NCJ Number
179056
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 1999 Pages: 41-47
Editor(s)
George W. Knox Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper documents the Jamaican Posses involvement in transnational crimes, specifically illegal drug smuggling, immigrant smuggling, weapon smuggling, and money laundering; attempts to control and eliminate these crimes are also discussed.
Abstract
The Jamaican Posses, which are among the newest criminal gangs in the United States, originated in Jamaica when the country was in political turmoil. These criminal gangs used the term "posse" to describe themselves because of their fondness for American western films. Many of the Posse members who migrated to the United States were fleeing the law and poverty in Jamaica in the hopes of having an easier and more lucrative life in America. Almost all Posses are connected with New York City and Miami. Both cities have large Jamaican populations from which new members can be recruited. Posses' drug trafficking involves primarily marijuana and cocaine. Posses' fraudulent document rings are involved in immigrant smuggling, primarily from Jamaica to the United States. Because firearms are used in their criminal activities, Posses are also engaged in firearms trafficking. The laundering of their drug money typically occurs through investment in legitimate businesses such as restaurants, boutiques, rental car and truck companies, auto-body repair shops, and import/export companies. Posses have generally been so successful in their criminal activities that law enforcement officials view them as a major law enforcement problem. Since most of the criminal activities of the Jamaican Posses are based in Jamaica and the United States, this paper focuses on the response of the governments of both countries to Posse crimes in terms of legislation and law enforcement strategies. Both governments must implement stronger legislation against drug trafficking, immigrant smuggling, gun trafficking, and money laundering. Only strong, aggressive, continuous law enforcement will curtail the Posses' involvement in transnational crimes. 7 references