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Smuggler: Drugs, Gangs, and Refugees at America's Northern Border
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY INK STICK MEDIA
When an ordinary man is thrust into the dangerous world of smuggling at America’s northern border, he is forced to risk his own freedom to protect refugees from violent immigration policing.
Soon after conservative businessman Bob Boulé opens the Smuggler’s Inn, a quirky bed and breakfast in Blaine, Washington directly on the US-Canada border, refugees, drug traffickers, and ICE agents all trust him with their secrets. The refugees tell Bob heartbreaking stories of persecution and death. The drug traffickers and ICE agents try to recruit Bob to their side in the dangerous game of smuggling at the border. As Bob’s work at the Smuggler’s Inn spirals, he is forced to make a series of risky decisions that draw him deeper and deeper into the murky border underworld, putting his own freedom at risk. His secret life comes crashing down after a violent confrontation with a Border Patrol agent in his driveway, leading him to question his core beliefs about right and wrong as he finds his true purpose in life. In this gripping exposé, Border expert Reece Jones and immigration lawyer Greg Boos reveal the hidden world of America’s northern border and provide readers with urgent insights into immigration and border policing throughout the United States.
From the Taliban-controlled countryside of Afghanistan to the infamous La Joya prison in Panama, the stories featured in Smuggler converge in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest in the borderlands between Seattle and Vancouver. There are car chases, drug deals between the Hells Angels and the Sinaloa cartel, and over a thousand people who slip quietly across the border to safety in Canada in the dead of night. After the violent confrontation with the Border Patrol agent, Bob’s complaint goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, whose landmark decision in Egbert v. Boule paves the way for the apparent impunity of ICE agents on American streets in the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Featuring personal interviews, in-depth research, and a propulsive narrative, Smuggler is the untold true story of how a quaint bed and breakfast on the northern border became the epicenter of debates about refugee protections and violent immigration policing inside the United States.
When an ordinary man is thrust into the dangerous world of smuggling at America’s northern border, he is forced to risk his own freedom to protect refugees from violent immigration policing.
Soon after conservative businessman Bob Boulé opens the Smuggler’s Inn, a quirky bed and breakfast in Blaine, Washington directly on the US-Canada border, refugees, drug traffickers, and ICE agents all trust him with their secrets. The refugees tell Bob heartbreaking stories of persecution and death. The drug traffickers and ICE agents try to recruit Bob to their side in the dangerous game of smuggling at the border. As Bob’s work at the Smuggler’s Inn spirals, he is forced to make a series of risky decisions that draw him deeper and deeper into the murky border underworld, putting his own freedom at risk. His secret life comes crashing down after a violent confrontation with a Border Patrol agent in his driveway, leading him to question his core beliefs about right and wrong as he finds his true purpose in life. In this gripping exposé, Border expert Reece Jones and immigration lawyer Greg Boos reveal the hidden world of America’s northern border and provide readers with urgent insights into immigration and border policing throughout the United States.
From the Taliban-controlled countryside of Afghanistan to the infamous La Joya prison in Panama, the stories featured in Smuggler converge in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest in the borderlands between Seattle and Vancouver. There are car chases, drug deals between the Hells Angels and the Sinaloa cartel, and over a thousand people who slip quietly across the border to safety in Canada in the dead of night. After the violent confrontation with the Border Patrol agent, Bob’s complaint goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, whose landmark decision in Egbert v. Boule paves the way for the apparent impunity of ICE agents on American streets in the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Featuring personal interviews, in-depth research, and a propulsive narrative, Smuggler is the untold true story of how a quaint bed and breakfast on the northern border became the epicenter of debates about refugee protections and violent immigration policing inside the United States.
- GenresCanadaNonfiction
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
Reece Jones
11 books80 followersReece Jones is the award-winning author of five books: Nobody is Protected, White Borders, Violent Borders, Border Walls, and the forthcoming Smuggler with Greg Boos. He is a professor of Geography and Environment at the University of Hawai'i, editor-in-chief of the journal Geopolitics, lifetime Fellow of the American Association of Geographers, and a Guggenheim Fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, Smuggler, by Reece Jones; Greg Boos, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a very interesting read on smuggling at the Us border with Canada. I really enjoyed reading about Bob, and would like to read more about him.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is different from my previous ones. It's still about borders, of course, but it's in the true crime genre. It tells the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction story of Bob Boulé, a conservative businessman who eventually gives up everything—his business, his reputation, and even his freedom—to help refugees get protection in Canada. The book delves into the strange world of drug smuggling and immigration policing on the US-Canada border. It ends up at the US Supreme Court with the 2022 decision in Egbert v. Boule that unleashed ICE agents on American streets. I can't wait for you all to read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an amazing read of a truly interesting character, Bob Boule. He ran the Smuggler’s Inn and worked with ICE to catch drug dealers from Canada and also helped hundreds of asylum seekers make their way to Canada. He also sued the border agent who assaulted him in a case that made its way to the Supreme Court, Egbert v Boule. It was whether you can sue federal agents.
Oh we interviewed the author on Scholars circle too.
Oh we interviewed the author on Scholars circle too.
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July 28, 2026Reece Jones MS’04, PhD’08
Author
From the author:
Forthcoming in October 2026.
When an ordinary man is thrust into the dangerous world of smuggling at America’s northern border, he is forced to risk his own freedom to protect refugees from violent immigration policing.Soon after conservative businessman Bob Boulé opens the Smuggler’s Inn, a quirky bed and breakfast in Blaine, Washington, directly on the US-Canada border, refugees, drug traffickers, and ICE agents all trust him with their secrets. The refugees tell Bob heartbreaking stories of persecution and death. The drug traffickers and ICE agents try to recruit Bob to their side in the dangerous game of smuggling at the border. As Bob’s work at the Smuggler’s Inn spirals, he is forced to make a series of risky decisions that draw him deeper and deeper into the murky border underworld, putting his own freedom at risk. His secret life comes crashing down after a violent confrontation with a Border Patrol agent in his driveway, leading him to question his core beliefs about right and wrong as he finds his true purpose in life. In this gripping exposé, Border expert Reece Jones and immigration lawyer Greg Boos reveal the hidden world of America’s northern border and provide readers with urgent insights into immigration and border policing throughout the United States. From the Taliban-controlled countryside of Afghanistan to the infamous La Joya prison in Panama, the stories featured in Smuggler converge in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest in the borderlands between Seattle and Vancouver. There are car chases, drug deals between the Hells Angels and the Sinaloa cartel, and over a thousand people who slip quietly across the border to safety in Canada in the dead of night. After the violent confrontation with the Border Patrol agent, Bob’s complaint goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, whose landmark decision in Egbert v. Boule paves the way for the apparent impunity of ICE agents on American streets in the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Featuring personal interviews, in-depth research, and a propulsive narrative, Smuggler is the untold true story of how a quaint bed and breakfast on the northern border became the epicenter of debates about refugee protections and violent immigration policing inside the United States. HBO has optioned the rights to the book for a possible scripted series.
Author
From the author:
Forthcoming in October 2026.
When an ordinary man is thrust into the dangerous world of smuggling at America’s northern border, he is forced to risk his own freedom to protect refugees from violent immigration policing.Soon after conservative businessman Bob Boulé opens the Smuggler’s Inn, a quirky bed and breakfast in Blaine, Washington, directly on the US-Canada border, refugees, drug traffickers, and ICE agents all trust him with their secrets. The refugees tell Bob heartbreaking stories of persecution and death. The drug traffickers and ICE agents try to recruit Bob to their side in the dangerous game of smuggling at the border. As Bob’s work at the Smuggler’s Inn spirals, he is forced to make a series of risky decisions that draw him deeper and deeper into the murky border underworld, putting his own freedom at risk. His secret life comes crashing down after a violent confrontation with a Border Patrol agent in his driveway, leading him to question his core beliefs about right and wrong as he finds his true purpose in life. In this gripping exposé, Border expert Reece Jones and immigration lawyer Greg Boos reveal the hidden world of America’s northern border and provide readers with urgent insights into immigration and border policing throughout the United States. From the Taliban-controlled countryside of Afghanistan to the infamous La Joya prison in Panama, the stories featured in Smuggler converge in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest in the borderlands between Seattle and Vancouver. There are car chases, drug deals between the Hells Angels and the Sinaloa cartel, and over a thousand people who slip quietly across the border to safety in Canada in the dead of night. After the violent confrontation with the Border Patrol agent, Bob’s complaint goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, whose landmark decision in Egbert v. Boule paves the way for the apparent impunity of ICE agents on American streets in the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Featuring personal interviews, in-depth research, and a propulsive narrative, Smuggler is the untold true story of how a quaint bed and breakfast on the northern border became the epicenter of debates about refugee protections and violent immigration policing inside the United States. HBO has optioned the rights to the book for a possible scripted series.
August 2, 2026
I read an advance copy & got to write a blurb for the book jacket. As an immigration lawyer who has handled cases on the Northern border, I found the book to be fascinating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Surprisingly Compelling Exploration of the Northern Border
Some nonfiction books immediately feel dry the moment you pick them up. Smuggler: Drugs, Gangs, and Refugees at America's Northern Border by Reece Jones and Greg Boos was the complete opposite for me. I went into this expecting an interesting but possibly dense look at migration and smuggling along the U.S.-Canada border. Instead, I ended up reading through the book very quickly because it was consistently engaging, well organized, and surprisingly difficult to put down. The short chapters helped the pacing considerably, and the combination of investigative reporting, geopolitical relevance, and human storytelling kept the narrative moving throughout.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is that it never reduces borders into abstract political talking points. The stories here feel deeply human. The sections involving asylum seekers and people attempting to cross into Canada were especially compelling because the book forces readers to confront the reality that migration is rarely simple. These are not faceless political symbols. They are people operating under pressure, fear, desperation, and uncertainty. The human dimension of the story gives the book much of its emotional weight.
I also appreciated how effectively the authors balanced individual stories with broader systems analysis. The discussions surrounding refugee movements, border enforcement, sovereignty, migration systems, and policy failures all felt accessible without becoming overly simplistic. The reporting on law enforcement agencies, including Border Patrol and HSI, was particularly interesting, even if the portrayal was clearly critical. The book does not shy away from examining the aggressive and often hostile realities of border enforcement, and that tension adds urgency to the narrative.
At the same time, I do think the book would have benefited from slightly more balance regarding the perspectives of law enforcement and border officials. While the criticism of agencies and specific individuals is often persuasive, I occasionally wanted a fuller exploration of how those involved justified or understood their own actions. Including more of that perspective would have strengthened the overall complexity of the book.
My biggest frustration was actually that certain areas of the story felt so interesting that I wanted even more detail than the book provided. Bob’s work as a confidential informant and the connections to drug smuggling were particularly fascinating, yet the narrative never fully dives into those elements as deeply as I expected. The authors hint at larger criminal dynamics operating around the border, but some of those threads remain underexplored compared to the migration side of the story.
Overall, this was one of the more engaging nonfiction books I have read recently. The subject matter is timely, politically relevant, and emotionally grounded without losing narrative momentum. Readers interested in borders, migration, refugee movements, investigative journalism, or contemporary geopolitical issues will likely find a great deal to appreciate here. The book succeeds because it never loses sight of the fact that borders are ultimately about people, not just policies and politics.
Thanks to NetGalley, authors Reece Jones and Greg Boos, and Globe Pequot/Prometheus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#Smuggler #NetGalley
Some nonfiction books immediately feel dry the moment you pick them up. Smuggler: Drugs, Gangs, and Refugees at America's Northern Border by Reece Jones and Greg Boos was the complete opposite for me. I went into this expecting an interesting but possibly dense look at migration and smuggling along the U.S.-Canada border. Instead, I ended up reading through the book very quickly because it was consistently engaging, well organized, and surprisingly difficult to put down. The short chapters helped the pacing considerably, and the combination of investigative reporting, geopolitical relevance, and human storytelling kept the narrative moving throughout.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is that it never reduces borders into abstract political talking points. The stories here feel deeply human. The sections involving asylum seekers and people attempting to cross into Canada were especially compelling because the book forces readers to confront the reality that migration is rarely simple. These are not faceless political symbols. They are people operating under pressure, fear, desperation, and uncertainty. The human dimension of the story gives the book much of its emotional weight.
I also appreciated how effectively the authors balanced individual stories with broader systems analysis. The discussions surrounding refugee movements, border enforcement, sovereignty, migration systems, and policy failures all felt accessible without becoming overly simplistic. The reporting on law enforcement agencies, including Border Patrol and HSI, was particularly interesting, even if the portrayal was clearly critical. The book does not shy away from examining the aggressive and often hostile realities of border enforcement, and that tension adds urgency to the narrative.
At the same time, I do think the book would have benefited from slightly more balance regarding the perspectives of law enforcement and border officials. While the criticism of agencies and specific individuals is often persuasive, I occasionally wanted a fuller exploration of how those involved justified or understood their own actions. Including more of that perspective would have strengthened the overall complexity of the book.
My biggest frustration was actually that certain areas of the story felt so interesting that I wanted even more detail than the book provided. Bob’s work as a confidential informant and the connections to drug smuggling were particularly fascinating, yet the narrative never fully dives into those elements as deeply as I expected. The authors hint at larger criminal dynamics operating around the border, but some of those threads remain underexplored compared to the migration side of the story.
Overall, this was one of the more engaging nonfiction books I have read recently. The subject matter is timely, politically relevant, and emotionally grounded without losing narrative momentum. Readers interested in borders, migration, refugee movements, investigative journalism, or contemporary geopolitical issues will likely find a great deal to appreciate here. The book succeeds because it never loses sight of the fact that borders are ultimately about people, not just policies and politics.
Thanks to NetGalley, authors Reece Jones and Greg Boos, and Globe Pequot/Prometheus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#Smuggler #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is was a very, very surprising book! When I think of "smuggling" people across the border, my mind automatically goes to the southern border with Mexico. I was not aware that people were being smuggled from the United States into Canada. And how easy it was/is!
Bob Boule was a man who ran a bed and breakfast called the Smugglers Inn, in Blaine, WA (right on the US/Canadian border). To illegally emigrate to Canada, all one had to do was walk out the door of the Smugglers Inn, walk a few feet, cross a road, and voila, you were in Canada. The person had only to walk a few blocks into Canada, surrender to the first police they saw, and claim amnesty. Wow!
Boule would pick up his customers at the Seattle Airport, drive them to his inn, and then wait until after midnight when they would walk out of the inn and into Canada. For this he charged for the pickup and a night at his inn.
Of course, the authorities had a lot of problems with this scheme. The book is all about the attempts to stop Boule and the illegal crossings. In fact, Boule was twice arrested and spent time in jail for the crime. In between, he became a secret informant against the Hells Angels, a savior figure to people all over the world who wanted to go to Canada to live, and a nemesis of one particular ICE agent, who had a serious grudge against Boule. In fact, Boule ended up suing the agent for assault and illegal arrest, the case went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2022, and resulted in the broad amnesty that enable ICE officials to act like they did in Minneapolis and elsewhere. This is a fascinating book! In my wildest dreams I could not have concocted a crazy story like this. Yet it is fully documented and vouched for in the index.
If you want to have your mind blown, give this book a try!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance reading copy of this book. I don't think I will ever forget it!
Bob Boule was a man who ran a bed and breakfast called the Smugglers Inn, in Blaine, WA (right on the US/Canadian border). To illegally emigrate to Canada, all one had to do was walk out the door of the Smugglers Inn, walk a few feet, cross a road, and voila, you were in Canada. The person had only to walk a few blocks into Canada, surrender to the first police they saw, and claim amnesty. Wow!
Boule would pick up his customers at the Seattle Airport, drive them to his inn, and then wait until after midnight when they would walk out of the inn and into Canada. For this he charged for the pickup and a night at his inn.
Of course, the authorities had a lot of problems with this scheme. The book is all about the attempts to stop Boule and the illegal crossings. In fact, Boule was twice arrested and spent time in jail for the crime. In between, he became a secret informant against the Hells Angels, a savior figure to people all over the world who wanted to go to Canada to live, and a nemesis of one particular ICE agent, who had a serious grudge against Boule. In fact, Boule ended up suing the agent for assault and illegal arrest, the case went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2022, and resulted in the broad amnesty that enable ICE officials to act like they did in Minneapolis and elsewhere. This is a fascinating book! In my wildest dreams I could not have concocted a crazy story like this. Yet it is fully documented and vouched for in the index.
If you want to have your mind blown, give this book a try!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance reading copy of this book. I don't think I will ever forget it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Smuggler: Drugs, Gangs, and Refugees at America's Northern Border by Reece Jones and Greg Boos is a fascinating story about Bob Boule and the Inn he owns.
Appropriately named Smuggler's Inn, is a quirky bed and breakfast that sits directly on the American side of the America/Canada boarder. Bob is one of those people who people like and trust and many chose to from boarder patrol agents, refugees, and drug traffickers. The refugees often tell Bob about their hardships, as he then looks the other way while they get to safety. Meanwhile the Drug traffickers and ICE agents both try to recruit him into helping them. This of course comes with a lot of risk, which leads to the question of how much would you risk to help others? What about for people you dont even know?
I receieved an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I found this book and the concept of the Smugglers Inn so fascinating and ridiculous. How was a house and Inn even allowed that close to a invisible boarder line that wasn't even heavily monitored. Bob certainly lived a facinating life, not without its consequences of course, but wow! As a Canadian I didn't even knew the Smuggler's Inn existed, but definitely did a deep dive on the internet after reading this book. Such a fascinating place run by a interesting person!
This book is expected to hit shelves on October 20 2026
Appropriately named Smuggler's Inn, is a quirky bed and breakfast that sits directly on the American side of the America/Canada boarder. Bob is one of those people who people like and trust and many chose to from boarder patrol agents, refugees, and drug traffickers. The refugees often tell Bob about their hardships, as he then looks the other way while they get to safety. Meanwhile the Drug traffickers and ICE agents both try to recruit him into helping them. This of course comes with a lot of risk, which leads to the question of how much would you risk to help others? What about for people you dont even know?
I receieved an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I found this book and the concept of the Smugglers Inn so fascinating and ridiculous. How was a house and Inn even allowed that close to a invisible boarder line that wasn't even heavily monitored. Bob certainly lived a facinating life, not without its consequences of course, but wow! As a Canadian I didn't even knew the Smuggler's Inn existed, but definitely did a deep dive on the internet after reading this book. Such a fascinating place run by a interesting person!
This book is expected to hit shelves on October 20 2026
October 25, 2026
Not the usual type of book I read but the synopsis sounded interesting, to give it a punt. It was enjoyable and having been near the USA/Canadian border it’s easy to see how simple it would have been to cross without any formal restrictions, so you could see how Bob got caught up in it until he found himself on the wrong side of the law!
November 9, 2026
Fascinating true story
This story occurs very close to where I live in NW Washington. All of the descriptions of places are very accurate. I've also had a run in with local CBP so this hits home to me
This story occurs very close to where I live in NW Washington. All of the descriptions of places are very accurate. I've also had a run in with local CBP so this hits home to me
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews