A "Yardie" is a member of a
Jamaican
organized crime syndicate. Yardies operate throughout North America and Europe, but their activities are particular prominent in the slums of
Kingston, Jamaica, and
London, England. The name Yardie originates from the
slang term used by Jamaicans for the
ghettos of Kingston - the '
Yard'. In North America, the term
Posse is often substituted for “Yardie”.
The utter ruthlessness of the Yardies has gained them a reputation as one of the most feared organized crime operatives in the world despite being one of the smaller and less
sophisticated of the crime organizations. Since 1986, there have been 57 Yardie-linked murders in London along with countless woundings, serious assaults, and rapes. Yardies have brought fierce
gun violence to
Britain, which has strict
anti-gun legislation.
Yardies deal in a vast
plethora of criminal actives. These include but are not limited to
extortion,
robbery, and particularly
drug dealing. The Yardies are notorious for their widespread pushing of
crack. The crack trade has lead to continued
fueding amongst Yardies.
The Yardies continue to grow in numbers as they offer an often-false hope of
fast money,
glamour, and
respect. This message has found strong
resonance among the impoverished youth of Jamaican communities on both sides of the
Atlantic.