Drug Smugglers on Drug Smuggling: Lessons from the Inside

by Scott H. Decker, Margaret Townsend Chapman

Drug Smugglers on Drug Smuggling examines the organizational structures of drug smuggling from Colombia to the US.  Career drug smugglers describe a series of often disconnected networks that enable smugglers to best organize their business in a way that will minimize the risks of apprhension and maximize profits.  

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the challenges of stopping drug smugglers. The authors interview people who were successful smugglers for a while, but are now in federal prisons.

It's a little dated since some of the newer routes (Mexico) and techniques aren't talked about much, except for near the end of the book. Expected, since the book was published in 2008 and the interviews were conducted before that. But the main points are still valid.

I thought the authors had some good points about trying to reduce the amount of successful drug traffic, and even some of the smugglers' suggestions were good.

Note that this book is a study, not a novel. It's short, but not a particularly fast book to read. But worth the time if the subject interests you.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched and interesting. Dated though. The Mexican Cartels have taken over and have changed the game again.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors interviewed 34 incarcerated drug smugglers about their experiences transporting drugs and their perceptions of US interdiction. This academic study made for a quick and informative read that are relatively light on anecdotes (beyond brief quotations). It doesn't include lurid tales of violence or debachery; instead, the book focuses on the methods, organization, and attitudes of the smugglers.