Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Misc

Gift Cards Enter the Drug Economy


By

Garth Johnston

Published Nov 26, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Garth Johnston

Published Nov 26, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

2005_11_26_giftdrugs.jpgThe Post has the scoop on what might be our favorite new trend in drug dealing ingenuity: gift cards as drug currency.

If you sit back and think about it, it makes total sense. Gift cards are a huge business (expected to top $18.48 billion this year) and they don't have any of the money laundering restrictions that you find with credit cards and other means of transferring currency. So of course what "used to be sporadic," according to a law enforcement source, is "now becoming more and more common, and in greater quantities."

So, just remember the next time you get a gift certificate from your aunt or uncle (not that we're pointing fingers or anything) for twenty bucks at a store you have set foot in once (*cough* Starbucks *cough*): don't throw that card away, it could be worth your next fix.

Tagged

law

law enforcement

Miscellaneous

money

starbucks

the post


Garth Johnston

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE miscellaneous

We visited 8 laundromats to talk about voting and elections. Here's what people had to say.

As we inch closer to Election Day in November, WNYC is turning some laundromats in the New York metro area into hubs of civic dialogue.

By

Jodi Malarbe

and

George Bodarky

Published Jun 23, 2024


Aging with Pride: LGBTQ+ older adults share their personal journeys

As we mark Pride month, LGBTQ+ older adults share their struggles, triumphs and advice for today’s generations.

By

George Bodarky

Misc

Aging with Pride: LGBTQ+ older adults share their personal journeys

As we mark Pride month, LGBTQ+ older adults share their struggles, triumphs and advice for today’s generations.

By

George Bodarky


Hands in the dirt: Meet some of NYC's community gardeners

By

Enrico Denard

and

George Bodarky

'In the very, very beginning, it was about 3 feet of garbage': How NYC’s first community garden got started

By

George Bodarky

Serving up BBQ ribs and a deep sense of community in the South Bronx since 1954

By

George Bodarky


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .