It was not long before the vast profits to be made attracted groups of gangsters to the alcohol trade.
Rival gangs in cities fought to take over the others 'territory' and the rackets within.
Gangland murders increased.
In Chicago, 227 gangsters were murdered in four years without anyone being convicted.
In 1929, during the St. Valentine's Day massacre, Al Capone's men killed 7 members of a rival gang led by 'Bugs' Moran.
The gansters also operated protection rackets, prostitution and drugs trafficking.
Many police, judges and state officials were bribed to turn a blind eye to the gangs' activity. Also many of them wanted to carry on drinking alcohol.
Organised crime also bought it way into legal business activity and into trade unions.
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