THE MURDERERS

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 30, 1961

This book on narcotics is a biographical resume of the problem by the U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics and chief of the Federal Narcotics Bureau since 1930. It details the history of narcotics in the U.S. and the parallel history of government agencies in trying to stop its traffic. Mr. Anslinger's main thesis is that the narcotics traffic is a lucrative business field for the Mafia. He certainly does not subscribe to the idea that a myth of the Mafia exists and he sums up supporting evidence to show that there is such an underworld apparatus. The book is full of anecdotal material about the enforcement agencies' attempts to stamp out the narcotics trade. Its main fault is that it has no scope; it merely reveals the mind of a policeman and shows no understanding of the problem of drug addiction as a social and human phenomena. As such what value it has would have been better emphasized in an agency report than in the form of a book.

Pub Date: Nov. 30, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1961

Categories: NONFICTION