D&TB’s Thug of the Year Award

As we near the end of 2014, many columnists are publishing articles that attempt to recap the previous twelve months and review the major world events of the year. Here at Drugs & Thugs Blog, we’ll do things a little differently. With a nod to OCCRP’s satirical Person of the Year award, I proudly present the first annual Thug of the Year award. 

Drugs & Thugs Blog was established as a forum for commentary and analysis on the topics of terrorism, narcotics trafficking, organized crime, and insurgency. In that vein, the Thug of the Year award will go to the individual or organization who’s actions in these fields had the largest negative impact on the global stage. Although much of the discussion here at D&TB is on non-state actors, this award will not discriminate against state actors. Established and internationally recognized governments can be thugs as well.

This year, by all measures, has been surprisingly and horrifically violent. Between new and continuing conflicts in the Middle East, unrest in Eastern Europe, insurgencies in Africa, drug cartel violence in Mexico, and terrorism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, there is no shortage of awful human beings that can be categorized as international security thugs. But only the worst of the worst can be called the Thug of the Year. Which individual caused death, destruction, and international strife in the most horrific and reprehensible way this year? 

And now, without further ado, the finalists for the 2014 Thug of the Year. Admittedly, it’s  a packed crowd, and there are many qualified candidates that didn’t make the cut. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his support of the Ukrainian separatists and the annexation of Crimea. Because of his role in instigating, prolonging, and intensifying the conflict, nearly 5,000 Ukrainians have been killed and nearly 500,000 have been forced to flee their homes. All the while, Putin has blatantly lied to the international community about his role in the war. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, for the continuation of the Syrian Civil War. Since the beginning of the war in 2011, al-Assad has been responsible for 200,000 deaths, at least 60,000 of which occured in 2014 alone. Syrian governmental forces have used chemical weapons and deadly barrel bombs on civilians and targeted doctors providing much-needed health care. 

Pakistani Taliban (TTP) leader Maulana Fazlullah, for the Peshawar school massacre, among other attacks. The Peshawar attack killed nearly 150 individuals, almost all of them students. In addition to other more traditional terrorist attacks, the Pakistan Taliban attempted to kill Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai in 2012. The Peshawar massacre was so horrifying that even the Afghan Taliban noted their disgust of the TTP’s actions. 

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, for the continued insurgency in Nigeria and the abduction of the 276 girls from Chibok. In 2014 alone, the group has accounted for at least 2,000 civilian deaths, either through traditional military strikes or terrorist attacks. 

All of these individuals, as well as others not listed above, have committed unconscionable acts this year and ruined lives, families, and countries. The fact that they are only finalists and not the winners does not diminish the unbelievable suffering that they have caused. Make no mistake: all of these individuals are awful human beings. 

Although it was a close race, the D&TB Thug of the Year “award” goes to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The head of the organizational descendent of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s brutal al-Qaeda in Iraq faction, al-Baghdadi has directed the ISIS takeover of Mosul and Fallujah this year. In addition to brutally ruling the ISIS-claimed area in eastern Syria and western Iraq, ISIS has enacted a campaign of genocide against the Yazidi people, committed atrocities against Shia prisoners, beheaded multiple western journalists and aid workers, and killed thousands of Iraqi civilians. Despite the US-led coalition bombing campaign begun in September, al-Baghdadi’s Islamic State continues to operate across a vast swath of Syria and Iraq with relative impunity. 

Congratulations, al-Baghdadi. You’re the worst person in the world. 

Colombia and the FARC: Peace in 2015?

Over this year of continued upheaval across the world, it has been difficult to find a truly hopeful story in the usual Drugs and Thugs fields. But the Colombian peace process with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) might be one of the few positive events from 2014. There are still a multitude of ways that peace might not come to fruition, but something unique in the forty-year conflict is happening right now in Colombia. 

Just a few months ago, the peace talks appeared to be in serious jeopardy. In mid-November, the FARC captured Colombian General Alzate, which led to a pause in negotiations at the neutral site of Havana, Cuba. The FARC had released their hostages at the beginning of the negotiation process, which made Alzate’s capture all the more surprising. But once it became clear that the Colombian government would not continue peace talks until Alzate’s release, the FARC promptly returned the general just two weeks after his capture. This pattern of aggressive action, followed by a show of good faith appears to be a FARC standard. Earlier this month, the FARC attacked a Colombian army patrol, killing five and capturing one. Immediately after the attack, the organization announced a unilateral and indefinite ceasefire. The Colombian government refused to accept the terms of their ceasefire, but appreciated the gesture as a show of the FARC’s intent. The FARC traditionally has announced Christmas ceasefires, but the fact that this one is indefinite is certainly encouraging, despite the attack preceding the truce. 

Just yesterday, the FARC released the prisoner taken in the attack last week, calling it “another gesture of peace.” Additionally, the FARC announced that they hope to reach a peace deal in the coming year. While these shows of good faith appear to be genuine, it is questionable that they continue to take prisoners and attack military patrols. There are two likely explanations. Either the organization is trying to maintain leverage in the negotiation process, or there are factions in the FARC that are trying to spoil the talks. Although both are common in negotiations with terrorist or insurgent groups, the second explanation is much more concerning. The FARC is broken up into geographical blocks and fronts, all in a hierarchical command structure. But according to InSight Crime, “the geography and size of Colombia has made it nearly impossible for the central command, known as the Secretariat, to exercise control over the whole organization.” Many of these fronts have deep ties in narcotics trafficking, which has been one of the most controversial issues in the peace negotiations. If a rogue front wanted to maintain the status quo, a spoiler attack would be an obvious route to take. Although the FARC negotiators are speaking for the entire organization in Havana, breakaway factions could have negative implications for peace in Colombia. For the moment, this concern is entirely speculative, but it could explain the pattern of FARC actions in the previous two months. 

Assuming a peace deal is reached in 2015, the decentralized nature of the FARC will continue to be concerning for Colombian security forces. Much like the FARC’s former right-wing paramilitary foe, the AUC (United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia), FARC fronts could claim demobilization, but then continue with their drug trafficking operations. The AUC demobilization resulted in the rise of the Bacrim (short for criminal band) organizations, most notably Los Urabenos. If some FARC fronts follow the same path, the political insurgency could end, only to be replaced by a multiplicity of drug trafficking criminal organizations. Colombia would likely take this bargain, as ending the decades-long insurgency is their overarching goal. But the mistakes made with AUC demobilization must be avoided in a potential peace agreement with the FARC. 

There are still many hurdles in the way of the Colombian negotiations and demobilization, but recent actions by the FARC are certainly positive. In light of this turbulent year in the field of international security, some good news is a welcome development. Here’s hoping for peace in Colombia in 2015. 

The Non-State Update: December 26, 2014

Welcome to this weekend’s Non-State Update. We here at D&TB hope that you have been enjoying this holiday season. If you need some articles on non-state actors to get you through the weekend, though, we’re here to oblige. Below is a list of some of the best news and analysis pieces from the week, just in time for the weekend break. Like the rest of Drugs and Thugs Blog, the topics addressed are terrorism, insurgency, transnational criminal organizations, and narcotics trafficking. 

Is the UN Sure it Wants Mexican Soldiers Keeping the Peace?: First off, an article from Ioan Grillo at Global Post on the recent decision to use Mexican military as international peacekeepers. Because of their role in human rights abuses during the Mexican drug war over the past decade, there are concerns with their deployment abroad. 

The US-led Push to Bankrupt the Islamic State Isn’t Working: From Jamila Trindle at Foreign Policy, a report on the FATF’s (Financial Action Task Force) investigation on ISIS finances. Although ISIS oil income has been diminished by airstrikes over the past few months, their more organized crime-like activities remain difficult to combat with traditional financial tools. 

After Peshawar, Expect Business as Usual in Pakistan: At War on the Rocks, an article by C. Christine Fair on the implications for Pakistani intelligence after the Peshawar massacre earlier this month. Pakistan may be committed to destroying the TTP, but their continued reliance on Laskar-e-Taiba and other Islamist organizations is contradictory at best. This is a great article. Fair even works the phrase “scrotal fortitude” into the discussion. 

Islamic State in the Sinai: At the Line of Steel blog, a detailed piece by Caleb Weiss on the Wilayat Sinai and its role in ISIS. Although the scope of Wilayat Sinai is limited, it should be concerning, especially if other groups jihadist groups pledge their support to ISIS. This could be the beginning of a sea change in allegiance from al-Qaeda to ISIS for local jihadist groups. 

Colombia May be on the Verge of Peace: At Slate’s The World blog, Juliana Jimenez Jaramillo has an article on the recent FARC unilateral ceasefire and what it means for the conflict in Colombia. Although there are many obstacles to overcome, the ceasefire could be indicative of an approaching peace in the country for the first time in decades. 

Montenegro: US Indicts 3 For Selling Guns to Colombian Rebels: From OCCRP’s news feed, a report on the recent indictment of two Romanians and a former Italian parliamentarian on charges of selling heavy arms to the FARC. The individuals made the deal with undercover US agents, but still demonstrates the global sweep of arms trafficking. 

Yemen’s Houthi Takeover: At the Middle East Institute, April Longley Alley has a great piece on the Houthi movement and its role in the Yemeni political process. Yemen has occupied an odd place in the years following the Arab Spring of 2011, as it has been a battleground between the Houthis, AQAP, and the post-Saleh government. Yemen is easily the most interesting, but least reported on story of the year, and Alley’s article is excellent. 

SIMI Takes Page from al-Qaeda Financial Playbook: From Money Jihad, a short post on the Student Islamic Movement of India’s use of an old al-Qaeda handbook on financial tactics. Although certain topics might still be relevant, it is surprisingly that a handbook written over a decade ago could be useful in today’s financial system. 

Boko Haram Fighters Storm Nigerian Village, Kidnap Over 100 Women and Children: Laura Grossman at The Long War Journal has a news report on developments with Boko Haram in Nigeria. After a raid in Gumsuri, the insurgent group appears to have taken many individuals, despite a local defense armed with machine guns. Although Boko Haram has been mentioned less frequently in major news services since the Chibok kidnappings earlier this year, they remain a concern for Nigerian and broader African security. 

Terrorist Financing and the Islamic State: And finally, a podcast worth downloading. The Loopcast had Matthew Levitt on last week to discuss ISIS financing, as well as the policy tools available to counter it. Money matters, and Levitt clearly outlines the major issues that are involved in financing ISIS.  

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend. 

For comments, thoughts, concerns, criticism, or submissions to D&TB, please comment below, email me at conormlarkin@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @ConorMLarkin. 

The Non-State Update: December 19, 2014

Welcome to this weekend’s Non-State Update. It’s been one hell of a week in foreign policy between the horrific Peshawar massacre, the American-Cuban rapprochement, the Russian ruble collapse, and North Korea threatening movie theaters. Among all of those issues, there has been plenty of drugs and thugs news, though. Below is a list of some of the best news and analysis articles from this week, just in time for the weekend break. Like the rest of Drugs and Thugs Blog, the topics addressed are terrorism, insurgency, transnational criminal organizations, and narcotics trafficking. 

How Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel Fed US Heroin Market: First off, via InSight Crime, a translated article from El Universal by Alejandra S. Inzunza and Jose Luis Pardo on the US heroin market. Although 90% of the global heroin supply comes from Afghanistan, the majority of the US supply comes from Mexico and is trafficked by Mexican drug cartels. At the top of this market is the Sinaloa Cartel, especially in its distribution hub, New York. 

Obama’s Strategy for Defeating ISIS is the Only Viable Option. It Can Work: Next, Joseph Becker at the Small Wars Journal with a piece on the Administration’s much attacked policy on ISIS. Becker examines the issue from the political and military angles. This article excellently analyzes the major issues with US involvement in Iraq and Syria going forward. 

Catch and Release in the Land of Two Rivers: Craig Whiteside at War on the Rocks has a great piece on the rise of ISIS, most importantly focused on the role that US prisons in Iraq played in the organization’s development. History matters. 

Has Support for Colombia’s Peace Talks Finally Failed?: At Foreign Policy’s Shadow Government blog, Jose R. Cardenas has an interesting piece on the continuing Colombia-FARC peace talks. Major considerations still remain, but this is a huge issue to follow next year in the fields of insurgency and narcotics trafficking. 

Taliban Attacks in Afghanistan Surge as Coalition Ends Combat Mission: Next, Bill Roggio at The Long War Journal has a piece on the increased frequency of Taliban attacks in recent months. The Afghan security forces continue to take high losses as Taliban control spreads into new provinces. 

Cutting Off the Money: At the Line of Steel blog, a post on a potentially major change in US policy towards Iraq and Syria. The US might have cut off support for northern rebel groups, although much is unclear. In the fight against ISIS and the Syrian regime, facts become difficult to verify, but this could be a major development. 

Afghanistan: The Making of a Narco State: From Matthieu Aikins at Rolling Stone, a long read on heroin trafficking in Afghanistan. This article accurately demonstrates the fascinating history of the Afghan poppy market and the current distribution of trafficking power. The photos are truly amazing, as well.

Bosnia: Eight Held Over Drug Smuggling in Operation Oscar: At OCCRP, news that a recent police raid has resulted in the arrests of eight drug traffickers. Most encouragingly, the raid occurred with cooperation between Bosnian and Serbian authorities. This is a good sign for Balkan security.

FinCEN Pooh-Poohs Knowing Your Customer: Money Jihad’s got an interesting commentary piece on a recent FinCEN announcement on money service businesses (MSBs). FinCEN has encouraged banks to continue business with MSBs, in light of industry fears of regulatory crackdown on hawala services. Money Jihad points out the major concerns with this announcement, but D&TB does not view this as a significant change in the counter-terrorism financing framework. Regardless, it is an interesting article. 

Hello, I’m Calling From La Mafia: Finally, a podcast episode from NPR’s Planet Money on Honduran gangs and their extortion of local businesses. Fascinating stuff, and surprisingly great access with MS-13 gangs in Honduras. It’s definitely worth a listen. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend. 

For comments, thoughts, concerns, criticism, or submissions to D&TB, please comment below, email me at conormlarkin@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @ConorMLarkin. 

Massacre in Peshawar: Can Public Condemnation End a Terrorist Campaign?

Yesterday, the Tehrik-i-Taliban, also known as the Pakistani Taliban or the TTP, brutally massacred students and teachers at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. Seven TTP members, armed with weapons and explosives vests, entered Peshawar’s Army Public School facility and murdered at least 132 students and nine staff members. Pakistani special forces eventually killed the TTP terrorists and ended the siege late in the day, but the horrific damage had already been done. 

The TTP claims that the attack on the Army Public School was in retribution for the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation in Pakistan’s Waziristan Province, which has severely limited the scope of the terrorist organization. A TTP spokesperson stated that the attack yesterday was chosen in order to “target these enemies of Islam right in their home so they can feel the pain of losing their children.” The attack was truly horrifying and has resulted in condemnations from across the world of the TTP and their methods. 

This is not the first time that the TTP’s actions have resulted in complete disgust and scorn from the population at large. Two years ago, the TTP tried to kill Malala Yousafzai, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as a way to blunt her increasing prominence on on the issue of education for girls. Following that attack in 2012, it appeared that the TTP had overreached, crossing a line and losing any potential public support for their cause. Even more than the 2012 attempted murder, the attack in Peshawar has demonstrated the TTP’s brutality and the lack of Pakistani support for their movement. Operation Zarb-e-Azb may have had its critics, but the events in Peshawar have completely changed the narrative. Even the Afghan Taliban, a distinct but occasionally associated group of the TTP, has denounced the Peshawar attacks, expressing “sorrow over the tragedy and grief for the families of the victims.” This is emblematic of the sheer intensity of the Peshwar attack; even an ideologically related and similarly brutal organization has denounced the TTP. 

And this appears to be the major development to watch going forward. Have the TTP reached that invisible tipping point in which they no longer have enough public backing to draw recruits, funding, and tacit support, meaning an effective end to their campaign? 

The most obvious analogue to the attack yesterday is the Chechen terrorist siege of the school in Beslan, Russia in 2004. The deaths of nearly 400 people, most being children, shocked Russia and the rest of the world. Even with the heavy-handed response by the Russian government, the Chechen cause lost any public support that it may have had prior to Beslan. From that point on, Chechen terrorism was a diminished force, only able to conduct operations on a limited basis. Even including the attack in Grozny last week, Chechen terrorism has been unable to reach the level of violence seen in the 1990s and early 2000s. Clearly, the Pakistani government hopes that the TTP will follow a similar path. 

The Real IRA bombing in 1998 in Omagh also demonstrates a case where terrorist actions provoked a backlash from the public and eventually resulted in the marginalization of the group. Following the Good Friday peace agreement, the offshoot RIRA bombed a courthouse in Omagh, killing 29 and turning public opinion further against violence in Northern Ireland. From that point on, offshoot IRA groups like the RIRA have rarely committed terrorist attacks and have elicited limited public support. The TTP, like the RIRA, have been limited by internal power struggles. If the Peshawar attack proved to be the final blow of a dying organization, it’s path could resemble the RIRA.     

The likely reality, although depressing, is that the TTP will continue on with a limited change in their operations. The same question was being asked after Malala Yousafzai was shot in 2012, with countless articles claiming that the attack was a watershed moment in the public perception of the TTP. Clearly, the organization has persevered in the intervening two years. Public disgust of the TTP’s actions in Peshawar are unlikely to seriously limit their actions. Terrorists are nothing without a cause to act in the name of, but the TTP has already shown that complete revulsion of its actions have limited sway on its future terrorist campaigns. 

I hope that the TTP never again represent a serious threat to the people of Pakistan and that the Peshawar attacks are merely the death throes of a failing terrorist organization. But I have serious doubts that this is the turning point for terrorism in Pakistan.  

The Non-State Update: December 12, 2014

Welcome to this weekend’s Non-State Update. Below is a list of some of the best articles from this week. Like the rest of Drugs and Thugs Blog, the topics addressed are terrorism, insurgency, transnational criminal organizations, and narcotics trafficking. 

Trans-Atlantic Mob Swoop Hits New York’s Gambinos and ‘Ndrangheta: From OCCRP via the Investigative Reporting Project-Italy, news of criminal charges put on organized crime leaders in Italy and the US. Although the Gambino family in New York is a Cosa Nostra descendent, they have allied with ‘Ndrangheta for business purposes.

Displaced by Organized Crime: Unseen and Forgotten: At the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, a shocking post on the refugee crisis that stemmed from the Mexican drug war. According to the post, nearly 200,000 individuals have fled Ciudad Juarez to escape the violence between the Mexican security forces and the cartels. 

Al-Qaida is No Longer the Worldwide Leader in Terror: Next, Joshua Keating at Slate’s The World blog with commentary on the recent King’s College London report on terrorist in November 2014. The two most violent terrorist groups were ISIS and Boko Haram, with the al-Qaida affiliated Taliban falling to third. The threat of terrorism appears more decentralized in 2014 than in 2001, but the al-Qaida brand is additionally not as potent as it once was. 

AQAP Claims Double Suicide Attack at Military Base in Hadramout: The Long War Journal’s Oren Adaki has a report on the recent suicide bombing attack in Yemen. AQAP claimed credit, following in their recent resurgence against the Houthi group and the Yemen government in recent months. The Yemen situation continues to be one of the most fascinating and least reported on global conflict. 

Undercutting the anti-Islamic State Campaign: At the Line of Steel blog, an analytical article on the role that the oil price collapse plays in the battle against ISIS. The price drop negatively impacts the Iraqi state, but it only represents one of the many problems Baghdad needs to address. 

Opportunities to Combat Violent Religious Extremism: Knox Thames at Small Wars Journal has a great piece on the US approach towards violent radicalization and human rights. Drones alone will not solve the problem of religious violence. 

Saving Iraq and Destroying ISIL are Not the Same Thing: War on the Rocks has a post by Jonathan Lord on the current complications of the Obama Administration’s strategy for Iraq and Syria. Fixing Iraq is possible with this strategy; fixing Syria is certainly not. 

State Dept: Rebels are Never Going to Defeat Assad Militarily: In a similar vein to the previous article, a post from John Hudson at FP’s The Cable blog. A senior State official has admitted that with the current strategy, it is impossible to remove Assad by a moderate Syrian force. At best, we can contain the conflict in Syria, but it is unlikely that this ends with the defeat of Assad. 

Three Questions as Colombia’s Peace Process Begins: At Insight Crime, Elyssa Pachico has a great piece on the major issues remaining in the FARC peace talks and the future of Colombia after a peace deal. One of the most important concerns is how a FARC demobilization will affect the Bacrim groups. Already, some Bacrim groups have begun taking over territory from demobilizing FARC fronts. 

The New King of Coke: Finally, from Vice News, a five-part documentary on the shift of cocaine production from Colombia to Peru. Like always, this Vice documentary is unbelievable in its access. Watch it, it’s excellent. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend. 

For comments, thoughts, concerns, criticism, or submissions to D&TB, please comment below, email me at conormlarkin@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @ConorMLarkin. 

The Non-State Update: December 5, 2014

Welcome to this weekend’s Non-State Update. Below is a list of some of the best news and analysis articles from this week. Like the rest of Drugs and Thugs Blog, the topics addressed are terrorism, insurgency, transnational criminal organizations, and narcotics trafficking. 

Paranoia Could Be the Best Weapon Against the Islamic State: First off, David Ignatius at The Washington Post with a piece on the potential for unconventional, psychological operations against ISIS. Among other things, he cites the excellent book Double Cross by Ben Macintyre, as well as the War on the Rocks site, frequently cited in previous Non-State Updates. If we can cause dissension in the ISIS ranks, we can hopefully break up the group into competing factions.

Serbia: Tycoons Questioned Over Assassination Attempt: Next, OCCRP with news of Serbian businessman Miroslav Miskovic’s alleged links to the murder of a former Serbian politician. Although Miskovic has not been arrested, he has been linked with various organized criminals. 

Islamic State Supporters Advertise Sinai as Jihadist Destination: From Thomas Joscelyn at The Long War Journal, reports of online propaganda encouraging jihadists abroad to go to the Sinai Peninsula as a part of the ISIS effort. ISIS doesn’t control Sinai yet, but this development represents their desire to expand the “caliphate” into new territories. 

Surprise! Joining ISIS Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be: Siobhan O’Grady at Foreign Policy’s Passport blog with commentary on an Indian jihadist’s time with ISIS. Instead of fighting for the cause, he was stuck cleaning toilets for the organization. As it turns out, ISIS isn’t the most egalitarian terrorist group out there. The young radical is now in jail in India. 

ISIS Stunt to Mint Own Coins Will Backfire: Money Jihad has a short take on the continued rumors that ISIS is planning on creating its own currency. Although the rumors appear to be false, the concept behind such a currency is economically flawed. It is fascinating in that the Islamic State is trying to become more state-like. 

Fighting in Grozny, Chechnya: At the Line of Steel, Caleb Weiss with information on the likely Caucasus Emirate-led attack last night in the capital of the Russian region of Chechnya. Much of the information in this story is still developing, but the video and photos attached to this article are quite interesting. 

ISIS’s Brutality Undermines its Interests. That’s Good for Us: Aki Peritz at Overt Action re-ups a piece he and Robin Simcox had in the Washington Post last weekend on the irrational strategy of ISIS. Their beheadings and mass killings have encouraged Western nations to begin attacking them, but if they had not been as provocative, they would be able to fortify their nascent state. Their reliance on brutality for propaganda has brought them far more enemies than allies. 

What’s the Plan? The Afghan National Security Forces: Part 3 of a continuing series at War on the Rocks (Part 1 and Part 2) from Jason Cambell on Afghanistan, the health of its institutions, and the overall plan going forward. The Afghan security forces still have a multitude of challenges, especially as ISAF leaves the country. Reform is necessary, but thankfully the new president Ashraf Ghani is committed to addressing the problems. 

Peru Seizes $1Bn in Assets from Leader of Massive Crime Ring: From David Gagne at InSight Crime, news that Peruvian officials have seized Rodolfo Orellana’s 17 estates, adding up to nearly 1 billion dollars. Orellana is currently in jail, but his vast assets demonstrate the level of governmental complicity and the sheer scale of his empire. He gained his fortune through illegal real estate trade, but also has connections with organized crime in Colombia, Mexico, and Italy. 

Marijuana Dispensaries are Celebrating Black Friday, Too: Lastly, an article that’s a little funnier than those above. From Laura Bradley at Slate’s Moneybox blog, an article posted last week on the Colorado marijuana dispensary industry’s approach to Black Friday. A dispensary employee quoted in the article says the Black Friday sales are just to “spread the holiday cheer and get everybody a little bit high.” 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the weekend. 

For comments, thoughts, concerns, criticism, or submissions to D&TB, please comment below, email me at conormlarkin@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @ConorMLarkin.