What do you think?
Rate this book
CUSTOMS AGENT: YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
This book begins in 1986, when the 25-year-old author was hired as a Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service in Key Largo, Florida. Right out of college, he had no idea exactly what he was getting himself into. On the day he reported for duty he found himself knee deep in the mangroves, humping soggy marijuana bales seized from a smuggler’s crashed go-fast boat. By the end of that first day, he would learn that the former Supervisor in the small office was now a Federal fugitive, having fallen to the temptation of the millions of narco-dollars available.
Power, and the other young agents would have to learn quickly to try to stop the flow of tons of drugs into our country. Brazen smugglers were running huge loads of cocaine or marijuana using their own powerful offshore racing boats under the cover of darkness. Other clever smugglers were hiding their illicit cargo almost in plain sight, hidden inside elaborate secret compartments. This game of cat and mouse was played out almost every day and night, sometimes with deadly results.
Using their own powerful go-fast boats, the good guys were in an arms-race with the bad guys. Things rarely went as planned, on either side of the law. The young agents would eventually attempt an audacious undercover venture to prove that Cuban Government officials were helping smugglers get drugs into the U.S. in exchange for goods brought into Cuba in violation of the embargo. This case, doomed by lack of support and funding would end with disaster, with another Special Agent arrested himself and charged with making false statements. The stories told are real, with real good guys and bad guys. You really can’t make this stuff up.
About the Kevin Power would go on to spend over 30 years employed as a Special Agent, first with the United States Customs Service, then as the agency transitioned under Department of Homeland Security in 2003, with Homeland Security Investigations. Learning valuable lessons in the powder keg of Key Largo, he would transfer to the Tampa field office, only to learn even more lessons. He would eventually work extensively in another undercover operation, this time, well-funded and supported, that would arrest over 150 criminals. He would become one of the founding members of the office’s highly-trained SWAT team, conducting many high-risk warrant entries, controlled deliveries, and covert surveillance operations.
After the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, the author was selected to be assigned as the agencies’ first liaison to USCENTCOM, eventually being deployed with a small team of Special Agents to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Using his computer background, he would eventually specialize in computer forensics investigations and target monstrous child predators before finally retiring at the end of 2016. The author continues to live in the Tampa Bay Area.
Power, and the other young agents would have to learn quickly to try to stop the flow of tons of drugs into our country. Brazen smugglers were running huge loads of cocaine or marijuana using their own powerful offshore racing boats under the cover of darkness. Other clever smugglers were hiding their illicit cargo almost in plain sight, hidden inside elaborate secret compartments. This game of cat and mouse was played out almost every day and night, sometimes with deadly results.
Using their own powerful go-fast boats, the good guys were in an arms-race with the bad guys. Things rarely went as planned, on either side of the law. The young agents would eventually attempt an audacious undercover venture to prove that Cuban Government officials were helping smugglers get drugs into the U.S. in exchange for goods brought into Cuba in violation of the embargo. This case, doomed by lack of support and funding would end with disaster, with another Special Agent arrested himself and charged with making false statements. The stories told are real, with real good guys and bad guys. You really can’t make this stuff up.
About the Kevin Power would go on to spend over 30 years employed as a Special Agent, first with the United States Customs Service, then as the agency transitioned under Department of Homeland Security in 2003, with Homeland Security Investigations. Learning valuable lessons in the powder keg of Key Largo, he would transfer to the Tampa field office, only to learn even more lessons. He would eventually work extensively in another undercover operation, this time, well-funded and supported, that would arrest over 150 criminals. He would become one of the founding members of the office’s highly-trained SWAT team, conducting many high-risk warrant entries, controlled deliveries, and covert surveillance operations.
After the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, the author was selected to be assigned as the agencies’ first liaison to USCENTCOM, eventually being deployed with a small team of Special Agents to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Using his computer background, he would eventually specialize in computer forensics investigations and target monstrous child predators before finally retiring at the end of 2016. The author continues to live in the Tampa Bay Area.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2024
6 people are currently reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 20, 2024
I loved the book. It tells the true story of one of many facets of the War on Drugs. The book tells the story of what it was like as a relatively new U.S. Customs Agent in South Florida during the mid 80's. The book is filled with true stories depicting actual criminal cases and smuggling operations in South Florida and the Florida Keys. To the Special Agents in South Florida who heard of the term "Coconuts" it will give you a new perspective. My hat goes off to those "Coconuts".
April 12, 2024
A great read. It represents true law enforcement. Not the glory or bad stuff you see on cop shows.
May 17, 2024
Loved the book! It's a real page turner as you get into the story telling prowess of Kevin Power. He paints vivid scenes involving all your senses and the emotions of the moments. It’s intense at times and real life. I laughed, my heart raced, I was afraid for these brave agents and to be honest I cried some heartfelt tears as well. I can't wait for the next book. More pictures please!!
April 22, 2024
This is a must read if you are interested in the 1980s Drug War and maritime drug smuggling cases in the Florida Keys and Bahamas. The author has made it super easy to read and gives you both the good guy's and bad guy's perspective on events. You won't be able to put it down. I checked out the author's website customsagentbooks.com and I found that he's writing others about the rest of his career. I can't wait to read those too.
December 29, 2025
This gripping memoir reads like a crime thriller, yet every page is grounded in real-life experience. From high-speed chases in the waters of Key Largo to dangerous undercover operations and post-9/11 deployments, the author delivers an unfiltered look at the risks, corruption, and courage behind federal law enforcement. Honest, intense, and often shocking, this book is a powerful testament to service, sacrifice, and the reality of fighting crime on the front lines.
April 22, 2024
This Book...😀 I love true stories and this book is full of them ! These Customs Agents were some incredibly brave men and I highly recommend reading this . The books chapters will take you in depth of how the war on drugs truly was, and is. Excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews