That works to the extent they do not already have above-threshold control of the economy & the ability to use force sufficient to at least deter the government.

That works to the extent they do not already have above-threshold control of the economy & the ability to use force sufficient to at least deter the government. Under those circumstances it becomes self-perpetuating absent a significant & violent effort to uproot it. Witness, eg, the 'Ndrangheta, which although heavily involved in the drug trade predates it and has significant other "business lines". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Ndrangheta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Ndrangheta