The NYT labeled Detroit the Rum Capitol of the Nation during Prohibition. Rum running, smuggling, illegal stills, and blind pigs sprang up within hours of the start of Prohibition in January 1920 and thrived for the next 14 years. Corruption reached highs that were never seen before and a criminal gang called the Purple Gang took over the liquor trade. The Purple’s were so strong they could tell Al Capone to stay out of Michigan, and he did!