Alien Conspiracy Theory? Exploring Ethnicity and Drug Supply in Scotland

ABSTRACT

Scholars have identified associations between ethnicity and crime. The extent to which such correlations generalize to other national domiciles, and the nuances of neighborhood criminality is unclear. Drawing upon 67 interviews with practitioners and (ex)offenders involved in drug supply, and supplemented by data sets, the article tests the validity of the generalisation, by exploring a) whether ethnicity is perceived as advantageous in the movement of drugs, and b) how indigenous organized criminal gangs (OCGs) address the encroachment of foreign OCGs on their turf. Findings suggest ‘official’ suppositions aren’t wholly supported by evidence gained from street actors connected with criminogenic environments.

Notes

¹ For example, the movement of south American crack cocaine into the poor inner-city urban communities of the US.

² With US literature drawing links between drugs supply and gang proliferation, and crime assent reports often allotting a somewhat monopolisation of certain drug markets to certain ethnic groups, it can be assumed that as globalisation increases so will the encroachment of ethnic organized crime groups upon drug turf held by indigenous populations.

³ Mick Munday was a former, and very successful, drug trafficker who worked with Columbian cocaine suppliers in helping transport drugs from South America into the US.

⁴ The term Uncle here doesn’t necessarily refer to a direct relation but can also be attributed to an Elder in the community who is respected.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert McLean

Dr Robert McLean is a lecturer within the Interdisciplinary Research Unit on Crime, Policing and Social Justice at the University of the West of Scotland. Roberts research focuses on gang organisation, drug supply, organised crime, robbery, weapon carrying, and youth violence.

Chris Holligan

Professor Chris Holligan works within the Interdisciplinary Unit for Research on Crime, Policing, and Social inequality at the University of the West of Scotland. Professor Holligan has published research in a number of subject areas including education, social policy, criminal justice issues, and history.

Nighet Riaz

Dr Nighet Riaz is an early careers lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland and works within the Interdisciplinary Unit for Research on Crime, Policing, and Social inequality. Dr Riaz has a keen interest in the subjects areas of education, immigration, and criminal justice.