The role of criminal networks in involvement and progression in the drug market in Adana, Turkey-A research note

ABSTRACT To provide an insight into the salience of criminal networks in the initiation and continuation of drug dealing, this study gathers data through in-depth interviews with twelve street-level cannabis dealers in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood in Adana, Turkey. The findings indicate that the presence of relatives or close friends in criminal networks in the neighborhood has paved the way for the interviewees to be involved in various drug-related activities from an early age. Due to the neighborhood structure, they have a limited ability to accumulate social capital. However, they access the illegal opportunities offered by criminal networks more easily. Being embedded in criminal networks allow them to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for drug dealing. The cannabis market in question is highly vertically organized and socially bonded. Dealers need permission to sell, and they follow informal codes to sustain their business. Trust, solidarity, and loyalty are the most important codes of the market and must be followed to stay in and alive.