The sale of drugs is one of the most powerful economic factors in the criminal network. The money from sales of drugs helps support prostitution, loan sharking, arms dealing, smuggling, and the trafficking of human beings. Yes, it's like fighting the mythical Hydra, cut one head off and another drug dealer pops up, BUT if we keep doing it.. then they'll be less likely to cross swords with us.

Report drug dealers to the police. Take pictures and videos to support your reports. Make it clear that The Law has eyes and ears everywhere. Keep your eyes open, keep your head clear, and keep your ass safe.

Nite, sent you all of those links as promised by email a couple of days ago. Just wanting to know whether you received it or not. Stay safe!

Sentinel

Has anyone noticed the have of the deals are in some gang??

Most dealers are part of gangs or some type of well knit organization of people.

Dealers are a threat. I am investigating one now.

Different illegal drugs are dealt by many different organized crime syndicates, but in smaller amounts are also sold by individuals (dealing to support their own habit) or smaller organizations. Marijuana and crack are the most frequently dealt drugs by gang members, and you can often get a sense of how big the operation is if you can find out how much the dealer is holding. One thing to keep in mind when confronting a drug dealer is that you shouldn't get too violent with them. If they are part of organized crime and you become enough of a hindrance to them, they will have you killed. The best thing is always to observe, record and report. Only approach single dealers or if the dealer is trying to sell to minors. Adults have made their decision to buy and use drugs. Keep in mind that drug use is only a crime because society says it is, not because it is evil in itself. Possession and use of Marijuana and cocaine used to be perfectly legal in the United States until the early 20th century. Marijuana is making a resurgence as a legal drug, and if you confront a dealer who is legally selling medical marijuana, you could be committing a criminal act or by busting up his operation. As private citizens, we have no right to request a medical marijuana card from anyone we suspect of illegally dealing drugs. You must be sure of the laws in your jurisdiction and be sure of the type of drug being sold before interfering. The idea DG used of getting a dealer to try to sell to him is genius in it's simplicity and effectiveness. If a dealer tries to sell you an illegal substance, you have the right to make a citizen's arrest on-the-spot and call police to take him away. Be prepared to see him back on the street the next day, though, as jail space will likely not be sufficient to hold him until trial, or he will have no problem making bail.

SS made a good point with his hydra analogy. Many dealers (I don't have any statistics, but I'd assume a majority) don't produce drugs themselves, but get them from a supplier. Even if an individual drug dealer is arrested, the supplier can easily recruit new dealers. I'm not saying that drug dealers shouldn't be reported and effort shouldn't be made, I'm just saying progress will be slow. The key, as DG's post indicates, seems to be turf. By making popular areas less deal-friendly by patrolling and reporting, dealers are pushed back into more secluded areas, hurting business.

I don't think drug dealers are bad abstractly. I personally think drugs are very bad, but I also feel it's not really my business if responsible, informed adults want to destroy their own bodies and minds in this manner. Drugs, however, are very much intertwined with gang violence and are used to fund all manners of criminal endeavors. That's why I feel it's an issue.