The 1960's to 1980's: Drug lords
Organize crime in the 1960's through 1980's was primarily dominated by drug lords and kingpins, some originating in the United States and others forming their base of operations in other countries like Mexico; both of which had major impacts on the drug trade in the United States. Groups during this time period were known as cartels and drug traffickers and the crimes they committed ranged anywhere from drug trading to murder. Some key differences in this era of crime from the 1920's is the way the groups ran. Drug trafficking had more of an illegal business demeanor with a more inconspicuous approach while gangsters and the mob were more civilian based with more interactions in casual life. Below are some of the most affluent leaders of the drug trade.