African-American street gangs on the West Side reportedly prefer Caucasian customers because they know that the Caucasians' sole purpose is to purchase heroin, which generates income. Customers who frequent the West Side to purchase heroin come from all walks of life. The variety of users knows no boundaries. Roughly half the market consists of Caucasian customers from the suburbs who go into African-American neighborhoods to purchase heroin. Some buyers purchase heroin for their friends in the suburbs, sometimes charging the friends a slightly higher price to pay for their own heroin.
Customers also come from neighboring states, such as Wisconsin and Indiana, to purchase heroin.
To Top To Contents African-American street gangs in Chicago have close connections with Nigerian traffickers. African-American gangs are supplied by Nigerian distributors who are supplied by Nigerian traffickers. The gang members never actually come in contact with the smugglers of the heroin and Nigerian organizations do not engage in retail sales. When African-American gangs on the West Side run low or out of heroin, Nigerian criminals from the Broadway and Clark area of the North Side will deliver heroin to the West Side. Delivery is usually made by a Nigerian criminal working as taxicab driver, who may own the heroin or act as a local courier.