Chasing Shadows: A true story of the Mafia, Drugs and Terrorism

by Miles Johnson

LONGLISTED FOR THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION 2024 ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR BEST NEW AUTHOR AT THE 2024 TRUE CRIME AWARDS
JUDGES' 'A cleverly constructed account of three different characters representing different aspects of the ruthless and fierce drugs trade. Never a dull moment. A real page turner... This book is gripping and immerses you in the very real world of the characters.'

'Read this powerful book by Miles Johnson right now. It will make you realise that what we call terrorism is actually drug trafficking, what we call politics is organised crime and what we call peace is just a truce between mafias.' - Roberto Saviano, author of Gomorrah

'McMafia for the new age' Catherine Belton, author of Putin's How the KGB Took Back Russia and then took on the West

'Compelling, visceral and highly readable' Oliver Bullough, bestselling author of Moneyland

'As breathless, complex and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction - but it's all real, which makes it truly extraordinary' Lee Child

'This astonishing and cinematic rollercoaster of a debut will bring Miles Johnson's talent into the brilliant light. Delivered with trademark verve and precision, it achieves that rare and precious thing that is the goal of all great it reveals the world to itself' Alex Perry, author of The Good Mothers

'Miles has used his extensive Italian contacts to get a fully-fleshed out story in the Mafia section; likewise with the Hezbollah characters. He has interviewed over 100 people for the book, including many hours with Jack Kelly, the DEA investigator and hero of the book, which gives us an intimate look at a man dedicated to catching bad guys at the expense of his personal life' Dan McCrum, author of Money Men

A compulsive true crime thriller about modern-day international drugs trafficking, terrorism and the mafia following an investigation driven by one DEA agent, Jack Kelly.

Three very different men battle to control their destinies as they hurtle through the hall of mirrors of the global shadow economy.

Salvatore Pititto is an ambitious Mafia capo working on a vast cocaine shipment who becomes unexpectedly pulled into an arms-smuggling conspiracy.

Jack Kelly, a veteran US Drug Enforcement Administration agent, tasked with following a trail of dirty money across continents from a top-secret investigative unit based in Virginia.

Mustafa Badreddine is a ghost-like master terrorist wanted by governments across the world who has been secretly dispatched to Syria for his final mission.

Each man, born in radically different circumstances in the 1960s, is in his own way grappling with the powerful and unstoppable forces that shape the world around us; forces which topple governments, send refugees fleeing across borders, and put guns in the hands of mercenaries and militias. Each has devoted his whole life to an institution-the DEA, the Mafia and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah-and each will eventually be destroyed or betrayed by the thing they believe in the most.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, Society

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2023

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Shadows is a compulsive, high-stakes true crime thriller about the dark depths of global capitalism written by Miles Johnson, an award-winning investigative reporter at the Financial Times; he specialises in covering organised crime and financial corruption across the world. He takes us on a deep and engrossing voyage into the heart of South American cartels, Italian organised crime, Middle Eastern money launderers and more. The addictive story speeds along following the connected lives of three men: relentless Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Jack Kelly, ambitious Mafia capo Salvatore Pititto and shadowy master terrorist Mustafa Badreddine. Chasing Shadows will see the fates of these three men become fatally intertwined through a series of events that ends in the largest-ever cocaine seizure in Colombian history, a targeted assassination in Damascus and a sprawling international sting operation. We live in an age where a new breed of world leaders act like crime bosses, and crime bosses act like c.e.os of multinational companies. It's when these lines begin to blur uncontrollably that all hell breaks loose.

This is a book that plunges the reader into places that are normally hidden from the general public to reveal dark secrets about the way the world around us really works. Full of excitement, twists, turns and tension so palpable you often find your heart in your mouth, this is the best type of thriller - full throttle, non-stop action, top drawer, unrelenting. That it's based on true events is just the cherry on top of a rather tasty, calorie-laden cake. Johnson even finds time to add a little dry humour to often dangerous and emotional situations. Overall, set in 2015, in the context of the Syrian civil war, the European refugee crisis and an established global order that appears to be breaking apart, these are tumultuous social and political times. Chasing Shadows is a character-driven nonfiction crime thriller about modern-day international drugs trafficking, terrorism and geopolitical intrigue that connects the world in shocking and unexpected ways. The book illuminates themes of betrayal, institutional disillusionment and intergenerational violence inside the vehicle of a high-stakes international crime and DEA procedural thriller. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Andrejs Karpovics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ieroči, narkotikas un nauda: kā darbojas “Kriminālā internacionāle” 21.gadsimtā / Chasing Shadows: A true story of the Mafia, Drugs and Terrorism by Miles Johson, The Bridge Street Press, 2023, 352 pages

📕 vērtējums: 8 no 10.

Par vienu no 21.gadsimta “modes vārdiem” publiskajā diskursā ir kļuvis vārds globalizācija. Bez šī vārda šodien reti iztiek vadošo mediju preses slejas vai vadošo pasaules politiķu runas. Arī mēs ikdienā ik uz katra soļa saskaramies ar globalizācijas efektiem un sekām, sākot ar informācijas aprites ātrumu mūsdienās, ceļošanu bez vīzām un banku starptautiskiem pārskatījumiem pāris sekunžu laikā ar mobilā telefona starpniecību. Tomēr šodien biežāk globalizācija kā mūsdienu zeitgeist raksturīga parādība sāk apaugt ar negatīvām konotācijām, kuras vairs nevar ignorēt mūsu dzīvē. Atšķirībā no 1990.-to gadu beigām, globalizācija šobrīd netiek saistīta tikai ar ekonomisko izaugsmi, progresu un attīstību. Arvien vairāk izskan balsu, ka globalizācijas sniegtās iespējas izmanto ne tikai cilvēces labā, bet arī “ļaunuma ass” spēlētāji, lai atbalstītu noziedzību, terorismu, dažādu veidu kontrabandu un konfliktus globālajā mērogā.

Autors, kuram ir izcili izdevies aprakstīt globalizācijas izmantošanu no “tumšo spēku” puses, ir respektabla izdevuma The Financial Times (FT) reportieris M.Džonsons, kurš pērn ir publicējis grāmatu "Chasing Shadows". Šis autora darbs apvieno sevī gan politiskā trillera un detektīva žanrus ar spilgtiem personāžiem, gan satur lielu daudzumu vērtīgas informācijas un faktus par mūsdienu kriminālas pagrīdes darbības metodēm. M.Džonsonam, kuram šī grāmata ir pirmā debija beletristikas žanrā, ir veiksmīgi izdevies ne tikai izveidot komplicētu, labi strukturētu un elpu aizraujošo sižetu, bet arī aprakstīt to, izmantojot paredzējušā reportiera profesionālo rakstīšanas stilu, kas lieliski papildina sižeta līnijas virpuļus un gambītus. Lasāmviela balstās uz autora vairāku gadu pieredzi žurnālistikā, ziņojot par kriminālas pasaules tēmām, kā arī vairāk nekā 100 intervijām ar dažādiem lieciniekiem (specdienestu pārstāvjiem, prokuroriem, tiesnešiem, apsūdzētajiem, advokātiem, ekspertiem), kas palīdzēja autoram izgaismot mūsdienu globalizētās pasaules ēnu puses.

Neapšaubāmi, ka pēc M.Džonsona debijas šajā žanrā, būšu viens no tiem, kas noteikti iegādāsies viņa nākamo grāmatu, kas solās būt tikpat interesanta, kā šī. Bez pārspīlējuma var pateikt, ka M.Džonsons ir viens no retajiem mūsdienu kvalitatīvās žurnālistikas piemēriem, kas diemžēl arvien vairāk uzskatāms par retumu mūsdienu mediju vidē, kas pamatā asociējās ar paviršumu, tieksmi pēc sensācijām un nevelēšanos iedziļināties tēmā.

M.Džonsons ilgstoši strādājis par FT biznesa reportieri dažādās pasaules malās ar specializāciju organizētās noziedzības un korupcijas jomās. Zīmīgi, ka autors ir ilgstoši strādājis par žurnālistu Itālijā, kur viņš ir sekojis itāļu Cosa Nostra, Camorra un Ndrangheta darbībai. Pateicoties savai bagātajai reportiera pieredzei, M.Džonsons ir iemācījies sekot līdzi dažādu naudas transakciju komplicētām shēmām un labirintiem, lai izsekotu ar kriminālajām aprindām saistīto spēlētāju saiknēm un savstarpējām attiecībām. Savā grāmatā “Chasing Shadows” autors ilustratīvi demonstrē, ka noziedzīgie grupējumi dažādās pasaules malās izveido taktiskas alianses, lai nelikumīgi pārvietotu miljardus vērtīgus aktīvus (narkotikas, ieročus) un caur sarežģītajām shēmām atmazgātu naudu, kura tālāk atkal tiek palaista nelegālajā apritē. Reportieris sniedz ieskatu, kā mūsdienu globalizētajā pasaulē Latīņamerikas narkobaronu sindikāti sadarbojas ar itāļu mafijas klaniem, kuri tālāk iesaista naudas atmazgāšanā ar Libānas teroristu grupējumu Hizbula (aiz kuras stāv Irāna) saistītus spēlētājus, lai īstenotu savus mērķus reģionā. Tādējādi no Dienvidamerikas kontinenta sūtītās kokaīna kravas nonāk Eiropā, kur tās tiek pārdotas un šajā kriminālajā shēmā gūtie ienākumi tiek atmazgāti caur Libānas bankām. Daļa no atmazgātās naudas tālāk nonāk Hizbula rīcībā, kas iegādājas ieročus, tālāk tos nododot kaujiniekiem, kas karo Sīrijas civilajā karā diktatora B.Asada pusē. Kā trāpīgi norāda autors, šīs kriminālās pasaules taktiskās alianses bieži balstās uz ideoloģiskām pretrunām un nesaderību, kam teorētiski ir jābūt sarkanajām līnijām, kas liegtu sadarboties šajā ķēdē iesaistītajiem spēlētajiem. Taču realitātē tā nemaz nav; piemēram, godbijīgs islāma grupējums Hizbula neredz problēmu iesaistīties šajās shēmās, lai atmazgātu naudu, kas ir iegūta no narkotiku tirdzniecības, kas ir viena no lielākajām anatēmām islāma pasaulē.

Viens no secinājumiem, izlasot M.Džonsona grāmatu, ka mūsdienās arvien grūtāk uztvert trauslas un neskaidras robežas starp uzņēmējdarbību, politiku, terorismu un noziedzību. Autora grāmata ir arī lielisks ilustratīvs apliecinājums, cik dažkārt kreatīvus risinājumus atrod dažādās pasaules malās koncertētie kriminālie grupējumi sadarbībā ar diktatūrām un autokrātijām, lai apietu starptautiskas sankcijas. Ne velti mūsdienas arvien biežāk apzīmē ar jēdzienu “sankciju gadsimts”, kad sankcijas tiek biežāk pielietotas kā starptautiskas politikas instruments, vēršoties pret “sliktajiem zēniem” globālajā līmenī. “Chasing Shadows” lieliski parāda, ka pat visbargāko sankciju režīmu ir iespējams apiet, izveidojot pašpietiekamu paralēlu sistēmu ar savu finanšu sistēmu un melnā tirgus elementiem, kuru vada nosacītas “Kriminālas internacionāles” spēlētāji. Piemēram, pēc narkotiku realizācijas Eiropā, šajos nelegālajos darījumos iegūto skaidru naudu ieguldīja dažādu luksus preču iegādē (piemēram, Rolls-Royles vai Bentley mašīnās,Rolex un Phatek Philippe luksus pulksteņos), kas tālāk tiek nogādāti Libānā vai Rietumāfrikā. Tur jau tie tiek pārdoti par skaidru naudu un peļņa ieguldīta šo valstu banku kontos. Zīmīgi, ka ļoti bieži šajās komplicētajās shēmās iesaistītie izpildītāji vienā valstī nezināja, uz ko viņi strādā un kam galu galā tika izlietota “nomazgāta” nauda.

#MilesJohnson, #chasingshadows, #InternationalCrime, #gramatasvaig

[Nick Sopchak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, poorly written.

[Andrew Crofts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staggering levels of research brought to life like an airport thriller

The amount of research that went into this book takes the breath away. Mr Johnson then narrates his findings as grippingly as any airport crime thriller. A masterful achievement, giving a colourful insight into the terrifying, chaotic world that remains hidden to those of us lucky enough to be born in fortunate places. We hear so many seemingly isolated news stories of explosions, genocides, religious conflicts, organised crime operations, drug busts and unexplained disappearances. This book shows how the pieces of this jigsaw-from-hell fit together.

[Maz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sold by the tagline, "This generation's McMafia" or something to that effect. Loved McMafia when I read it over a decade ago, but unlike Misha Glenny, Johnson doesn't quite pull it off with the same narrative verve and pacing. That said, it's a page turner and presents a fascinating story of the globalized nature of international crime: Colombian Cartels, Middle-eastern militants, Italian Camorristas all pursuing their own goals while depending on each others' criminal enterprises.

While the story is interesting, it's what can be inferred from reading it that stands out. Namely that in this highly globalized world, in which all communication is dependent on technology, state surveillance has no equal. Access to any online account "after requesting a warrant", just like that, phone taps, spy cameras, hidden microphones, tracking cellular phones. The counter-measures employed by the criminals (burner phones, battery removal, using tunnels and side doors) are completely laughable. Government agencies can get anything they want anytime they want, about anyone they want, particularly US government agencies and their allies.
While criminal networks generally don't know what allies and adversaries are up to, the state knows it all -and very easily. To the point that Miles Johnson, using case investigation records to paint the big picture, can breezily inject details about the parties involved; they were crying, they sighed, they raised their voice, they wore a necklace, they said this and that, verbatim. It's all documented because it's all been recorded.
If I were a member of a transnational crime network I'd read this book and very quickly retire. The long arm of the law is longer than it's ever been, and it now has countless tentacles to work with.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

A huge disappointment. An absolute mess of a book. DNF. Gave up after "Book One". Couldn't face reading any more.

How on earth does an award winning investigative journalist produce such a painfully written book on what should be such an interesting topic? More to the point, did any of the ringing endorsements from names on the dustcover involve them actually opening the book and attempting to read it? I think not.

Johnson jumps all over the place in this book, and I don't just mean between the three principal stories. The narrative flow is practically non-existent. Pages will be spend on banal information that is presumably there to try to humanise the text a little more, but categorically doesn't work. Rather it reads like it is written by a 6 year old. Other pages gloss over major events in a sentence. Details are repeated as if they are brand new. Snippets of information follow each other in a way that makes about as much sense as a glass shattered on the floor. Yet William Boyd allegedly has said this is: "enthrallingly and lucidly written". I think if Boyd submitted something this lacking in lucidity to his publisher then he'd consider shooting himself.

Also, where were the publishers here? What were they actually paid to do, because it sure as hell wasn't to do any actual editing.

Probably the biggest disappointment I can remember from a book for expectations vs reality. I'm just so so disappointed.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but falls short of great. Very interesting accounts of the drug money and terrorism financing nexus, but the book is a bit too episodic and focuses too much on the personal (for the Calabrian drug dealig clan) in some instances, and big picture politics (Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon, Syria and Iran) in others, leading to some imbalance.

The subject matter and the sleazy, squalid, dangerous side of international finance is fascinating, though, and the auther takes us through some incredible, affecting stories at a good pace.

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if it was because I listened to the audiobook, but although the subject matter is fascinating I found the style a bit clunky. This wasn't helped by the unconvincing accents the narrator used for the Italian and Columbian characters. The connections between the various narratives weren't always clear so at times I felt as if I was reading three separate books. Overall this is an interesting read, but needs more editing and the audiobook isn't great.

[Sean Graham]

What is it about illegal activities that draw people in? Wanting to understand the how and why of drug trafficking, along with how it impacts so many different aspects of the world we live in? Well, Chasing Shadows provided that glimpse in a way that left me unable to put the book down - it reads almost like a thriller rather than a non-fiction! If you have any interest in this area, or even just enjoyed reading McMafia, then I feel you would find something great here.

[Gareth Coxhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It tell the stories of how criminals try to move drugs, money and arms around the world. But all the stories link together in there own little way. Well.worth the read.
I'm not the best reader but managed to complete the last 138 pages in one sunny nice Sunday outside, didn't complete much else but enjoyed finishing this non- fiction book.

[Rgusterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where non fiction is even more thrilling than fiction.

The link between terrorism and international crime syndicates exposed and the political interference that exists.

An important read to get a wider understanding of the geo political landscape.

[Bill Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story, excellently researched and provides great insight into the connection between drug gangs and terrorists. However, not certain if the narrative non Fiction style does the story sufficient credit. Still well worth a read.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written enjoyable book. It reads like a page-turner thriller, but it’s not a fiction. I’ve followed the same stories in documentaries and news, and never got as interested until I read book. I also did my own cross checking, searching social medias for the gangster from Mileto, and it all checks out.

[Michael Aring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, easy read about an international, twisted crime story. The author did a great job of researching facts and putting together conversations. I liked it, though I wouldn’t say it offers a deeper insight or new perspective on things.

[HO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from start to finish.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in three days! A truly superb non-fiction account that has the pace and tension of the best thrillers.

[Shariq Hirani · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting blend of characters, plot, and non-fiction woven in a bit of a confusing perspective.

[Woflmao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oddly disconnected narratives that barely lead anywhere.

[Rattus · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt like I was watching every event detailed from the sidelines, almost like a movie. I can’t even imagine the level of research necessary for this book. I am certain that it paid off. 5/5