Berkeley Rice

Rik Luyjtes grew up in Long Island, became enamored with flying at a young age, got his pilot's licenses and started a company in Scranton, Pa. outfitting aircraft for long-range flight. He worked his way into flying cocaine from Columbia and cash back south. He pioneered routes and techniques to avoid detection. He eventually got caught, turned informant, kept smuggling and went to prison. Not necessarily in that order.

Berkeley Rice did loads of research and interviews to tell the story. He's particularly good at detailing some of the flights and logistics of the operation. I re-read the book because I now hike on the 2700 acre property seized from Luytjes in the Poconos that has since been turned into State Game Lands. The story still holds up even though the smuggling methods have changed.… (mais)