{"product_id":"trafficking-the-boom-and-bust-of-the-air-america-cocaine-ring","title":"Trafficking by Berkeley Rice","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTrafficking: The Boom and Bust of the Air America Cocaine Ring \u003c\/em\u003eby Berkeley Rice is a gripping true-crime account of a high-stakes cocaine smuggling operation.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book details how pilots from a Scranton, Pennsylvania-based aircraft company, Air America, \u003cstrong\u003etransported over $2 billion worth of cocaine from Colombia to the United States\u003c\/strong\u003e between 1980 and 1984. These pilots, many from privileged backgrounds, were drawn into the trade by the allure of wealth and adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRice explores the intricate logistics of the operation, including drug pickups at Colombian jungle airfields, refueling stops in the Bahamas, and covert landings across multiple U.S. states. The book also delves into the methods used to launder the profits and evade law enforcement. Ultimately, the ring was dismantled when one of the pilots, Peter Cooper, turned informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative provides a fascinating look at the motivations behind the smugglers' actions and the federal investigation that led to their downfall. It also draws parallels between their unchecked greed and the broader culture of financial corruption in the 1980s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIf you're interested in crime, aviation, or the history of drug trafficking, this book, \u003cem\u003eTrafficking \u003c\/em\u003eby Berkeley Rice offers a compelling read!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Many recent books have dealt with the cocaine trade; most concentrate on the Colombian drug cartels or the effect of drugs on society. Rice now adds to the literature with a fascinating and detailed account of some white-collar workers in the trade: the pilots of the Air America company who flew cocaine from Colombia to the United States for distribution. These pilots rarely saw the violence or misery cocaine causes in Colombia or on American streets; they only transported the drug, over ten tons of it, and made millions of dollars for themselves. Rice does an excellent job of portraying the people involved—such as Rik Luytjes, head of Air America and sometimes informer for the Drug Enforcement Agency—and shows how their lust for money and excitement turned them first into criminals, then into federal prisoners. A very interesting look at another facet of the drug trade; highly recommended\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Publishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50341997543739,"sku":"0684190249","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/16146933482431.jpg?v=1748604651","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/trafficking-the-boom-and-bust-of-the-air-america-cocaine-ring","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}