To Top To Contents Dealers on the West Side are located near the interstates to supply suburban heroin users going to or from work. For example, some areas close to the Eisenhower Expressway are prime heroin locations where street sales take place all day long. Some users purchase heroin in the morning on their way to work, some buy at lunchtime, and others throughout the day and into the night. During peak periods of activity, customers line up in rows of four waiting to purchase heroin. The customers must stay in line and refrain from talking.
Gang members control the crowd and sometimes frisk the customers.
Once all of the customers have been cleared, the sales occur. The heroin dealers rely on repeat customers, so the gangs protect the customers. Consequently, crime associated with drug sales is actually lower in those areas. 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.