Turf War

According to Wordnet, the definition of a turf war is "a bitter struggle for territory, power, control, or rights". For example: a turf war erupted between street gangs; the president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors. In larger companies, turf wars could break out due to improper management further up the corporate hierarchy. It can also be described as contention for any resource between two or more parties resulting in confrontation. The phrase may have originated in the American West, where cow herders and sheep herders fought over grazing turf.

Turf wars are fought between street gangs, mafias, war lords, drug cartels, militant wings of political parties or religious groups, etc. for control of a particular area or spot to sell drugs, or to collect forced illegal tax / tribute money, or to promote one's own religious / political ideology there while stopping others trying to do the same. Examples of drug-related turf wars are the Latin American (particularly Mexican) drug mafias/gangs trying to illegally expand and defend their "area of operations" against other rival cartels, gangs, and mafias.