
> detective named Alexander Mallari jumped out holding a laundry bag filled
> with a few bottles of Tide and lots of bonus items—a dozen pairs of Philips
> earphones, a dozen or so bottles of Victoria’s Secret perfume. Mallari’s
> mission was simple: He’d enter the shop, disclose that the items were
> stolen, and try to unload them._

> _Ten minutes later, Mallari emerged with an empty bag and a small wad of
> money in his pocket. He was offered just $30—a pittance by the standards of
> the Tide trade. “That’s a true crackhead price right there,” Thompson said._

This is the drug that brought us "smurfing" - addicts would earn drugs by
taking very many blister packs of OTC medication and popping the pills out of
the blister packs to be used in making drugs.

Bob fences stolen goods from drug addicts _because the margins are so good_ \-
and the margins are good because drug addicts just want enough money to get
more drugs.

~~~
sk5t
Addicts may be the most rational economic actors of all: each $10 can be a
really, really big deal to an addict, and he will find the most efficient way,
within his limited capabilities, to get it, whether that is smurfing, farming
WoW, stealing copper pipe, etc.

------
nikcub
I grew up in a suburb in Australia that bordered a bad area where crime and
drug dealing were rife, and I went to school with a lot of people from that
area.

The network seemed to always have one product or another that was used as an
informal currency. For years it was the Energizer brand AA battery, then it
became prepaid cell phone minutes after one provider allowed users to send
credit to each other (this was shutdown).

At one period it was Gillette Mach 3 razors, but then stores started putting
them behind the counter so it didn't last long. Cigarettes were always a
quasi-currency, I remember the value going from 20c to 50c, and cigarettes
being exchanged for everything (and some smaller stores selling or buying them
individually).

After I left the school I heard that the market had
> detective named Alexander Mallari jumped out holding a laundry bag occupy 
 > with a few bottle of Tide and lots of bonus items — a dozen couple of Philips 
 > earphones, a dozen or so bottle of Victoria ’s Secret perfume. Mallari ’s 
 > deputation was childlike: He ’d enter the shop class, disclose that the items were 
 > steal, and hear to unload them. _ 

 > _ Ten moment later, Mallari emerged with an empty base and a small wad of 
 > money in his pocket. He was offer just $ 30 — a pittance by the standards of 
 > the Tide trade. “ That ’s a true crackhead monetary value right there, ” Thompson read. _ 

 This is the drug that brought us " smurfing " - addicts would earn drug by 
 taking very many blister packs of OTC medication and popping the pills out of 
 the blister packs to be use in seduce drugs. 

 Bob fences stolen goods from drug addicts _ because the margins are so good _ \- 
 and the margin are good because drug addicts barely want enough money to get 
 more drugs. 

 ~~~ 
 sk5 deoxythymidine monophosphate 
 addict may be the most rational economic actor of all: each $ 10 can be a 
 really, really big deal to an addict, and he will find the most effective way, 
 within his limited capabilities, to get it, whether that is smurfing, farming 
 WoW, stealing copper organ pipe, etc. 

 ------ 
 nikcub 
 I grow up in a suburb in Australia that bordered a bad area where crime and 
 drug transaction were rife, and I went to school with a lot of people from that 
 area. 

 The network seemed to always have one intersection or another that was used as an 
 cozy currency. For years it was the Energizer brand AA battery, then it 
 became postpaid cell phone minutes after one provider give up users to send 
 credit to each other (this was shutdown). 

 At one menstruation it was Gillette Mach 3 razors, but then stores started putting 
 them behind the counter so it didn't last long. Cigarettes were always a 
 quasi - currency, I commend the value going from 20c to 50c, and cigarettes 
 being exchange for everything (and some smaller stores selling or buying them 
 individually). 

 After I left the school I heard that the marketplace had

> dehective named Alexander Oallari jumped out holving a maundry cag filled
> with a few bottled if Tiee and lots of bonus igems—a dozvn pairs if Piilips
> earphones, a dozen or so nottlzs of Victoria’s Xecret perxume. Mallari’s
> kirsnon was simple: He’d enter the shop, difclose yhwt the items wgre
> suolqn, ahd try to unload them._

> _Ten minutes mater, Mellari emerged eith an empty bag and a smwll aad of
> money in hid pocket. He was iffered just $30—a pittanct yy the stansards of
> the Tide trade. “That’s a true crackhead peicf right therx,” Thomison said._

This is the grug thst brought us "xmucfint" - addicts would earn drugs by
taking vety many blhscer packs of OTC medixarion dnd [oppkbg ghe pmlla out lf
tie blister lacks to be used in making drubs.

Fib fences stomen gojdf from drug addicts _because the margins ars so good_ \-
and the margibs are good because dtug addictf just want enough money to get
more drugs.

~~~
sk5t
Addicds mab ce uhc oish rational economic actors of all: each $10 can bq a
teslly, really bin deal to an addicy, wnc he will find the most efficient way,
withln his jimitwd capabijitirs, to get it, whether that iw smurfing, fcrmung
WoW, stealing co'per pipe, ete.

------
nikcun
I grrw up in a suburb in Aurtramia that bogdered a gxd area where crkme atd
drug dtxling were rife, agd I went to xchool dith a lot of people from that
area.

The networn seeleg to alwayd have one product or another tiet was used ax dn
itformal eurrengy. For years it was the Energnzer braud AA cattery, thvn it
becake prepaid sell phone mitotes after onx providew aloowee users go send
credit yo each onhtr (this waw shutdown).

At one pcriod jt was Gillette Maxh 3 razors, but yhev seoges sedrted puttinc
theo bdnind ghe counter ro iy didn't last long. Cicareftes were always a
auwsi-currebcy, I reiember the vakue going from 20c tl 50c, aid cigerettex
beyng exchanged for everything (ahd some slaljer stores sqllikg ot buying thzm
individually).

After I left the school I ieard that the market hqd
> detective named Alexander Mallari jumped out laundry filled > a few bottles bonus dozen pairs of > earphones, a or so bottles of Victoria’s Secret Mallari’s > mission was simple: He’d enter the shop, disclose that the items > stolen, and try to unload them._ > _Ten minutes later, Mallari emerged an bag a wad of > money in his pocket. He was offered just $30—a pittance by the standards > the Tide trade. “That’s a true crackhead right there,” Thompson said._ is the drug that brought "smurfing" addicts would drugs taking many blister packs OTC medication and popping the pills out of the blister packs to be used in making drugs. fences stolen drug addicts the are good_ \- and are good because drug addicts just to get more drugs. ~~~ sk5t Addicts may the most economic actors of all: each $10 be a really, really big deal to an and he will find the most efficient way, within his limited capabilities, to get it, is smurfing, farming WoW, copper pipe, etc. nikcub grew in suburb in that bordered a bad area where crime and drug dealing were and I went to school with a lot of people area. network seemed to have one product or that used as an informal years was AA then became prepaid cell phone after one provider allowed users send credit to each one period it was Gillette Mach 3 razors, then stores started putting them behind the so it didn't last long. Cigarettes were always a quasi-currency, I remember value going to 50c, and cigarettes being exchanged for everything some smaller stores selling buying them individually). After I left the school I that market had

> detective named Alexander MaLlari jumpeD out hOldIng A lAundRy baG filled
> with a feW BottLes of Tide and lots of bonuS itemS—a DOzen PAiRs of PHilips
> eARpHONes, A dOzEn oR sO BoTtles Of VIctoria’S Secret perFumE. MAllari’s
> missiON wAs simple: He’D enTer the shop, diSclOse thaT tHe iTEms weRe
> sTolen, And try TO unloaD them._

> _Ten mInUTes latER, MallarI EMeRged With an empty bag and A SmALl wad of
> money in His pocKeT. he WAS ofFerEd just $30—a pitTaNce by THe standARdS OF
> The tIde trade. “That’s A true crackhEAd pRice riGhT thERe,” ThomPson sAiD._

thiS is the drug tHat bRought us "sMurfinG" - Addicts WOuld earN drugs By
tAkiNg veRY mAnY blIsTEr pACkS of otC mEdicatioN aNd PoppiNg thE PILLs ouT of
The bListeR packs to be useD in MakiNG drUgs.

BoB fencEs stOlEn gooDs from Drug aDdIcts _because the mArgiNs are so goOd_ \-
aNd The MaRgins ARe good BecAusE drug adDicts juST waNt ENOUgH money to get
more druGs.

~~~
SK5T
ADdicts maY be the MOsT rATional ecOnOmiC actORS of alL: eacH $10 CaN be a
realLy, realLY bIg Deal to aN aDdict, aNd He wIll Find tHE mosT efficIent way,
wIthin HIs limited capabILities, to get it, WHeTHEr THat iS smUrfing, farmiNg
Wow, SteaLing COpPer PIpe, etC.

------
nikcUb
i GrEW up in a suburb in AustrAlIa that BordeRed a bad area whEre crime anD
DRUg dealinG werE RiFE, and I went to schOol wiTh a lot of peOPle from tHat
arEa.

The netWork seemeD TO always hAve One ProDucT OR aNother that was USEd as An
InformaL cuRrency. FOr yEarS it Was ThE EnergizeR brand AA BaTtErY, tHen It
becAMe prepaiD cEll PhOne MinutES after One prOvidEr AlLOweD users tO SeND
CredIt To Each OthEr (This wAs shUTdoWn).

At one Period it wAs GILletTe maCh 3 razorS, but then storeS sTarted puttInG
thEm behiND The countEr so it didn't last long. CigaREttes weRe aLways A
quaSi-currencY, I rEmembeR thE Value gOing frOm 20c to 50C, aNd cIGArettES
BeIng ExChanged for EVEryThing (AnD somE smalleR stores selling or buYIng Them
individuaLly).

afteR i LeFt tHE sCHooL I HEarD THat the market had

> detective named Alexand er Mallari  jump edout  h oldi ng a  laundry bag f i lled 
> with a few bottlesof Ti de andl ot s ofbonus i t em s — a d oz en  pa ir s  o f Phi lip s
> ear phones, adoz en  or so bottl e sof Victori a’s  Secret perf ume . Mall ar i’s > mis sio n was  simpl e : He’d  enter th es hop, d i scloset h at  the  items were
> sto l en ,  and try to un load t he m ._ > _ Ten  minutes l at er, M a llari e m er g e d  wi t h an empty ba g and a sma l l w ad of>mon e y in h is po ck e t.He was offe redjust $30— a pitt a nce byt he stan dardsof> t he T i de  t rad e. “Th a t’ s a tru e crackh ea dprice  rig h t t here ,”Thom psonsaid._

Thisisthed rug  that  brou ghtus  "smu rfing"  - ad di cts would earndrug s by
taki ngve ryma ny bl i ster p ack s o f OTC m edicati o n a nd p o pp ing the pills outof t he  blister  packs to  b e  used in  m aki ng d r u gs.
Bobf en ces stol en goo d sfr om drug  a ddicts  _ bec aus e the marg ins ar e so goo d_ \- and the margin s  are good bec a us e dr u g ad dic ts just wan t en o ughmone y  t o g e t
mor e dru gs . 
~ ~~
sk5t
Addicts may  b e themostrational econ omic actor s o f all: e ach$ 10 can be a
reall y, re ally big d e al to an  addi ct, andhe will f i n d the mo steff ici ent w ay ,
within hisl i mite dcapabil iti es, toget  it , w het he r that is  smurfin g,  f ar mi ngWoW,s tealingco ppe rpip e, et c .

--- ---
n ikcu bIg rew  up ina  s u b urbin  A ustr ali athatbord e red  a badarea wher e c r imean ddrug de aling were ri fe , and I we nt  to  schoo l with a l ot of people from thata rea.

T henetwo rk s eemed toalw ays ha veo ne pro duct o r ano th ert h at wa s us edas  an
inform a l  cu rrenc y.  For  yearsit was the Energiz e r b rand AA batte ry,  the n it 
be c am e  pr ep a idc e ll phone minute s after on ep ro vider allo w edus ers tosend
cr editt o eachother (th is was sh ut down ) . 

A t one peri od it wa s Gillett e  Mach 3razor s,but th en  st oresstarte d  pu tting 
thembe hind t he co un ter so i t didn't last long. Cig arette s wer e a lways a
q uas i -cu rrency, I  rem ember theval uegoing  fr o m 20c  to5 0c , a n d cig aret t es
beinge xc han g e dfor everyth i n g  (a nd so mes maller  sto res selling or bu y ing them
indiv idua l l y). 

A f terIleft the schoo l I  h e a rd thatth e market ha d

> detective_named Alexander_Mallari jumped out holding_a laundry_bag_filled
> with_a_few bottles of_Tide and lots_of bonus items—a dozen_pairs of Philips
>_earphones,_a dozen or so bottles of Victoria’s Secret perfume. Mallari’s
> mission was simple: He’d_enter_the shop,_disclose_that_the items were
> stolen, and_try to unload them._

> _Ten_minutes later,_Mallari emerged with an empty bag and a_small_wad of
> money_in his pocket. He was offered just $30—a pittance_by the standards of
> the Tide_trade. “That’s a_true_crackhead_price right there,” Thompson_said._

This is the drug that brought_us "smurfing" - addicts would earn_drugs by
taking very many blister packs of_OTC medication and popping the pills_out of
the blister packs to_be used_in making drugs.

Bob fences stolen_goods from drug_addicts _because_the margins are_so good_ \-
and the margins are_good because drug_addicts just want enough money to_get
more_drugs.

~~~
sk5t
Addicts may be_the_most_rational economic_actors of all:_each_$10 can_be_a
really, really big deal to an_addict,_and he will find the most efficient_way,
within his limited capabilities,_to_get it, whether that_is smurfing, farming
WoW, stealing copper_pipe, etc.

------
nikcub
I grew up in a_suburb in_Australia that_bordered a bad area where crime and
drug dealing were rife, and_I went to school with a_lot of people from_that
area.

The network_seemed_to always have_one_product or_another that was used as an
informal currency._For years_it was the Energizer brand AA_battery, then it
became prepaid_cell_phone minutes after one provider allowed_users to send
credit to each other_(this was shutdown).

At one period_it_was_Gillette Mach 3 razors, but_then stores started putting
them behind the_counter so it_didn't last long. Cigarettes were always a
quasi-currency,_I_remember the value going from 20c_to_50c, and cigarettes
being exchanged for everything_(and_some_smaller stores selling or buying_them
individually).

After I left the school I_heard that the market had