Nicky much more than contacts. He gave him insider’s advice ... The Italians began to rely on black dealers to sell their product all over New York City. ibid.
Soon, users were asking for it by name. ibid.
From 1971 to 1974 the use of heroin soared to unprecedented levels in New York City. Nicky Barnes and his crew were at the forefront of this new drug culture. Nicky Barnes’ heroin seemed to be everywhere. The Council had carved up Harlem and parts of Brooklyn into territories; each Council member controlled his own turf, and so-called heroin marketplaces sprung up. The money rolled in. ibid.
In total eighteen people had been arrested along with Nicky. ibid.
But Nicky didn’t stop talking. For the next year he helped set up undercover drug deals with DEA agents and informants so the government could collect evidence against the Council. On 10th March 1983 arrest warrants were issued for Guy Fisher and four other Council members. ibid.
66-year-old Nicky Barnes was released into the police protection program. ibid.
Harlem 1965: Frank Lucas had been working the streets of this unsavoury district of New York for almost twenty years. (Gangs US: New York & New York & Heroin) Mobsters: Frank Lucas
Throughout his life Frank Lucas pursued a burning need for power and respect. ibid.
A chance meeting with Harlem’s most notorious gangster: Bumpy Johnson. ibid.
Frank started running drugs. ibid.
By purchasing directly from the supplier, Frank got a higher quality product at a lower price. Business boomed. ibid.
Lucas employed a team of women to do the processing. ibid.
Lucas and his henchmen were about to unleash a heroin epidemic. ibid.
According to law enforcement agencies, Lucas provided enough evidence to lead to the conviction of over one hundred narcotics violators and four corrupt lawyers. ibid.
Mister Untouchable: This Is Nicky Barnes. The Police Say He May Be Harlem’s Biggest Drug Dealer. But Can They Prove It? New York Times magazine front cover 5th June 1977
He [Barnes] takes a real pride in the fact that his heroin was the cheapest out there and the best quality as well. What Nicky Barnes is doing is create a slew of addicts. Tom Folsom, author Mr Untouchable
Sergio Buffoni’s behind that heroin ring. Romanzo Criminale s2e7 starring Francesco Montanari & Vinicio Marchioni & Alessandro Roja & Marco Bocci & Daniela Virgilio & Andrea Sartoretti et al, Dandi, Sky Cinema 1 2010
While the Sicilian Mafia dominated the heroin trade in the 1980s the American Mafia were opposed to it. Mafia Empire – Vendetta
Heroin. They’ve started refining it here. The Mafia is no longer an intermediary. Corleone VII starring Caludio Gioe & Daniele Liotti & Simona Cavallari & Marco Leonardi & Salvatore Lazzaro & Marco Leonardi & Alfredo Pea et al, head rozzer, Canale 5 2007
The drug problem in Vietnam is more than marijuana. At this point it is estimated that one third of American troops are experimenting with opium and heroin ... An epidemic of heroin among American soldiers. American Gangster 2007 ***** starring Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe & Chiwetel Ejiofor & Cuba Gooding jr & Josh Brolin & Ted Levine & Armand Assante & Yul Vazqez & Ruby Dee et al, director Ridley Scott, news report
I want to go to the source. ibid. Frank in Bangkok
That’s 100%. ibid. drug assessor to Frank
Blue Magic. ibid. brand name
America’s Public Enemy Number One in the United States is drug abuse. ibid. Richard Nixon, televised interview
My company sells a product that’s better than the competition, at a price that’s lower than the competition. ibid. Frank to brothers
This is Blue Magic – twice the potency ... It’s everywhere. ibid. black cop to Crowe
This is Panda from Mexico. Very good stuff. Now that’s Baba, different but equally good. And that is Choko from the Harz mountains of Germany. Now the first two are the same – three hundred a gram. The same prices. But this one is a little more expensive – this is five hundred a gram. But, when you shoot it you will know where that extra money went. Now, there’s nothing wrong with these two, this is real real real good shit. But this one is a fucking madman. Pulp Fiction 1994 ***** starring Uma Thurman & John Travolta & Samuel L Jackson & Harvey Keitel & Tim Roth & Amanda Plummer & Maria de Medeiros & Ving Rhames & Eric Stoltz & Rosanna Arquette & Bruce Willis & Christopher Walken et al, director Quentin Tarantino, dealer to Vincent
I was once a shameless full-time dope fiend. Yeah, me Bob. The sweet mother’s son. Me and my crew robbed drugs stores. Drugstore Cowboy 1989 ***** starring Matt Dillon & Kelly Lynch & James Remar & James Le Gros & Heather Graham & William Burroughs et al, director Gus van Sant, opening remarks
After any kind of drug haul, everyone in the crew indulged. I laughed to myself as I pictured blues and Dilaudid in such great amounts on the spoon that it would literally be overflowing. Upon entering my vein, the drug would start a warm itch that would surge along until the brain consumed it in a gentle explosion. It began in the back of the neck and rose rapidly until I felt such pleasure that the whole world sympathized and took on a soft, lofty appeal. Everything was grand then. Your worst enemy – he wasn't so bad. The ants in the grass – they were just, you know, doin’ their thing. Everything took on the rosy hue of unlimited success. You could do no wrong, and as long as it lasted, life was beautiful. ibid.
I’m a junkie. I like drugs. I like the whole lifestyle. ibid.
Nobody can talk a junkie out of using … something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life. ibid.
Narcotics have been systematically scapegoated and demonized. The idea that anyone can use drugs and escape a horrible fate is anathema to these idiots. I predict in the near future right-wingers will use drug hysteria as a pretext to set up an international police apparatus. ibid. Tom
Heroin. Mug’s game. I told everybody on my firm to stay well clear. Rise of the Foot Soldier 2007 starring Ricci Harnett & Terry Stone & Craig Fairbrass & Roland Manookian & Billy Murray & Frank Harper & Neil Maskell & Dave Legeno & Kieran Bew & Jason Maza Coralie Rose& et al, director Julian Gilbey, Carlton Leach’s commentary
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc-players and electrical tin-openers. Choose good health. Low cholesterol. And dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments ... Choose life. But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin. Trainspotting 1996 starring Ewan McGregor & Ewen Bremner & Robert Carlyle & Kevin McKidd & Kelly MacDonald & Peter Mullan & Keith Allen & James Cosmo et al, director Danny Boyle