Métier, Infiltrateur: Ma Vie Parmi Les Criminels

Befriend and Betray #1

by Alex Caine

The Hells Angels. The Bandidos. Asian triads. Russian mobsters and corrupt cops. Even the KKK. Just part of a day’s work for Alex Caine, an undercover agent who has seen it all.

Alex Caine started life as a working-class boy from Quebec who always thought he’d end up in a blue-collar job. But after a tour in Vietnam and a stretch in prison on marijuana-possession charges, he fell into the cloak-and-dagger world of a contracted agent or “kite”: infiltrating criminal groups that cops across North America and around the globe were unable to penetrate themselves.

Thanks to his quick-wittedness and his tough but unthreatening demeanour, Caine could fit into whatever unsavoury situation he found himself. Over twenty-five years, his assignments ran the gamut from bad-ass bikers to triad toughs. When a job was over, he’d slip away to a new part of the continent or world, where he would assume a new identity and then go back to work on another group of bad guys.

Told with page-turning immediacy, Befriend and Betray gives a candid look behind the scenes at some familiar police operations and blows the lid off others that law enforcement would much prefer to keep hidden. And it offers an unvarnished account of the toll such a life takes, one that often left Caine to wonder who he really was, behind those decades of assumed identities. Or whether justice was ever truly served.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, True Story

393 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars = Don't regret reading it.

Organised crime is my least favourite type of true crime. This memoir was written by a civilian who worked for US and Canadian law enforcement as a free lance informer. He infiltrates several criminal gangs; Triads, KKK, Banditos, Hells Angels, and others. Even though, I don't 'enjoy' this type of true crime, the author's style of writing was fast-paced, and to the point. So, that pulled me along through the book.

[Arne-Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

2017. Huwelijksreis in Sneek in Franeker. Syb van der Ploeg live gezien. Planetarium van Eise Eisinga niet gezien. Boekenwinkel even kort bezocht zonder mijn eega. Voor haar Een Hologram Voor De Koning van Dave Eggers gehaald, een nog niet gelezen werk van één van haar favoriete schrijvers. Ik kon het niet laten om uit de bak met uitverkoop Bandidos te graaien, een undercover verslag van Alex Caine bij de roemruchte 1% motorclub. Bandidos heb ik een paar jaar geleden met ontzettend veel plezier gelezen. Nu ligt ie prominent op de stapel maffiaboeken in onze fancy nieuwe boekenkast (er is geen stapel voor boeken over criminele bikerclubs). Toen ik dus Befriend And Betray (prachtig vertaald als Vriend of Vijand) tegenkwam was het een must-read. Nog meer verhalen over de Bandidostijd, maar ook andere undercover avonturen bij verschillende Hells Angels chapters en de Ku Klux Klan. Garantie voor een hoop spanning en sensatie.

Ditmaal was het boek veel persoonlijker. Caine beschrijft hoe hij ooit begon met undercoverwerk en wat voor wissel het undercoverleven trekt op zijn persoonlijke leven. Hij komt vaak maandenlang niet thuis en heeft daar ook steeds minder behoefte aan. Hij wordt in feite zijn alias. Dat gaat zelfs zo ver dat hij een vriendin moet nemen om zijn geloofwaardigheid te vergroten. Zijn vrouw stemt daar wonderwel mee in. Ik kan me daar niks bij voorstellen. Niet dat je het aankunt om een fake relatie te hebben (hij laat overigens in het midden hoe fake die voor hem voelt 😉). Maar ook niet dat je vrouw met kinderen thuis dit aankan. Uiteindelijk raakt hij door het undercoverwerk steeds meer vervreemd van zichzelf en zijn omgeving, wat hem tot tweemaal toe een huwelijk kost. Voor mij is Vriend of Vijand in elk geval een bijzonder lekker leesbaar en ook schokkend verhaal in meerdere opzichten. En sowieso weer eens een keiharde bevestiging van de aloude wijsheid ‘oost west, maar thuis toch het best’. Overigens zit ik tijdens onze trouwdag wel voor werk in het buitenland. Maar ik zal het daarna zeker goed maken, schat.

[Byron Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author describes all of his activities in a fast paced way that provides enough detail to be interesting, but not so much that you get bogged down in it.

I've never read a book quite like this one. It offers what appears to be a realistic description of life inside motorcycle gangs. It turns out they are violent and criminal. Not a surprise I suppose, but it gets driven home again and again and again.

[Jeff R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lies, lies and some more lies by a paid contract source of information who is simply looking to make some money like the rest. Don't waste your money.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book of a Alex Caine's infiltration of mostly white criminal motorcycle gangs. I read the first half very quickly, but after the Banditos motorcycle gang investigation wrapped up his later infiltrations were not quite as interesting.

[Dan Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of a civilian Alex Caine who under contract to various law enforcement agencies infiltrated gangs and organizations to gather intelligence. In his own words, Mr Caine paints a portrait of a lifestyle rarely seen.

He grew up in Hull, Quebec, Canada and often lived on the fringes of the law. After serving a stretch in prison on marijuana possession charges in the 60's, Alex was still unsettled and looking for adventure. His combative nature and USA's involvement in Vietnam attracted his attention. His enlistment fine tuned his natural abilities to walk a fine line and stay alive..... As many veterans from that era, Alex had trouble settling down.

One day after attending a martial arts competition, Alex was approached by a member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang and asked if he was interested in helping them move a large amount of drugs. Appearing interested but cautious, Alex bought time which he used to inform the authorities. The RCMP asked him to accept the offer and to infiltrate the gang. This launched a new and exciting but highly dangerous career.

Over a period of twenty five years, he infiltrated criminal groups such as the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the KKK and international mobs. Overtime various law enforcement agencies recognized and used his conning and expertly developed abilities.....

"Befriend and Betray "is a complex and compelling read: a story of a very different world where one cannot trust anyone. While undercover, Caine needed to be creative and live on his wits, wary continuously second guessing the motives of his fellow gang members and his handlers, each with their own objectives.

The book is also about the personal side of Alex Caine, the toll it took on his marriages and his children. After a long time among treachery, fake names and friendships and years away from home ....Alex needed to get away from it all. Now retired from the front line he acts as an advisor and guess speaker at police conferences.

I found this book well written, very believable, especially interesting and very hard to put aside. I am looking forward to reading Mr Caine's second book "The Fat Mexican"

[Alex Laderoute · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview/Opinion 📣
This book is a memoir about Alex Caine and his career in gang infiltration. He was able to assist in investigations about the Hells Angels, The Outlaws, The KKK, The Bandidos and more. Although at some points I did find the story a little more biased than I would have liked, overall it was a great read! What I mean by this, without giving anything away, is his view on some of his personal relationships. I think there's definitely another side to the story with some of them!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#fyp #fypage #foryoupage #foryour #booksta #bookstagrammer #autobiography #memoir #bookrec #bookrecommendations

[Ethan G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story; this almost reads like the script of a movie (maybe it has been adapted to film, I don't know). Mr. Caine went into great detail describing his thoughts an emotions as he lived through the many unbelievable experiences he details in this book. One quote from the book that summed up the story well went something like this: "The man who lives many lives must also endure many deaths." This story absolutely deserved the five-star rating I gave it.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about a professional informant who working with US and Canadian law enforcement infiltrates many different criminal gangs; Triads, KKK, Banditos and Hells Angels. The book mainly deals with his infiltration of the Banditos and Hells Angels. Interesting look inside the biker gangs and their rivalries with others.

[Hayden Pyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional story (though the classified part was disappointing) and well told all things considered. No poetry here, but Caine bluntly gets us through

[GG · Rating 5 out of 5]

True or not, it’s a fun read into a life I’ll never experience (and maybe that’s a good thing)?

[Sunnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aaah, America. Land of the free, home of the.....free-market economy? Who knew that there are people out there who earn their livings by hiring themselves out to law enforcement agencies, to gather intelligence by infiltrating gangs and organisations? We’re not talking about under cover cops here. These are civilians.

One such civilian is Alex Caine. Caine few up in Canada and had a tumultuous childhood, frequently skating around the fringes of the law. In the late 1960s, looking for something more adventurous he travelled to the USA , enlisted in the army and spent time fighting in Vietnam. On his return he found it difficult to settle down.

Caine was and is a martial arts aficionado. One day while attending a competition he was befriended by a fellow practitioner who was a member of The Bandidos motorcycle gang. In the course of conversation, Caine was asked if he was interested in helping to make a large drug buy. Disconcerted, Caine gave a non-committal answer. He later told his wife who encouraged him to report this offer to the authorities, which he duly did. Not long after, he was approached by the Mounties and asked if he was interested in accepting the offer and infiltrating the gang. So began Caine’s new career.

Over a period of twenty or so years Caine infiltrated gangs such as the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, and even the KKK. He also made contacts with and supplied information on Asian Triads, Russian mobsters and corrupt cops.

BEFRIEND AND BETRAY is an insider’s story of this complex and murky world where you can trust no one. Not only did Caine have to be wary of the gang he was infiltrating, but he also had to be circumspect about who he trusted in law enforcement. His is a story of creating alternative identities and living on his wits, often for months at a time. It makes compelling reading.

Just how such people live, how they maintain their own identity and the effects on their relationships outside their work is as fascinating as the details of the work itself. In some instances Caine’s story raises as many questions as it answers. Just how effective are these types of operations? The biggest success of his career, Caine feels is his first, the infiltration of the Bandidos. It resulted in dozens of arrests across the USA, Canada and internationally, but ultimately it didn’t put a stop to the gang’s drug-dealing activities. It just slowed it down for a while.

I thought BEFRIEND AND BETRAY said as much about the character of Alex Caine as it did about the gangs he was infiltrating. Caine’s seemingly burning need for danger and excitement appeared to come before anything else. With a trail of failed marriages and estranged children behind him , Caine has finally given up this work. At least that’s what he claims in his book. The author blurb tells us that Alex Caine now works as an advisor on motor cyclegang investigations and is a frequent guest speaker at police conferences. He is a certified fifth-degree black belt martial artist. One does wonder about the ultimate cost of his unconventional life. Will he be alone in his old age or will his desire for living on the edge once more take control and lead him back to old life and ultimately cost him his?

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of a civilian Alex Caine who under contract to various law enforcement agencies infiltrated gangs and organizations to gather intelligence. In his own words, Mr Caine paints a portrait of a lifestyle rarely seen.

He grew up in Hull, Quebec, Canada and often lived on the fringes of the law. After serving a stretch in prison on marijuana possession charges in the 60’s, Alex was still unsettled and looking for adventure. His combative nature and USA’s involvement in Vietnam attracted his attention. His enlistment fine tuned his natural abilities to walk a fine line and stay alive….. As many veterans from that era, Alex had trouble settling down.

One day after attending a martial arts competition, Alex was approached by a member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang and asked if he was interested in helping them move a large amount of drugs. Appearing interested but cautious, Alex bought time which he used to inform the authorities. The RCMP asked him to accept the offer and to infiltrate the gang. This launched a new and exciting but highly dangerous career.

Over a period of twenty five years, he infiltrated criminal groups such as the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the KKK and international mobs. Overtime various law enforcement agencies recognized and used his conning and expertly developed abilities…..

“Befriend and Betray “is a complex and compelling read: a story of a very different world where one cannot trust anyone. While undercover, Caine needed to be creative and live on his wits, wary continuously second guessing the motives of his fellow gang members and his handlers, each with their own objectives.

The book is also about the personal side of Alex Caine, the toll it took on his marriages and his children. After a long time among treachery, fake names and friendships and years away from home ….Alex needed to get away from it all. Now retired from the front line he acts as an advisor and guess speaker at police conferences.

I found this book well written, very believable, especially interesting and very hard to put aside. I am looking forward to reading Mr Caine’s second book “The Fat Mexican”

[Kalley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an infiltrator (or as Sonny Barger, founder of the Oakland Hell's Angels, would have put it, an "infil-traitor"), Alex Caine got to know motorcycle club members very well. Almost too well when he was working with the Bandidos. It's an interesting story that follows him from his humble and troubled beginning to understanding of not only the motorcycle gangs he made himself fit into while working for multiple federal agencies, but also the agencies themselves. He had to figure out how to juggle the interests of the feds with what was possible, what was legal, and what he felt comfortable with.

This book makes motorcycle gangs more human while also separating out many of the individuals as being exactly what you might think of the general motorcycle gang population being. While he goes down a laundry list of names and crimes, there are plenty of times when names aren't associated with crimes at all. MC members stand up for each, regardless of who was right, because that's why they are together (at least the "outlaw" gangs).

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

After serving in the notorious Operation Phoenix in Vietnam, Canadian born Alex Caine worked for twenty five years as a contracted undercover agent for various American and Canadian law enforcement agencies. He infiltrated several notoriously murderous biker gangs, the KKK and the Asian Tongs. His work, while not always successful and often frustrating, resulted in many arrests and convictions. But aside from his adventures and often frightening scrapes with being uncovered, there emerges a portrait of a man who grew from a harrowing Dickensian boyhood to a man who did, indeed, "befriend and betray" and lived a life away from family but alone with men who he could never grow truly attached to because of the mask he always wore.

Very well-written and an intense first-hand look into some of America's most frightening criminal subcultures, the book would make a great made-for-cable mini-series.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty solid auto-biography written by a man who spent 30+ years infiltrating groups like the Hells Angels, the KKK, the Bandidos, and other criminal groups. It's a rare look at the reality of these groups. Most interesting parts to me are when Caine explores the difficulty of admiring many of these criminals, only to be secretly working with a government agency to take them down. Hard to know how true any of this is, but Caine tells a gripping story that any fan of true crime will really enjoy.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like too much was crammed into a short book; he was just scratching past the surface of what life was like in one mission before leaping to the next. Each chapter could easily have been expanded to a book itself to really get the feel of what it all must have been like - I think the real stories are those that were not told here. Still fascinating, though.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Interesting read. I question whether doing covert work as an agent for various law enforcement agencies wasn't a wayto live on the criminal fringes without actually being a criminal. What is notable is the ability Caine had or developed to walk away from pets, wives, kids & family in taking a new assignment - which he thrived upon for the better part of 25 years.

[Mitch S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever wanted to infiltrate the most prominent gangs in the world? Well now you can, vicariously through Alex Caine. This book is the shizznat if your into crime and gang culture. He gets in good with the Triads, Russian mafia, KKK, Bandidos, Hells angels and prison gangs. Great read I would heartily recommend.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an interesting read to see how undercover operatives go. Also interesting to see law enforcement officers using paid infiltrators and the different attitudes towards said infiltrators.

Only gripe is the book seems rushed towards the end.

[Neko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. At times what you see in the movies or on tv is like this book. An eye opener. Easy to read and easy to follow. The guy had a good writing style that made this enjoyable to read.

I just picked this book up on a whim..Glad I did.

[Betty Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it four stars not because it's some amazing piece of literature, but because it's a fun, fascinating story written by an intelligent and interesting individual. Is it high brow lit? Hell no. But it's still a worthwhile read. I couldn't put it down! I want to BE Alex Caine.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

I enjoy bios and this one sounded interesting, especially since he was Canadian.

The writing style was fast-paced and the stories riveting. There was even an experience here in Toronto.

[Kara Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read with lots of variety of adventures of infiltrating different gangs, great if you like the to read about biker gangs! The sociologist in me was more intrigued with each page!

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book I have read about an undercover infiltrating the motorcycle gang underworld. A good read, but my least favorite of the three.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have my doubts about the truth of some of this. The section on the military and Vietnam contained some vague and incorrect info. But an exciting read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It's interesting as well as disheartening to know that this subculture is all around us.

[JoDee Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good autobiography!

[Jonathanfstick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't continue reading this book.... snitches get stitches.

[Beth Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting book about an undercover free-lancer.