The Most Successful Cocaine Smuggler In The US - Masterminds - Air America - Rik Luytjes Documentary

Masterminds tells real crime stories about amazing deceptions that brilliant criminals use to pull off seemingly impossible crimes. This new half-hour series combines the mystery of a "whodunit" with the thrill of a "howdunit," revealing the extraordinary world of elite bank robbers, escape artists, impersonators, kidnappers, murderers and frauds.
In the early 1980’s, Rik Luytjes gained two sterling reputations. One was as an upstanding businessman and pillar of the community in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The other was as the most successful cocaine smuggler in US history.

[@KumaBean]

The most sucsessful coke smuggler in history is the one we've never heard of.

[@zeke2566]

His name is BoB,lived in key largo,moved to................

[@richardhowe5583]

You are 100% correct my friend

[@STEREOOUTGFX]

There is a movie called american made which is somewhat inspired by him

[@cornfarts]

I've met one of those never heard of guys

[@ImDrewL]

I knew this was gonna be the top comment before I even clicked on this video

[@shalomccs]

The pilots from the 80s that quit smuggling and stayed living in South America and nobody knows about it are the real mastermind, because they knew when to stop.

[@kobe4266]

Exactly a few mills im out living on an island the rest of my life living the good life

[@fastbudgrower4205]

Yh they'd all be dead by now from ABUSE

[@jessicaholcim30]

you can stop now

[@blincx1]

No, it is true to the point of living... The true mastermind can live where HE WANT without any record, any limitations, legal or not... With all the money ofcourse....

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

No, all the real pilots are down here with me in the Everglades.

[@07Hawkeye]

the real best smuggler is probably just sitting back and laughing at this video the whole time

[@hustlenut7910]

Yeah i am 🤣🤣😅🤙

[@lockeparsons9198]

That would be the us government, because they can do what they want who’s gonna tell on them they only have themselves

[@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917]

​@@lockeparsons9198 Obviously you have zero clue how the US government operates. Those within the US Federal government are who "tells on them." The "US Government" is not some centralized authority..... It's made up of several entities (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) which have *separation of power* where *no one entity has more power over the other.* And then of course there are state governments, 50 of them. And then there are the political parties who's members hold these positions (The Republicans and Democrats), who hate each other and are constantly trying to out-do the other. So no, they cannot "just do what they want wHo"s GoNnA tElL oN tHeM?". Pick up a book.

[@pas9ify]

@@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917 good luck teaching these morons ;)

[@tminer2110]

bill clinton

[@AwokenEntertainment]

it's poetic that he now lives in Smuggler's Cove

[@mikelynch7271]

“The Most successful Coke smuggler in US History “.... please everyone knows the CIA / DEA are by far the most successful Drug smugglers ever

[@frankmcnally01]

Spot on

[@TylerSane5]

I'd go a step further and say C I A are terrorists..

[@MexikonJunglista]

I came here for this comment. Also remember this happened when there was a Republican president in the White House.

[@jasonlacroix6083]

Barry Seal.

[@carval51]

@@MexikonJunglista technically both happen whether it republican or dems lol. cia inventor literally come democrat president I would say it has no connection but if I'm being shitty dems is the one that created them

[@terrywilson1813]

The cops always say they want drug smugglers for hurting families but the first question they ask them when they're brought into custody is "where's all the cash?"

[@mugumyapaultheafricannomad9488]

Hahahahaha.... And that's why government only cares if they are not the ones cashing in

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

It’s a for profit business 🤷‍♂️

[@mattburnett4185]

We have to save all those coked up schoolkids!, Oh wait, the government already gives them speed.

[@laytonhersh2552]

All about the cut . The gov can't tax it only reason they are against it . They want to control it $$$.

[@BuckingHorse-Bull]

why is that so true and prevalent

[@blake102989]

The amount of people in the comments that know who the real smugglers are make me so proud of We The People...

[@jonj402]

Who? 🤔

[@tyesoncollins331]

CanAmRydr what’s your real name? Asking for a friend

[@custosnocte1528]

Oh come on. I'm not watching Hollywood bullshit. I knew guys in the State Police and DEA who had long suspected the CIA and bad elements in the Military were moving this crap into the States. Greed is a human flaw. Some bad apples out there would betray their oath, most would not.

[@shanecateriny4359]

It’s funny how much the “authorities will never be told by the free people.

[@phillarnach9484]

I think we can take most of this yarn with a grain of salt. A standard Cessna 310 max fuel capacity was 105 US gallons, its maximum take off weight was 5500 lbs for the C310R, the last and most improved in the line.. Claiming this guy increased fuel capacity to 6000 us gallons is ludicrous, that is 36,000+lbsit never would have got off the ground.

[@nicklockard]

Could he have meant pounds of fuel? Still seems way too high.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

The more powerful engines would help but yeh the numbers seem off. I'm thinking some chunks of the real story were left out. I suspect he stopped for avgas in the Caribbean or Bahama both well known for rampant corruption. He may have flown a route further inland in the US as I know we weren't looking for smuggling a/c outside of Florida or the east and south coast of the Caribbean. Flying nice straight routes non-stop seems a setup for getting the wrong attention.

[@dant.3505]

Phil, how much added fuel capacity could be realistically added to a Cessna 310 with the engines upgraded to the best that can be fit? I'm sure you are right to guess the numbers presented in this show are off quite a bit. The distance traveled is pretty long for a non stop flight in that model of airplane. It would be difficult but not impossible, right?

[@tristianwilson3497]

@@dant.3505 So the range of a 310 is 1000mi the flight this guy took would be in the area of 2500mi. Assuming higher fuel burn he would need around 300gal (1800lbs). At 3300lbs dry weight add 200-500lbs for modifications coming to 3500-3800lbs. Now take his rough wieght say 180lbs all in he would be with fuel himself plane and 800lbs of coke, he would look at 6300-6600lbs. 800-1100lbs over max takeoff weight. With said upgraded engines he very easily could have done this flight.

[@dant.3505]

@@tristianwilson3497 thank you very much for the reply. I was thinking that with the high profit potential. There is plenty of motivation to upgrade the plane in a way that the task can be done. Where there is a gold mine waiting, there is a way.

[@GoodTrace]

The most successful drugs dealer ever is the United States government.

[@ufxpnv]

I saw this video and I had chime in that he must have worked for the CIA. They're the biggest drug dealers in the world by volume.

[@wellsjn1]

???

[@abdulraheem415]

It can be traced all the way back to the British selling heroin in china..

[@gotbeer23miamiheat]

Do you have Proof! Lmfao

[@thecman26]

CIA/FDA

[@luisgarza7999]

The C.I.A is the greatest cocaine smuggling agency there is

[@juanio7036]

Luis Garza Yes, sir. Most people still think the alphabet people are their to help America

[@oneilmatthewmartin275]

What else you know

[@bigsis1977]

Facts.

[@oneilmatthewmartin275]

@@bigsis1977 please I am begging you 310$

[@francescorosini3734]

bigsis1977 read the tower report ,the whole contra financing to coumter the sandinistas in nicaragua was a cocaine for arms deal with the blessing of the company

[@hieroglyph321]

Wow, there's some good tips here ... thanks.

[@TheBeingReal]

The “War on drugs” is one of the most epic fails ever.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

You're right, and the gov never learned from the lessons of history, ie prohibition era. When you say something is now illegal, it automatically creates a huge opportunity for organised crime to supply it as the demand and marketplace for it will never go away no matter what laws are passed or what gov policy is.. rather than trying to criminalise drugs, the gov should have said we need to take control of this industry and tax it, the same way they did with alcohol. That would have been much more successful and profitable for the gov! And it would have put the cartels if not out of business on major drugs like cocaine and heroin, it would have reduced the size of their market and activities.

[@TheBeingReal]

@@paullangton-rogers2390 Funny part is prohibition was not a “government idea”: it was mainly driven by woman claiming a moral stance…religion strikes again. Your point is well taken then though: criminalizing drugs does nothing to solve the problem, and never will.

[@TheBeingReal]

@@holidayinn4293 agreed. 👍🏻

[@malachi-]

What's troubling you, is the, nature of their game.

[@nepttune710]

And finally with every department's cooperated efforts, drugs were effectively wiped off the streets. Oh wait....

[@alvaroakatico9188]

That’s correct! The government cannot take that huge of a risk of not pocketing cash in the millions.

[@ironguardian1970]

Lmao the "dept" paid for the drug running

[@waltertx.6020]

🤯🤣🤣🤣

[@chanandler4567]

😄. And every drug addict reformed.

[@carlosbovia6813]

Just change "wiped" for "snorted"... et voila..!!!

[@MrRudy-vk7xx]

When the FEDs found a cheaper pilot, they busted him.

[@brando36922]

No they just needed a fall guy !

[@j.walker3498]

Barry Seals

[@keepinghealthy3332]

He should have known that the government would *screw* him over.

[@jseahmed2432]

@@keepinghealthy3332 The airplane gig was just about dead too many lost load and bust , the container were almost %75 sure and could carry up to 2 tons behind produce or frozen meat ,85..

[@gwag8410]

Barry was about to roll over on them….thus the death sentence

[@valerielynn7256]

I live in Scranton Pennsylvania how Have I not ever heard of this guy small world

[@philipwangila244]

So much lesson to be learnt here 🙏🏾👊🏾👏🏾

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Masterminds was a great show. Loved the vibe of the show. They need to bring it back.

[@skunkycatog]

Lol I used to watch this on tv, I forget what channel it was on lol. Made you want rob a bank 😂😂😂

[@puppets1979]

They can't... there are no more masterminds as the world went fucking stupid.

[@tenfold7493]

Same! It’s so comfortable to watch

[@tenfold7493]

@@skunkycatog tru tv

[@richardhoepfner1633]

A one man operation would still be in business today. Greed and lust for power ends in defeat.

[@marksnow9274]

If your going to do it back then get in & out.

[@ReR7474]

Easier said than done. The more money you have, the more you want.

[@henrysantos121]

Excellent documentary well done,

[@BtcSimmer]

One of my favourite documentaries

[@mikestone9129]

Rick really was a genius. But like almost all drug smugglers and dealers, greed gets them in the end. One smuggler I knew told me once, it's not "if" you'll get busted, it's "when". Almost everyone rolls when they get busted, it's just the accepted way. I hope Tricky Rick is living a happy life in Florida.

[@Dave-ur5ub]

It's not accepted..Bodies drop every day inside and outside of prisons because people don't know how to keep their mouths shut.Theres a code we live by and is what is to be expected if caught is to shut up and bite the bullet.9 times out of 10 if you don't talk you get off with a lighter sentence anyway.People give the police what they need. I've seen it from drugs to murder...Prime example..Someone I knew hired someone to do a hit.He got more time than the person who pulled the trigger bc he ran his mouth and gave the cops the incriminating evidence against himself in his own statement while telling on the guy who pulled the trigger...He got life..The guy got 12 years...They extort him and basicallyhold the rat part over his head every day of his life...This is in the weakest prison in Delaware which is basically a daycare..If this was a federal prison he would be dead...Just an example.

[@jessicaholcim30]

we all know them chips are....im about to cut the green dot i need a paycheck assholes

[@matsveritas2055]

It’s not the fracking “accepted way”, snitches get stitches, simple as. Play the game and do your time if caught, or, play the royalists game and always do their bidding.

[@alienal8278]

Least we forget about Barry seals and the Arkansas gov

[@jonneroneill5439]

This just made me think of Barry seal even more... lol

[@keithlilly6242]

Allan Lege yes and the president of the united states and Vice President. Iran contra was not at one at the local level. That was a Reagan bush clinton and others who were involved .the whole Iran contra idea wasn’t put in place by a governor. They are all crooked

[@radchad1513]

@@jonneroneill5439 Have Ya Seen AMERICAN MADE The Movie About Barry Seal its Badazz Got Tom Cruise in it

[@joebliw5284]

Lol AND THE CLINTONS AND THE BUSHES

[@highlanderfreelancer4553]

@@joebliw5284 don't forget about Obama's afgan herion

[@MobstersInc]

Great video 🍿

[@micahayton8348]

Great video 🍿

[@c-dublife]

I once drove two hours with a quarter once of really shitty pot. though I was pablo Escobar for those two hours. my dad flushed it. I called him DEA DAD.

[@johnmyers3864]

This comment made me laugh way to hard

[@fsouzajr]

those were the golden days.. back then it was kilos in planes, now its tons in narco subs... logistics have come a long way

[@darrienscott7048]

Im an aircraft mechanic with UPS and I have a coworker who used to work for Air America but went over to UPS went to United when the work slowed down. He said they were making A LOT of money but knew it wouldnt last long.

[@kuzeyaydn8704]

Reporter at the end: Rick changed his life and gone straight.” I bet lmao

[@needtogetbig]

“Hurting people?” People make their own decisions, of what they put in their body.

[@mofayer]

By smuggling or purchasing those drugs you enrich the cartel who hurt allot of people violently.

[@michaelblasius7705]

And they only do that because they are unable to legally enforce contracts and protect their investments. By your logic, it’s really the government who is ultimately responsible.

[@yessir6017]

True

[@dndjxnskdbajd4561]

and the kids who get beaten by addict parents? it’s their own fault is it?

[@jennieterblanche9148]

After the first choice its no longer a choice but a compulsion...you are no longer in control

[@fbella69]

"A Cessna 310 normally carries 2000 gallons of fuel - so he increased it to 6,000" - what bullshit reporting. A Cessna 310 carries from 100 to 160 gallons - with the largest models up to 200 gallons. It's unlikely he could up that to 600 gallons, let alone 6000 gallons.

[@thecackleman]

jesus, 6000 gallons is 23K L. Imagine 23Tons of Fuel.LMAOOO

[@g3t0wNeD420]

Lol its to give false info to stop dumbass kids from getting thoughts

[@dieselscience]

Sometimes "CIA did it" conspiracy theory nut bars make up shit that bad. There's a video still on YT saying "A Citation jet owned by the CIA was attempting to land at a Yucatan airfield and was denied. They ran out of fuel circling and crash landed with 14 tons of cocaine...." *14 tons in a Citation!?*

[@trilogy3x]

@@thecackleman 6,000 gallons is actually closer to 36,000

[@chrisbrent7487]

Couldn't even get 6000 liters in it. You'd never get it off the ground.

[@Serenity17]

The CIA with barry seal are number 1 by far

[@Ecmjax]

Hey daddy😙

[@Ecmjax]

Imma need you to post more

[@zoul5700]

holy shit you are alive, this is the last place I thought I would see you comment

[@Ecmjax]

@@zoul5700 ong

[@Mtz.LuisAlfonso]

How could you just leave us😒 hope you’re doing well man…a come back sha’ll be expected!

[@jaymiami5813]

I would give this guy a big hug and a kiss on the forehead what a legend

[@meinl7908]

Good job so proud

[@stevenwelk1901]

Did anybody notice they didn't press him on were he got the drugs or money from.There main concern was where was the money.Not about stopping the drug ring.

[@briancook5838]

Why Slay Their Golden Goose ? You Don’t Kill The Cash Cow !

[@stevenwelk1901]

@@briancook5838 exactly that's why they didn't question about it afterwards they probably gave him a job.

[@cirocciroc]

Prodigal son-- Miami vice

[@dougtaylor7177]

Loved The show Masterminds. Never missed an episode.

[@adiambari9170]

Really inspiring

[@MVMTV4Videos]

awesome video, New subscriber thumbs up, Fully watched and fully enjoyed

[@flipnotrab]

Grew up around a midwest small airport. EVERYONE knew where to go when they needed fast money for repairs & upgrade their planes. MENA, AR!

[@moepow8160]

As smart as he was, he never prepared for getting caught...this guy should have disappeared!

[@philipbuckley759]

so he was not that smart....

[@keepinghealthy3332]

@Barry O'Hara take the cap lock off. You look like an idiot.

[@tadsgarage1959]

@@philipbuckley759 I’ll ukY cl I X b. B Nj. ! M U fuuduuufuyt

[@GreeneShieldInvestigations]

Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos.

[@mrno_name9518]

😳 holy shit

[@Atite_Lometen]

What do you think all those pilot with all that experience end up doing.

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@mrno_name9518 The CIA train a bunch of Cubans to do shadow operation on Cuban soil, they needed to leave undetected and come back undetected into American airspace, the operation never got the green light so they disbanded them, out of the job a lot of them went to work for the cartels.

[@wizardlizzard335]

Very good.. Very good.. Rep.. A. Reputation

[@ClaytonBigsbee]

Thank you Rik for all your efforts

[@xidropkillzx3246]

These types of shows with sick re-enactments are underrated actually LOL

[@Overusingthestapler]

Facts! You don't see that much anymore

[@xidropkillzx3246]

@@Overusingthestapler it’s true

[@muddskipper]

You really don't see it anymore with all the animations and stuff nowadays

[@410kane]

I'm impressed by the smugglers that built diy submarines. They were backyard engineers

[@jaythompson5102]

They bought some when the USSR went kaput, basically picked up some military subs super cheap cause the government couldn't afford maintenance on them anymore.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

@@jaythompson5102 Seriously doubting the cartels bought Soviet subs. Way too high profile. That would be the worst "secret" ever. They built their own subs deep in heavy jungle in camouflaged camps.

[@robertfandel9442]

They weren't submarines actually. Semi submersible yes.

[@MrMiD.Life.Crisis]

i bet they were sketchy as hell!

[@raydanieliv3195]

Great times! It was so easy back then to do this, I have never to this day been so exhilarating as this time of my life.

[@SynthoidSounds]

Can't help but wonder . . . did he really give away all his cash, or just enough to look impressive, but still had more cash in various other locales. A guy this intelligent and focused, wouldn't make such an obvious mistake by having all his reserves stored in one central location . . . maybe

[@pete5137]

...said he wired 30 million to the islands but only turned over 21.

[@jackhackman7777]

Exactly right

[@ecoturismovalle1570]

He was Mexican

[@moviesforrandy]

@@ecoturismovalle1570 i think greek

[@THELIONGUY1981]

21millions is toooooo small for all that cocaine he transported lol, i think he probably made over 100mill because cocaine is very expensive. One of those bags could cost around 50k, so imagine all the rounds back and forward he did with like 2 or 3 more planes from his buddies lolol, He probably opened bank accounts in the islands, or in swiss when it was still possible when there were tax free. I don't think he turned in all of it! Hell no! IMPOSSIBLE lol

[@freebuilder007]

"first step is to increase fuel capacity. Rick took a plane that could carry 2000 gallons, and made it carry 6000 gallons. " All the while speaking of a Cessna 310. Fuel capacity 100-200 gallons. I Can't believe the film maker let these "experts" make those kind of statements.

[@generalharness8266]

Not only that but the first deal he makes with drugs is to a undercover cop, he then somehow picks a custom agent that just happens to have high enough security to know where the controls are and buys them.

[@freebuilder007]

@@generalharness8266 Check out Bruce Perlowin. He had a Winnebago that could intercept All DEA, Coast Guard, and local Law chatter on the WEST COAST ! In the 70's.....

[@generalharness8266]

@@freebuilder007 yea my point was its more ironic that he picked a cop among criminals and then picked a criminal among law enforcement. What are the odds?

[@josephking6515]

How the hell did it get airborne with 6,000 gallons of fuel onboard and where did he hide the tanks. Maybe he had to taxi all the way to the drug land pickup due to the weight. 🤦‍♂️ Weight & Balance must have become interesting during fuel burn.

[@mooneyes2k478]

6000 gallons is the capacity of a Boeing 737-200. That's a 136 passenger aircraft. Now. his aircraft wouldn't hold that amount of people, But it sure wouldn't be a small one.

[@bldlightpainting]

"The love of money is the root of all evil." Thus the proliferation of this poison, along with countless other crimes and sins unmentionable.

[@hankhardonblkface6941]

I love this show..

[@southbeachmiamiart895]

This was my favorite television show. I wish they'd make new shows.

[@Softail77us]

I wonder if he was slick willy's pilot when coke was flown in to Arkansas when he was governor.

[@mytruthslays1303]

You mean his pilot he used while dealing 300 tons of cocaine in Mena airport.

[@Softail77us]

@@mytruthslays1303 Yes

[@Softail77us]

@@theblackwidowverified921 That's what I thought.

[@TheKingtsmith]

@@theblackwidowverified921 facts

[@Owlshadow.]

You guys think you know the story. You're way off.

[@gatormccluskey3708]

He seems smart enough to have tucked away a few million by itself for cases such as this!

[@106JOHAL]

Best show ever made

[@mlane2012]

It's hard for me to believe they kept him locked up that whole time. It seems more beneficial to put him to work for them.

[@rigby7218]

He probably did work for trhem

[@ZUGI849]

@@rigby7218 Of course/he did!!!

[@dramanebance5654]

i respect people like this man

[@sw5401]

Would u say that if he were black? Most people seem to glorify white guys like Gotti, the mob, Hoffa, etc, etc

[@MADMAX-vd8pr]

There’s always gotta be that one asshole

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

@@sw5401 No I wouldnt. 😂

[@Itdontmatter69]

Cool story

[@badninja1971]

4:57 nearly said FBI. Good save Sir. 😂

[@timierikson7780]

Best smugglers never get caught.

[@audigex]

He didn’t get caught, though... his previous “employer” got caught and told the authorities who he was.

[@ram0666]

They dont exist if they dont get caught,that makes no sense.

[@jseahmed2432]

There was a old man name jim that got his brake in 76 working for the Colombians he had about 20 mission before he settle in Colombia and costa Rica and gave the Hot potatoes to old man Earl and Fellow, that got the Mick Munday outfit going out of Okeechobee 8 group , in fact Jim got Hitch to Martha Ochoa by 79 ..

[@LegitLaughs1]

Government always becomes irate when someone is making money and they can't tax it.

[@jaymesnin]

That and they have to control the amount comming in. Keep its value high. If everyone could bring it in. If it was legal. If you could produce it. It would have no value. There would be no crime. Just alot of crack heads and coke addicts

[@jaymesnin]

They not only create the problem. But turn around and give a solution!

[@RyanEvan314]

Everybody says I crashed the airplane on top of his car; I say this guy parked his car underneath my airplane.” That’s actually pretty clever 😂

[@jbvap]

Boy I haven’t thought about the show “masterminds” in years and years. It was one of my favorites.

[@deniseseifried3403]

Some information is inaccurate. The guy says this plane holds 2000 gallons and increases it to 6000 gallons. That's absolutely impossible. A Cessna 310 or equivalent starts out with maybe 134 gallons including the tip tank fuel. Adding another 166 gallons only gets you about 12 plus hours of flying at 220 miles per hour. The normal gross weight of this plane is about 5500 lbs. (100 low lead gas weighs 6 lbs. per gallon.) A turbo charged 310 would be better allowing flight at 18,000 feet with better true airspeeds and fuel economy. I'm only through the first ten minutes of the video, thou!

[@gofer9156]

He probably wasn't doing round trips. So 3000 miles one direction. Easily doable with more powerful engines and extra fuel. A standard 310 gets you about a 1000 miles.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

So many people have picked up on the fuel and distance discrepency. You guys are good!

[@babayaga1767]

you can't sell something to someone who isn't buying it.

[@realitycheck2539]

What I do not get is that in the U.S. you can find cocaine anywhere, in every city, every town. The only way to have such an amount of distribution is if the government is doing it. There is no way that illegal smugglers can bring so much.

[@firestarter105G]

The US had two presidents directly involved in cocaine traffic. One president later involved us in the Opium trade with Afghanistan and we now have a president promoting fentanyl with our open border policy.

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

America is a such a large country it's impossible to guard and monitor every inch of its borders and air space 24/7...for every shipment they intercept, probably 3 or more get in. Case in point, the Southern border, if over a million immigrants from Mexico can enter US illegally in a couple of years of Biden administration you know US border control is failing badly and drugs are far easier to smuggle than people! For the drugs cartels, losses and captures are expected. I have heard that some cartels even setup decoys like smaller shipments that they intend to be seized so the DEA thinks its succeeding and that keeps them happy, but meanwhile the cartel does its bigger shipments using other routes. There is a lot of corruption too in US, not as bad as Mexico but it's well known to exist..undercover cops and dirty cops have seen the money in drugs and seize shipments for themselves or never fully report seizures...some entire police forces in some areas were corrupt.. and no doubt a few DEA agents..but for the most part, the US agencies and gov remained un-corrupted as it's a wealthy country with tough laws on drugs. Unlike the scale of corruption in poor countries like Columbia and Mexico where corruption went right to the upper levels of government and military as the cartels had more money than the government during the 80s and 90s enough to pay off the national debts of both countries. The average cop chief or gov official was earning so little money compared to those in the drugs biz they just went onto the payrolls of the cartels, better to take a bribe than be dead or your family at risk.

[@allvaleriano]

1:38 "A secret network of sophisticated radar was installed throughout Florida" He speaks this while showing the middle east. Great job!

[@jseahmed2432]

It didn't stop Mickey Munday every sunday right into Lakeland 400 pieces , only reason he got Busted Chief Operator Max Mermerstein gave up everything and everybody .in 85 /86.

[@joemoghrabi6055]

@@jseahmed2432 Do you have any idea how they avoided these radars?

[@jseahmed2432]

@@joemoghrabi6055 Ask Boston George .

[@nezb01]

The only geniuses in the drug trade are the ones you never hear about.

[@andrewquake4631]

Definitely!

[@futureshock382]

the CIA/DEA, we know about them but cant do anything

[@andrewquake4631]

The best drug dealers have no criminal history, served in the military/law enforcement with high security clearances to top secret and above top secret, through their exemplanary conduct and contacts from these networks, building relationships with people currently serving in the military/law enforcement through alumni networks be it college and/or military/law enforcement agencies, are able not to obtain the necessary information to keep their actions protected from information provided by currently serving military/law enforcement members.

[@mikebronicki8264]

Sorry guys, a genius is the guy who stears clear of drugs altogether.

[@user-ej4li1lt3d]

The war on drugs is really a war on the poor

[@OzzieWozzieOriginal]

good video for teaching future smugglers, kekekekekeke

[@athanstreitz9178]

Reminded me of that movie "American Made" w/Tom Cruise portraying Adler Berriman "Barry" Seal, the TWA pilot who became a major drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel during the '80s

[@tomupchurch4911]

IMHO these people couldn't close an umbrella without rats.

[@dk6173]

??

[@evarflorendo1989]

Eight and a half years I'm pretty sure he still had some money laying around for himself LOL

[@eduardotirado839]

I love success stories…

[@mikeneil798]

God Bless him!!

[@corydriver7634]

How do you know he was the most successful smuggler? Maybe there’s someone out there that hasn’t been caught so therefore more successful.

[@brando36922]

How this channel only has 40 thousand subs is crazy I love these types of stories subbed yesterday on my first story.

[@mstevens832]

I stumbled on it today love it. I'm binge watching it on now on quite sunday.

[@champagnepapi51]

This dude a legend

[@user-lh4kj8rl3n]

They must have never heard of Amado Carrillo Fuentes “El señor de Los Cielos” 🛩🛩🛩✈️✈️✈️❄️❄️❄️

[@Godzy111]

The greatest 2 ever smuggle on plane

[@danletter9357]

Any one else notice how they skimmed right over the fact that somehow “they knew” someone was smuggling in millions worth of drugs, every month. Enough knowledge that direct involvement must be the source of that knowledge.

[@nova-co3bp]

how about the drugs people are doing, drug dealers selling them on the streets etc etc

[@Brunzy1970]

The most successful wear USA uniforms, fly USA cargo planes, and control radar and search vectors. Now I wonder who could that be?

[@PTMG]

Imagine thinking that they got all his money He probably showed them most of his money But that other 20% of his money is still enough for a lot of people to live comfortably off of for life.

[@Crypto907]

Risk taker 😈💯

[@Blap552]

I read a book from a guy that said he ran weed up the east coast from actually Columbia I think. And I'm pretty sure my friends and I used to get the same stuff. He said his boat was fast and practically unsinkable but when coke and guns came around and things got hot he deep-sixed his boat and got out. Really good book tbh.🙂

[@sauceboss9443]

What book?

[@Blap552]

@@sauceboss9443 I don't see anything like it on a quick Google search but I do remember he said he ran weed from South America(I think Columbia because we got a Lot of that)to Long Island or near there because he said the guys fueling yachts would always wave him to the front and the rich guys would get pissed! And like I said when it started getting dangerous he scuttled his boat and he said it didn't go down very easily at all. If I can find it I will post it for you.🙂

[@sauceboss9443]

@@Blap552 I appreciate the response

[@dobrikkk2683]

Only thing that comes to my mind when i heard Scranton is dunder mifflin

[@jerrykinnin7941]

There's the Petro truck stop masssage parlor.

[@CouchCommander5000]

Corn Pop

[@hankhardonblkface6941]

I love that show

[@fairysox221]

I like it that he's now going straight and living in "Smugglers Cove"... TBC

[@jamesaleman]

Probably retired off his second and third money stashes

[@dmlandscapedesignllcatlant8093]

What a hero

[@CHAOS88100]

"He was very smart" - well when they say that in the past tense in the first 15 seconds you know he wasn't that smart in the end.

[@joycethomas8868]

I think someone made a mistake concerning fuel capability. At 9:10 the gentleman said the 310 owner switched from 2,000 gal tanks to 6,000 tanks. The Cessna 310 came with tank capacities varying between 102 to 203 gals. The 310 with 203 gal fuel tanks had a range of 1400 miles, if you flew at high altitude. If you doubled the tankage from 203 to 406, (which would put you 283 lbs over gross weight without loading any drugs) you could cruise to 2800 miles. No where near the distance from Scranton PA to Columbia. There’s a whole lot not adding up in this story. Anybody have any additional info ? Thanks and cheers from a fellow pilot.

[@MachTuck]

Hello, yeah I got that too, 2000 gals to 6000, either he didnt know about the matter or he just mention some figures. You got a good point there but , how do they ferry a 310 to, lets say Hawaii?. And about the weight, I would think it matter much to him, of course, to certain point, and fingers crossed he didnt have an eng failure, specially during T/O. Cheers

[@joycethomas8868]

@@MachTuck if you had enough takeoff runway length, and you installed much higher HP engines, (which he did) you could be severely overloaded and still get off the ground and climb. Landing would not be a problem, cause the gas weight would be used up. Maybe they had some long runways in Columbia that he paid off the local military to let him use. Who knows. Cheers.

[@MonteD1]

He must have meant pounds?

[@paullangton-rogers2390]

Well spotted. Good to have someone watching who knows their stuff about planes! Could he have made re-fuelling stops along his route? Having a plane massively overweight even before you loaded any drugs doesn't sound like a good thing to do! Even if this guy was not on the radar of DEA and US authorities as a smuggler or not subject to any drugs checks, having a massively overweight plane unsafe to fly? would certainly raise alarm bells..surely planes have to be safety checked and signed off in US by independent orgs before you can fly them?

[@halColombo]

Curious then, so Amelia Earhart could have made it to Marshall Islanders ?!?

[@andranikjabackchurian6705]

I perfectly remember in 1993 years in Los Angeles in Sun Valley he cups found 20 tons cocaine , so every corner in LA selling drug’s.

[@chvishal]

SCRANTON! PRISION MIKE MUST BE A PART OF THIS!

[@allenlong5109]

I like how they say "millions of dollars recovered". "Recovered" ? Don't you mean taken?

[@dickferdays9785]

What's the difference?

[@undisputedchamp2568]

The difference ? Recovered suggests it was theirs to begin with and taken means they stole something that didn’t belong to them.

[@dickferdays9785]

@@undisputedchamp2568 Okay so the government is wrong for "taking, stealing, recovering" money from illegal activity? What are they supposed to do with the money, let the criminals keep it? I swear people on social media will argue about what day of the week it is. Are you that fucking miserable?

[@undisputedchamp2568]

@@dickferdays9785 no sir not suggesting that at all just responding to the question boss. The fact of the matter is that if they weren’t confiscating/ making millions on the illegal drug trade there would be no war on drugs . If they really wanted to stop illegal drug trade they would simply do what they do in any other “War” go directly to the source/ origin blow it to pieces and stop it at the source. It’s much more lucrative to pretend by arresting people and trading money for freedom. You don’t send a message of no tolerance by saying “ we are gonna give you life in prison…… or just give us 24 million and we will knock it down to 8 years. “ that suggest you gotta pay to play .

[@bradkroboth5490]

@@undisputedchamp2568 America has a drug habit, look at big pharma. Rather than cure diseases, we make pills so 80 yr old guys can get a hard on. Gotta pay to keep the machine rolling, why not steal the $$ from the entrepreneur who beat the system

[@buttersstotch2014]

As soon as I saw Scranton I heard the office theme song in my head

[@muddskipper]

Haha me too with the vids of it too

[@tonecity9500]

Rick is a finger straight up

[@donnacribb5712]

Crazy

[@ronbranum4134]

Micki Monday did the same thing .....

[@persistentapparartionkitty5830]

Best Smuggler ever was Ricky & Jullian & the Swayze Express!!!

[@jameslarson6538]

they were workers. bubbles was the mind behind that

[@philipbjorkman4251]

For sure man!!!

[@larryhamilton9072]

Best smuggler we've never heard of.

[@PeopleEqualShlt]

Best smuggler is the C.I.A.

[@_RobBanks]

Nnmmm it’s a FUcKiNg SaMSqUAnTcH RIcKy It was mike smiths birthday actually last week. (That’s bubbles)

[@MVMTV4Videos]

Masterminds was one of my favorite shows, are they going to come up with more episodes? Did this guy do more smuggling than Pablo Escobar?

[@stealyourplates1982]

He was in Escobars era so it is possible he smuggled for Escobar if not directly then indirectly

[@stealyourplates1982]

7:45 he was involved with medellín cartel which is Pablo's. So yes.

[@Aviator_Outlaw]

Every single pilot is cringing watching this. “The aircraft could hold 6,000 gallons of fuel” “The aircraft was 2,000 pounds overweight but managed to takeoff.” Who actually believes this shit lmao

[@calebdavis8949]

The engines he must have had on that bad boy were one of a kind 4000 hp with titanium finder and landing gear was one of a kind this aircraft was no aircraft my friend it was a alien spaceship

[@q.marshall3611]

It's easy to be the best when the ones who supposed to go against you let you do it an run the route with no interruptions .

[@specforged5651]

FYI a Cessna 310 doesn’t carry 2,000 gallons of fuel. Depending on year and model they carry between 100 and 127 ( 650-825lbs as we use in the jet world) gallons stock. I’ve owned 3. No I’m not “that guy” just want pointing that out for reference on actual fuel capacity in a 310. Thanks for the vid, I love this stuff!

[@Doodles1947]

The 310 with mains and auxes plus two 20 gallon locker tanks will make 1643 sm. Anything over 300 dope lbs plus pilot and it's over gross.

[@djdup3819]

I love this dudes narration. Who is he

[@jasongoodman3546]

God damn it Cooper!