Illegal Activities in Cuba - Literature review Example

STUDY ISSUE: Casinos in Cuba and their Negative impact on the Nation: President Batista’s Era Hughes, Maureen. The Countess and the Mob: The Untold Story of Marajen Stevick Chinigo and Mafia Lord Johnny Rosselli. Publisher iUniverse, 2010. pp57,58. Summary Hughes argues that as long as president Batista purported that casinos were for tourist attraction and promotion, it was not the case. He stresses the fact that the leader was a dictator, who brought about the issue of casinos to suit his dictatorship and increase his income illegitimately. His right hand man for the job was Meyer Lansky and later on he was joined by others like Santo Trafficante senior through his son in establishing and running of casinos. These two men (Trafficante and Lansky) ranked high in the mafia and drug trafficking business back in the USA. (Hudges, 2010 pp57,58) Evaluation This book by Hughes presents one of the major sources that firmly support the fact that the study stands to support. The author’s argument is clear, precise and involving. Hughes’ conclusions are lifted directly from the crystal clear presentations based on the strong evidence. Quotation “In the mid 1940s both Trafficantes were added to the FBI narcotics division wanted list, when it was proved that both had financed heroin shipments from Cuba to New York city. (p57) 2. cubaheritage.org. Mafia rules in Havana casinos, part 1. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.cubaheritage.org/articles.asp?lID=1&artID=220 Summary The cubanheritage.org website states that, it was only the members of the mafia that could achieve gains in gambling carried out in Cuban casinos. The gangsters in the racket knew how to maneuver their way. They could even use government officials to get what they wanted illegitimately. Some of the members of the gang included the likes of Meyer Lansky, Jake and Santos. (cubaheritage.org, 2011) Evaluation The website provides an insight into the issue. It analyses the situation of corruption, mafia and illegal businesses’ undertaking in Cuba so vividly. Besides this, it grants a clear scope of what was happening and the ones responsible for these illegalities in the capital of Cuba. Quotation “Instead of using guns for protection, they paid government officials for the right to operate without trouble.” (article 202 of 660) 3. Pérez, Louis A. On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. UNC Press Books. Edition illustrated. (2007). (pp191-197) Summary Cuban casinos were supposed to disguise Cuba as destination for tourists. Organized crime had become the order of the day towards the end of the decade of 1950s and then it was evident in all the renowned casinos and major hotels of this nation. During this particular decade revenues from gambling were approximately USD 500,000 per month. Lucky Luciano targeted the Cuban capital with a lot of earnest, “there was not a better place in the world for mobsters to operate a business than in Havana, Cuba. (Perez, 2007 pp191-197) Evaluation The book by Perez also is in the line with the study’s sentiments. To this, he brings about the different angles the occurrence is viewed with the inclusion of sexual immorality and trafficking of drugs among others. This is going to be useful to vividly show the study’s perspective. Quotation “North America crime figures became a familiar sight in Havana.” (p197) 4. ipsn.org. The Late Bill Roemer Looks at Las Vegas -- Then and Now. (2006). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.ipsn.org/vegas1.html Summary In the year 1943 Siegel Bugsy was sent to Cuba by his bosses in organized crime, Costello and Lansky. Havana functioned as a haven for crime bigwigs, gamblers as well as thrill seekers. It was not until the intervention of Fidel Castro, through a revolution, that this situation changed. It was Lansky through the aid of the then president Batista that prompted Cuba’s need for such revolutionalists like Castro and Ernesto Ché Guevara. (ipsn.org, 2006) Evaluation Though the website is about Las Vegas, it touches on Cuban casinos. It provides a very essential part that is relevant to the study. For instance, it denotes the point at which the organized crime would shift to Cuba. It as well points out the big players in this crime. Quotation “Lansky,…travelled to Havana in 1938 to finalize a deal with Fulgencio Batista to assume control of gambling operations…” (ipsn.org, 2006) 5. Rose, Nelson. Gaming Law Review and Economics. Published in Volume: 14 Issue 4: July 27, 2010. (2010). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/glre.2010.14403 Summary Setting in from the 1920s, Cuba was a more preferred tourist destination compared to USA. Havana to the place of Las Vegas from 1920s through 1950s since Americans were in a position to do what was prohibited back at home. Cuba was infested with bordellos, casinos and nightclubs all to facilitate organized crime. It became worse to a point where Americans started to keep off the Casinos. (Rose, 2010 p229) Evaluation Even though the article tackles current issues of casinos cropping up in Cuba, it takes one back to the times when casinos were common in Cuba. It describes the scenario as it was; corruption and crime oriented. This serves a very vital role in the study’s development. Quotation “Cuban casinos had become so crooked that Americans were beginning to stay away.” (p 229) 6. Jain, Vedant. The Mafia in Las Vegas. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Mafia-in-Las-Vegas&id=1500855 Summary Mafia business is easily established by way of gambling, and therefore setting up casinos in Cuba was a gangster highway creation. The corrupt regime of president Batista was a sure way to success for crime in Cuba. Numerous casinos had been set up and it was Siegel who facilitated the first casino by the name Flamingo to be opened in Havana towards the end of year 1946. This was a single drop in the ocean of mafia organized crime business, though. Many were on the way. (Jain, 2011) Evaluation Despite the fact that this article’s concentration is on Las Vegas, it is of essence to this study. Firstly, because this business was interlinked between Las Vegas and Havana in the 1940s through 1950s. Secondly, the Batista’s regime cannot go without being noticed for its conspicuousness in its corruption and crime encouragement. Quotation “In Cuba gangsters were welcomed by the corrupt Batista regime…” (Jain, 2011) 7. Fritz, Barry. Images of gambling in film. (2007). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://jgi.camh.net/doi/pdf/10.4309/jgi.2007.20.3 Summary After the overthrow conducted by Batista in 1951 and his subsequent entry into power. He made an attempt at pushing away any threats to his power by ways of force and bribery. The godfathers in the mafia industry ran casinos in Cuba and Las Vegas concurrently. There were negative ways of gambling like cheaters, organized crime as well as robbing of casinos.(Fritz, 2007) Evaluation The journal is of importance to the study, but it mentions the issue briefly. It focuses a lot on the various havens of gambling. To this, it mentions Cuba as one of them and the illegitimacy involved. Quotation “Negative images were further divided into pathological gambling, suckers, cheaters, organized crime…” (Fritz, 2007) 8. Khrushchev, Sergei, et al. Cuba at the Crossroads. (2007). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://cqx.sagepub.com/content/48/4/402.full.pdf+html Summary Cuba was a very big attraction to American tourists, but this was all for the bad reasons. For example; it was Fidel Castro through the aid of Ché Guevara that had to come in through a revolution to clean up the system. Casino business and tourism was flourishing during the time of Batista only to be discovered to be through a lot of decadence and corruption. Batista fled with a huge reserve from the central bank of Cuba. (Khrushchev, 2007) Evaluation The journal does not mention a lot about the illegality of the casino business in Cuba. Rather it puts it as a way of the country’s attraction to tourists. It mentions just a bit of the illegality involved at some point. Quotation “Cuban casinos served an outlet for the growing American fascination with gambling.” (p 303) 9. britannica.com. Meyer Lansky. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/330022/Meyer-Lansky Summary One of the big players in the Casino business in Cuba was Lansky who had established casinos both in Cuba, Havana and Florida, USA. But his was just a racket that involved other gangsters like Johnny Torrio and Luciano. They even had other members of the syndicate assasianted to clear the way for their crime in Cub and USA alike. (Britannica.com, 2011) Evaluation The encyclopedia article is very important to the study. It, however, concentrates on one of the big players in the Cuban casinos crime. It provides a very essential angle to the study, though. Quotation “When Fidel Castro came in power in 1959, Lansky turned to the Bahamas…” (britannica.com, 2011) 10. Christopherson, Erika. Gangsters in Cuba. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://profe.benjaminearwicker.com/students/blog-main/organized-crime-in-cuba- .html Summary It was not until president Batista took power that organized crime took big strides in growth. Lansky was the major player of the business of casinos in Cuba and he was hand-picked by Batista to run this business. Lansky brought others as well with the inclusion of Trafficante. Here the American mafia would be controlled better. (Christopherson, 2011) Evaluation The website aids the study’s progress a big deal. It talks about the mafia business operations covered by casinos and gambling operations. It also denotes the process the issue took from the initial stages, to growth and to demise of mafia operations. Quotation “Lucky Luciano was paroled from prison in the US…However, he secretly moved to Cuba, where he working on resuming control over the American mafia.” (Christopherson, 2011) Work Cited: britannica.com. Meyer Lansky. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/330022/Meyer-Lansky Christopherson, Erika. Gangsters in Cuba. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://profe.benjaminearwicker.com/students/blog-main/organized-crime-in-cuba- .html cubaheritage.org. Mafia rules in Havana casinos, part 1. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.cubaheritage.org/articles.asp?lID=1&artID=220 Fritz, Barry. Images of gambling in film. (2007). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://jgi.camh.net/doi/pdf/10.4309/jgi.2007.20.3 Hughes, Maureen. The Countess and the Mob: The Untold Story of Marajen Stevick Chinigo and Mafia Lord Johnny Rosselli. Publisher iUniverse, 2010. pp57,58. ipsn.org. The Late Bill Roemer Looks at Las Vegas -- Then and Now. (2006). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.ipsn.org/vegas1.html Jain, Vedant. The Mafia in Las Vegas. (2011). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Mafia-in-Las-Vegas&id=1500855 Khrushchev, Sergei, et al. Cuba at the Crossroads. (2007). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://cqx.sagepub.com/content/48/4/402.full.pdf+html Pérez, Louis A. On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. UNC Press Books. Edition illustrated. (2007). (pp191-197) Rose, Nelson. Gaming Law Review and Economics. Published in Volume: 14 Issue 4: July 27, 2010. (2010). Retrieved 25 April 2011 http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/glre.2010.14403 Read More