Kings of Cocaine: Inside the Medellain Cartel, an Astonishing True Story of Murder, Money, and International Corruption

by Guy Gugliotta

Book Overview

Enter the terrifying world of the drug-lord demons of the Colombian Medellin cartel, a handful of billionaire kingpins who run an international drug-smuggling enterprise that is more efficient than... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671649574
• ISBN13: 9780671649579
• Release Date: December 1989
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 391 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Provides a Nice Foundation

The book is a good start for those folks trying to learn more about the drug trade in the Western Hemisphere. The journalists have done a fine job of capturing some of the key players as well as providing baseline information about cocaine. They do so by focusing on American and Colombian personalities on both sides of the drug war. In doing so, they provide an exciting tale of violence, greed, and heroism that keeps you from putting the book down. This book serves as a great primer for anyone interested in learning how the cocaine trade started in Latin America, in fact, you'll be surprised where it actually started and how it ended up in Colombia. Many of the main characters are fascinating individuals and offer an interesting vehicle for telling how the cocaine trade developed. Unfortunately, it ends in early 1990, leaving you wanting to hear the "rest of the story." The only drawback was the habit of bouncing around telling the individual stories, thereby losing a bit of the historical timeline, which at times could be annoying as you jump around different time periods. Nonetheless, it is a riveting story that lays the foundation for understanding a criminal enterprise that threatens the welfare of our nation, as well as our regional neighbors. It's over 600 pages, but it is a quick read and you'll enjoy the story.

Great book cover to cover

Bought this book 2 yrs ago and could not put it down. It deals with a lot of the characters of this era who were moving tons and tons of illicit narcotics into the USA in the 70's and 80's. I've read a bunch of books like this one and found it to be a great compliment to all the others. Death, addiction, money, sex, power - all the elements of a dangerous game played during the free wheeling Reagan era. You'll definitely enjoy this book.

"Worth every penny"

I bought this book and the authors have done a remarkable job in their writing of this book. The fact that Gugliotta and Leen spent three years doing research on the Medellin Cartel for this book proves the extent that most of what is written is accurate. There is also 20-30 photos in the book. A great buy and worth every penny for someone who wants to read about cocaine smuggled into the united states and the guys behind it.

An Inside Look at Drug Trafficking

The power of the Medellin Cartel is frightening. This is a story of corruption. The overwhelming amount of drug dollars pouring into Colombia contaminated large portions of society. In many ways Colombians lost their moral compass. However, we must never lose sight of the fact that without demand...this is no market for illegal drugs.

Kings of Cocaine .....

This is one of the best books I have ever read, about any subject....I have told anyone who will listen, to read this book, it's frightening, but very realistic, I just couldn't put it down.....I have read it twice, and it's one of those books you would call a 'keeper'....if you haven't read it, find it and read it....it will BLOW YOUR MIND......