There have been countless movies and series that base themselves around mafia groups and how an FBI agent infiltrates their group and takes them down. The same old story where the bad guy gets taken down and the good guys celebrate their victory.

This is not something that only exists in movies and series but are actual instances. There have been many FBI officers who have infiltrated mobs and gangs to help their respected organizations catch culprits and make necessary arrests. Looking back to the old crime families, you see how grooming family members for leadership roles tightened exposed gaps in their organization. In our current society of public personas, organized crime has altered their public profile. This makes infiltration harder to attain. The crime boss or family head, often stays out of the public eye by sending his workers to take care of the family business. Access to such leaders would require one of their own to turn on the family.

. Those working in such situations are mostly family members or those adopted into their family. Being accepted as a part of such a group is highly unlikely, and there are high chances of being caught and murdered.

-To be accepted means to become a part of the organization. This often means proving oneself and playing the role of the person they are trying to take down. So, if a criminal organization accepts them, how do FBI agents not form bonds with their new crime family?

Loyalty Towards their Side

Manners maketh a man. One needs to remember his core to be able to work in places such as the FBI. You can not join an organization and not be feel loyalty to its mission. Or does money change loyalty? Though the money in drug cartels is great, and some may be drawn to the thrill of the job, every journey has an end. One way or another an undercover agent’s secret will be exposed. So, the race is on. Who takes down whom first?

Of course, years of undercover work may have a strong pull for those who may have lost their compass. Perhaps a Stockholm syndrome situation. At this point, an agent’s reality may have shifted. They may be unable to continue their job on the good side and would simply join those whom they are a part. A recent book, Life Raft - Crossing talks about how an FBI agent struggles with which side of the line he wants to be on. The book also talks about a snitch who must weigh his decision to help the FBI take down his crime family or go to jail where he would be a target for the incarcerated members of the crime family.

This applied to the good side is also the same. A person who decides to switch from their respective loyalty would be found out. Loyalty matters. Betrayal matters. This is what drives people to risk their lives for their morals and the betterment of society.