Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on drugs trafficking all over the United States. They are targeting the major cities around the United States. One of the areas that they focus most on is the border of United States and Mexico. Within the borders, Border Patrol Agents have caught multiple youth attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States. In some cases, Border Patrol Agents were able to catch youth while they are operating vehicle filled with marijuana. For example, in one case, Custom and Border Patrol Agents caught eight juveniles smuggling three hundred and eighty-eight pounds of marijuana and almost five pounds of cocaine (Brezosky, 2009). In addition, law enforcement officers were also targeting drug dealer that are associated with gangs in Los Angeles County. In one month, law enforcement agencies have arrested one thousand four hundred and fifty-three drug dealers. Of those arrested individuals, three hundred and fifteen of them were juvenile (Lamar, 2001). These groups of criminals were put into the Los Angeles County’s Juvenile System. Thejuvenile facility was designed for one thousand three hundred and seventeen people, but the facility was holding over two thousand people for numerous years (Lamar, 2001). However, due to the illegal drugs, Los Angeles County was not the only county to face this problem. Major cities such as New York and Detroit were also having issues with overflowing juveniles in the system.
The juvenile systems are over flowing because many youth are getting arrested for possession of drugs and dealing drugs. Although youth are getting arrested for initiating these activities, it is not deterring them from getting back to the illegal drug business. What is motivating them to continue these criminal activities?
There are many reasons that motivate youth to commit illegal activities. The majority of youth who participate in these illegal activities are individuals who live or lived in poverty. Some of these individuals grew up in household where there is a lack of a male model. On the other hand, the mother is present, but she is either working a minimum wage job or living off of state aids, welfare (Lamar, 2001). The income that the family received monthly is very little. This means that the family is struggling to get by. Some individuals will try to find jobs to help their family, but due to the economy crisis, the lack of education, and their age, they are usually out of luck. Although it is hard to find jobs in our jobs enterprise, drug cartels and adult prison gang members are recruiting youth to run their drug business in the black market. Also unlike the other minimum wage jobs, drug cartels and prison gang members are paying these individuals a price they cannot refuse. Children ages nine and ten are oftenoffered a hundred dollar per day to look out for police officers. Their job is to notify the dealers when a police officer is present in their neighborhood or are near their place of drug dealing. The youth who are a little older and have more experience can be runners. Runners are individuals who transport the drugs from the supply house to the dealers. They make up to three hundred dollar a day. Once they become experts of the business, they can have the dealer’s position. Dealers are individuals who stand on the streets corners and sell drugs. They can make up to three thousand dollar a day (Lamar, 2001). The incomes that individuals make vary from neighborhoods and states. In most major cities like New York and Los Angeles, drug dealers usually make more money compared to those cities like Sacramento and Stockton. Whatever the dealers makes, keep in mind that these individuals are kids. The money that they received is much more than what an average kid receives for allowance. Imagine what these kids can do with the drug money.
In the article, “Kids Who Sell Crack,” author Lamar stated that children who sell drugs usually used their profits to show off their wealth (Lamar, 2001). They will only purchase name brand items and items that are known to be celebrity’s items. For example, Los Angeles is known to be one of the biggest movie production cities. Due to the fashions and wealth that the city is known for, it hasinfluenced many people to dress and live the life style of celebrities. Therefore, youth individuals who have money will usually purchase name brand clothing, glamorous cars, jewelries, and live the luxury life of celebrities. Sometimes, the individuals do not have to buy the items. The other alternative is to rent the items as a way to show off their wealth. For instance, a thirteen year old drug dealer in Los Angeles brags how he uses his drug money to rent a new Nissan Z on the weekends (Lamar, 2001). He would drive the vehicle around to show off his wealth. Also, he would buy gold necklace and expensive clothing to make his wealth present for other to see. As other youth see his wealth, they are motivated to do what is necessary to gain the same wealth. For example, a child who is seven years older than Frog admits to this motivation. Jeff Woodberry said that his role models are individuals who make a lot of money (Lamar, 2001). That is why he got into the illegal drug trade and started dealing drugs. After a few years of dealing drugs, he stated that he averaged about two hundred thousand dollars a year. That is more than what most people make and definitely more than what youth make. This gives Woodberry the chance to buy all the expensive items and show off his wealth. Now, it is his turn to motivate others to deal drugs to make the big income. This process is a cycle that will keep on motivating others to get into the drug business.
Although many law enforcement agencies are cracking down on illegal drugs, many youth are still motivated to get into the illegal drug trade. Most of the youth individuals that are involved in the illegal drug trade are individuals who live in poverty. Due to their lack of income, when there is an opportunity to make easy money they take the opportunity without hesitating. Some youth individuals see drug dealing as a way of making money to support the American dream. They will pursue their dream even if law enforcement agencies are cracking down on them.
Bibliography
Brezosky, Lynn. (2009, December). Cartels’ youth recruitment worries authorities. Street Gangs. http://www.streetgangs.com/news/120709_cartelyouthrec
Lamar, Jacob. (2001, June). Kids Who Sell Cracks. Time Magazine Inc 2011. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,149199,00.html
