Los Angeles Gangs Make Peace to Boost Profits

After decades of violent conflict, Los Angeles gangs like the Bloods and Crips are joining together across racial divides and neighborhood turf lines—not to end their life of crime, but to make more money from it. Gang violence in Southern California has plummeted in recent years as longtime enemy gangs unite against a common enemy: the stepped-up law enforcement effort against the gang-run drugs and weapons trade.

"You see African-Americans dealing with Hispanics on obtaining narcotics and weapons. We're seeing Hispanic gang members involved with the Eastern European criminal figures," an FBI agent tells the Wall Street Journal. Gangs are consolidating to survive in a tough market: They're "treating their activities more like businesses than before. In business, you work with whoever you have to," the LA police chief says.