DRUG MONEY PART OF ECONOMY

I watched the Cocaine Cowboys documentary recently and was struck how
it so closely matches what seems to be going on in B.C., especially on
the Lower Mainland.

The movie explores the influx of drug war lords from Colombia during
the 1970s and 1980s who took over Miami and whose violent sprees left
hundreds of people dead.

It was interesting to note that after the government and law
enforcement finally got serious and cracked down on the gangs, Miami
experienced a dramatic drop in business activity, with major building
projects cancelled, restaurants and clubs closing, house sales and
prices dropping and even banks closing, all due to the elimination of
their main source of funds -- drug money.

Paul Norman

Victoria