I believe the connection to real estate is incidental. Drug dealing, laundering occurs everywhere, including places without a hot RE market. Take the Hells Ange

I believe the connection to real estate is incidental. Drug dealing, laundering occurs everywhere, including places without a hot RE market. Take the Hells Angels for instance. They seem to survive without a connection to the RE market. Criminals will find a way to launder money. The money from selling drugs is too irresistible to pass up for them.