Introduction
This episode of Drugs, Inc. explores the vast and perilous cocaine trade, tracing the drug’s journey from coca farms in Peru to users across the United States—a distance of more than 4,500 miles. The episode exposes the hidden infrastructure behind the trade, revealing the farmers, traffickers, smugglers, and dealers who sustain a global industry valued in the billions.
The United States has over 4 million regular cocaine users. The drug’s appeal lies in its powerful stimulant effects, but also in its immense value—worth more per ounce than gold. Each year, Americans spend over $37 billion on cocaine, feeding a demand that shows no signs of slowing.
Los Angeles, California, emerges as one of the nation’s largest cocaine markets. Beneath its glamorous surface, a complex and evolving network works to keep the supply flowing, illustrating the scale and reach of the modern drug economy.
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Quotes
“But today José is lucky, the harvest is a success. And he’s made cocaine’s base material, cocaine paste. The value has now shot up from $3 a kilo for leaves to $900 a kilo for paste. José has 13 kilos, but the family won’t get a penny unless they can get it to market. The coke’s buyer is 120 miles away across a valley full of cops and thieves. Carlos will make the coke run with his brother who is just 12.”
“Having got past the police and into the air, the value of the coke on board has soared from $1,300 to $10,000 a kilo.“
“Officially, there have been 169 tunnels throughout both our borders. When you have suitable areas in which to tunnel and you have the willingness on somebody to do that work, the threat of tunneling is always going to be there.”
“From the border it’s trafficked along the notorious I-5 smuggling route to Los Angeles. Having got past cops and customs, the coke has shot up in value from $14,000 to $28,000 a kilo.“
“Friday night in West Hollywood, and party girl Coco is flirting with danger, snorting Peruvian coke that’s travelled 4,500 miles to get to her. As Coco heads out to party, she is on a high. But soon her high needs topping up.”
“Usually the way he pays me is he deposits in my bank account, right? But the banking system, they are not accepting any more deposits from anybody other than the owners of that account.”
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