Most refining took place in the south of France. When mafiosi provided the raw material, the drug would travel from Sicily to Marseilles and back again before leaving for the United States. In many cases, however, they were not involved in purchasing from source; but, except for a brief period from 1963 to 1968, coinciding with the internecine mafia war and its aftermath, they were invariably responsible for shipping the finished product to the American buyers. Mafiosi were attractive intermediaries because of their strong connections with the Sicilian Americans running the market in the United States. These ties allowed greater flexibility and safety. "In the relationships between mafioso organizers and the halo-American gangs receiving the merchandise, where there is mutual trust tested over time, it is possible for one courier to arrive from America with the money while the merchandise itself is entrusted to another courier" (CPM: 1023-24). Since no such privileged bonds existed between Sicilians and Middle Eastern suppliers, importing was a more cumbersome operation. A Sicilian envoy had to travel to the source and test the drug, and pay a large percentage in advance (CPM: 1023-24, 1694).

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 632