In this episode of Gangland Wire, host Gary Jenkins sits down with renowned true crime author T. J. English for an insightful conversation on organized crime, focusing on English’s latest book, The Last Kilo. English, well-known for his work on the Irish mob and the Cuban drug trade, dives into the complex world of cocaine trafficking in the 1980s, examining the rise of Cuban and Mexican cartels and the historical forces that shaped the cocaine industry.

T. J. English begins by sharing his journey into crime journalism, explaining his unique perspective on crime writing as a means to explore broader social themes, from the pursuit of the American Dream to the stories of marginalized communities in America. He explains how organized crime can act as a lens for understanding cultural assimilation and survival strategies across generations, pointing out that many immigrant communities, such as the Irish and Italians, were historically pushed toward illegal activities as a means of survival.

The discussion then turns to the Cuban drug trade in America, especially during the cocaine boom of the 1980s. English highlights key players like Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta, who used political connections and resources to pioneer cocaine distribution networks. The conversation explores how Los Muchachos, a Cuban drug trafficking group, established a stronghold in the U.S. by strategically lowering prices and expanding cocaine’s reach, setting the stage for explosive demand.

Throughout the episode, English contrasts Los Muchachos' tactics with those of other criminal organizations, particularly noting their reliance on loyalty and community ties over violence. This approach, forged through the shared experiences of exile, helped them maintain unity and discipline in their operations.

Jenkins and English also discuss the evolution of the cocaine market, from its glamorous early days to the more violent era marked by the rise of crack cocaine in the late 1980s, which reshaped public perceptions and spurred aggressive law enforcement responses. T. J. English explains how these shifts pressured Los Muchachos to adapt, prompting alliances with Mexican cartels to continue thriving in an ever-changing landscape.

Tune in to this episode for an in-depth look at the history, culture, and operations behind the Cuban drug trade, and how organized crime continues to reflect the broader social dynamics at play in America.

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Transcript

[0:00] Well, hey, welcome all you wiretappers out there. It's good to be back here

[0:02] in the studio of Gangland Wire. This is Gary Jenkins, a retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Detective, a later sergeant. Now, I've got this podcast going, Gangland Wire, and we have another guy that I was just talking to TJ a little bit. I picked up a book called The West years ago before I even thought about doing a podcast or any of this entertainment business, and I was entranced by that book, The Westies. It's about the Irish mob in Manhattan in New York City. Now they ended up working with the Gambinos and that's a page turner. He's got a new one out here that I've been going through it. I just got it the other day and it is a page turner too. So it's TJ English. Welcome, TJ. My pleasure. Great to be here. All right. So you are the man when it comes to reporting on the m...