The Last Kilo

What a ride! This hit on so many levels. Highly recommend to those that like a thriller that you can't put down. This is a one sitting book

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this advance reader copy of the book. This story was definitely a great example of the truth being stranger (and crazier) than fiction. The author did a great job organizing and telling this true crime story that spanned several decades with many people and families involved. I thought it was really interesting and I bet it will be really good on audio just like it was on paper

This was an excellent book, the second I've read by T. J. English. A fascinating saga of the two guys who were the two linchpins for cocaine distribution in the US, beginning in the early 1980s. Run by a Cuban American group based in Miami. Compelling and intriguing. The author obtained exclusive access to one of the two guys, as well as some others in his family and cartel. So much loyalty until the Feds began closing in, and then, thinking they had nothing to lose, many became snitches. Didn't turn out well for many, as the tentacles of the cartel ran deep and wide.

Author is also and engaging and wonderful speaker.

T.J. English has written a really relatable book about the cocaine trade in the United States during the late 1970’s through the early 1990’s. The story centers around immigrant brothers from Cuban who get lured into the trade, initially as a way to help fight Cuba and Castro, and then continue as their ability to handle the smuggling proves easy and outrageously lucrative. When the money starts to really roll in, the lure of the life becomes to intoxicating to abandon. Their group, headed by Willy Falcon and called Los Mucachos are more like an extended family, working like a well-oiled corporation, even with built in retreats. The enterprise makes them all rich and their lust for the high life became too great an elixir to stop. Just think money, women, planes, games - a basic free-for-all that seemed to never end.

As the deals became bigger and their schemes became more audacious, they paid off more law enforcement and worked on brilliant strategies to hide the money, using Panama, the Caribbean, and even wall boards to stash all the cash. They created an international network and worked with other drug syndicates to increase the flow into the States. Willy Falcon was a powerful leader and played hard.

Clearly the life of crime doesn’t last forever. As family members got kidnapped and killed and law enforcement eventually figured it out, the good times came to an end. Fascinating read into a world I knew nothing about.

Very good read!!! I was truly invested in this amazing story… From start to finish chefs kiss & I will recommend this to everyone.

The Last Kilo
T.J. English

I have always been fascinated by true-crime stories, and the Last Kilo is a fine example of the genre. It traces the history of a Cuban-American named Augusto Guillermo “Willie” Falcon, and his associated known as Los Muchachos.

=== The Good Stuff ===
* Falcon is a fascinating character. He dabbles as an intelligence operative, seeking to help overthrow the Castro regime in Cuba, and manages to become a very successful cocaine smuggler. With no business training at all, he develops a very profitable organization, which if legit, was on its way to being Fourtune-500 level.
* T.J. English gives us a cross-section of Falcon’s life. We see him as a swash-buckling daredevil, risking his life to rise to the top of the drug hierarchy, as well as an executive of a large business with all its financial and organizational challenges. Wrapped around that is a family life, and a group of loyal friends called the Muchachos.
* The text moves by quickly, and while there is quite a bit of detail included, it does not get in the way of the narrative. English does a nice job of capturing the complexities of his subject, and the internal conflicts as he juggles his lifestyle against his family commitments.
* The book is complete, it that it captures the whole saga of Los Muchachos, from their humble beginnings, through the “sitting at the top of the world” phases, and ending as the authorities finally catch up to the gang.

=== The Not-So-Good Stuff ===
* English seems to genuinely like his subject. That is always a danger for a biographer, and it is sometimes difficult to square the “nice guy” that comes across in the book with the harsh realities of dealing with cocaine drug kings like Pablo Escobar.
* I would have liked to see a bit more analysis of Falcon’s abilities. The obvious question to me, whenever I read of large criminal organizations, is could the leaders have been legitimate businessmen? Would the talents that let you build a billion-dollar cocaine business (in 1980’s dollars) have allowed you to be the next Jeff Bezos?

=== Summary ===
The book was an easy read, and contained enough material to hold my interest. The story is fascinating, and you can’t help but be amazed at the antics of Falcon and his gang. My only concern was the story seemed to avoid some of the harsher aspects of the business and paint Los Muchachos as heroic.

From true-crime legend T. J. English, The Last Kilo is a magnificent behind-the-scenes story of one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in American history. The author was granted unprecedented access to the inner workings of Los Muchachos, sitting down with Willy Falcon and his associates for many lengthy interviews and revealing never-before-understood details about their lives, the world of drug trafficking, and the rise and fall of a true cocaine empire. The saga centers around two Cuban exiles, Willy Falcon and his best friend Sal Magluta. As young teenagers, they become active in the anti-Castro movement by smuggling cocaine into the U.S. to raise money to buy arms for the Contras in Central America. As their smuggling ‘businesses’ grew and the money kept pouring in, the need to recruit others grew, and they became famously known as “Los Muchachos.” Together, they built an extraordinary international organization from the ground up. I highly recommend this book.

Earlier in the year I finally watched Narcos on Netflix. Then a month ago I picked up the Che Guevara biography trying to learn more about Cuba. I had never heard of Willy Falcon but the intersection of drug kingpins and Cuba was exactly the natural next book for me to read. There are enough reoccurring characters from Narcos in this book that it made the connection to the American side of drug trafficking a great rabbit hole to dig into.

When I finally put the book down I sat there and thought about how quick life really is. They spent more time in jail than they did running the trade business. They lived during a period that will never exist again and they are part of American history for better or worse that defined generations of tv, books and video games.

None of their "success" could have been possible without friends, family and the strong Cuban community. Which I would say is a redeeming quality of their lives, it shows how important it is to have family and friends in order to thrive in society; Something the internet age allows us to forgo. I appreciate that the author purposely only interviewed and told stories from those who stood strong and didn't snitch once all the cards fell.

If you enjoyed Narcos, wanted to know more about Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel's dealings in the USA as well as the politics of Cuban exiles in America during the Fidel administration this book covers a lot of history missed on other mediums and I highly recommend this book.

Willy Falcon, a young Cuban, flees the Castro regime and lands in Miami where he becomes involved in smuggling operations to help the Cuban Liberation movement. In a very short time, he founds and runs what becomes one of the major cocaine distribution networks in the U.S. Based on extensive and unprecedented interviews with Falcon and other of his associated, T J English once again brings us an inside look at a criminal operation from a perspective that is neutral, informative and fascinating. The Los Muchachos syndicate that Falcon founded was not a violent crime gang but a smartly run business that succeeded in large part due to strategically managed corruption. This is a great read.

I've long been a fan of T. J. English's accounts of organized crime, so I jumped at the chance to read The Last Kilo. It's a thorough and fascinating account of 80s cocaine trafficking told from the viewpoint of Los Muchachos, one of the most successful smuggling organizations. As a child of that time period who grew up watching "Miami Vice," it was fascinating to read a more realistic version of events. Sure, there's glitz and glamor, but there's also the grit of Cuban exiles trying to make good and take back their country; the wheeling and dealing of high-powered criminals; and corruption everywhere. Nobody comes out of this book looking good, really. It's interesting how the government's "War on Drugs" went hand in hand with encouraging Cuban expatriates to fight communism using any means possible--even when the end result was tons of cocaine flowing into the US.

A complex but highly readable book.

As someone who grew up during the Miami Vice and Scarface era, I was instantly drawn to The Last Kilo by T. J. English. This book offers a gritty, unfiltered look at the true story behind one of America’s most notorious cocaine trafficking organizations, Los Muchachos, led by Willy Falcon. Unlike the Hollywood portrayals of the drug trade that focus on violence and flashy lifestyles, English’s narrative digs deeper, revealing a world where corruption was the real currency and everyone—from A-list celebrities to law enforcement—was caught in the web.

Willy Falcon’s story is as much about the American Dream as it is about crime. A Cuban exile who escaped Castro’s regime, Falcon began his journey as a teenager involved in the anti-Castro movement. His path into the drug trade was fueled by a desire to support the Contras in Central America, a goal that quickly evolved into building a massive cocaine empire. Falcon and his associates, known as Los Muchachos, turned the U.S. cocaine trade into a billion-dollar enterprise in the 1980s and early 90s. Their power and influence were unmatched, and they lived as glamorous as they were dangerous, with powerboat racing championships and wild nights at the Mutiny nightclub.

But what makes The Last Kilo stand out is its focus on the corruption that fueled the cocaine business. English doesn’t shy away from exposing the dirty cops, compromised agents, and shady politicians who kept the wheels turning. The book reveals the murky connections between the U.S. government's anti-communist agenda and the drug trade, showing how the War on Drugs was entangled with the very activities it sought to combat.

The narrative is complex, weaving together personal interviews with Willy Falcon and his inner circle and a broader historical context that includes the rise and fall of Miami as the epicenter of the cocaine trade. Yet, despite the intricate details, the book remains highly readable, pulling you into a world where glamour and grit coexist uncomfortably. English does an excellent job of humanizing the people involved, showing their motivations, flaws, and the inevitable consequences of their choices.

No one emerges from this story unscathed, which makes it so compelling. It’s a reminder that the glitz and glamour of the drug trade were fleeting, leaving behind a legacy of addiction, broken lives, and a country still grappling with the consequences.

The Last Kilo is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, the history of the cocaine trade, or the darker side of the American Dream. T. J. English masterfully captures the rise and fall of Willy Falcon and Los Muchachos, offering a gripping, insightful look at a chapter of American history that resonates today. If you’ve ever been captivated by the world of Scarface, this book will show you the real story behind the legend.

A thrilling, engaging and multi-decade journey through the lives of the “Cocaine Cowboys” and their expansive operation. The book was very detailed and kept me interested without being overwhelmed by too many characters. The author had a nice pacing though I felt the late 90’s part did seem to drag a bit near the end.

From true-crime legend T. J. English, the epic, behind-the-scenes saga of “Los Muchachos,” one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in American history—a story of glitz, glamour, and organized crime set against 1980’s Miami.

Despite what Scarface might lead one to believe, violence was not the dominant characteristic of the cocaine business. It was corruption: the dirty cops, agents, lawyers, judges, and politicians who made the drug world go round. And no one managed that carousel of dangerous players better than Willy Falcon.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

T. J. English, a master of true crime storytelling, delivers a riveting account of the cocaine-fueled underworld of 1980s Miami in “The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America.” This book plunges readers into the glitzy yet perilous world of Los Muchachos, one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in history.

At the heart of this saga is Willy Falcon, a Cuban exile who rose from humble beginnings to become a kingpin in the drug trade. English meticulously chronicles Falcon’s journey, from his early days in the anti-Castro movement to his reign over a multi-billion-dollar cocaine empire.

English’s writing is both gripping and insightful, providing a detailed look at the mechanics of the drug trade and the socio-political landscape that allowed it to flourish.

The book excels in its vivid depiction of the characters and their environment. English brings to life the vibrant, chaotic streets of Miami, the opulent lifestyles of the drug lords, and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement.

One of the standout aspects of “The Last Kilo” is its exploration of the broader impact of the cocaine trade. English delves into how the influx of drugs and money transformed Miami, influencing everything from politics to popular culture.

For audiobook enthusiasts, the narration of “The Last Kilo” enhances the experience, with the narrator’s delivery capturing the intensity and drama of the story. The audiobook format brings an additional dimension to English’s already compelling prose.

“The Last Kilo” is a masterfully crafted true crime narrative that offers a deep dive into one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in American history. T. J. English’s meticulous research and storytelling prowess make this book a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone interested in the dark underbelly of the American Dream.

Many thanks to William Morrow Publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of prolific writer T.J. English’s new book The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire that Seduced America. There are several books by English that are on my to be read shelf, so I feel grateful that I was able to read this new book. Furthermore, I had some familiarity with Willy Falcon’s story from the Netflix documentary Cocaine Cowboys. However, as English lets readers know in the beginning of the book, he wrote this book with Willy Falcon’s collaboration and did not rely on the testimony of people who collaborated with the government as witnesses, in the ways that the Netflix documentary was created. This provides a unique perspective that may have some bias in the details. Nevertheless, English’s writing, detailed research, and ability to capture the scene of late 70s and 1980s Miami, specifically the Little Havana area, helps to add to the intrigue and action of Willy Falcon’s story (as well as his partner Sal Magluta and the other members of their gang, Los Muchachos). Just like other true crime and non-fiction books, English helps to contextualize the history and social scene of cocaine use in America in the 70s and 80s. He provides a quick history, and then pivots to explore how many Cubans ended up in Miami in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I actually didn’t know about the Mariel Boatlift, a time when Cuba and America entered into an agreement to allow refugees to flee Cuba. As English explains, Castro was playing a game with the US, and released inmates and other criminals from Cuba’s prisons, sending them to the US. I wondered if this is possibly the source of some current anxieties over refugees from other Latin American countries. Although Willy and Sal arrived much earlier, their experiences fleeing Castro’s Cuba helps to shed light on the kinds of threats and violence they experienced as young children with their families. Furthermore, it makes their story of American success, using the front of several businesses to become possibly the largest cocaine smugglers in the US, more incredible. I was also amazed to learn that Los Muchachos got their start smuggling cocaine as part of the anti-Castro groups that emerged after the Bay of Pigs failures in the 1960s. That is, it sounded like Willy and Sal took on an existing role of drugs for weapons that predated the Iran-Contra affairs by at least a decade, and may have been going on for some time. In fact, I found Willy and Sal’s story of success incredible considering that neither of them graduated high school, yet they became successful business men and popular within their communities. I think their story also kind of sheds light on how some minority groups and immigrants don’t have the same kinds of advantages and opportunities that other citizens might have. Most don’t turn to illegal activities, but Willy and Sal saw this as their main opportunity to make money and continue to fight to liberate Cuba from communism. Their efforts and experiences raise some important questions about the nature of battling communism. While I don’t agree that bringing drugs into America and feeding addicts is the right way to battle dictatorships and ideologies we disagree with, I can see how their decisions to deal drugs were largely motivated by their patriotism and efforts to return Cuba to its pre-revolution days. English is persistent in showing readers that Willy and Sal regularly donated money to the cause whenever they were asked. I was actually surprised that they could still find the funds to support the liberation efforts even when they were being detained and had limited access to their funds. I also loved reading about some of the other traffickers that have shown up in other Netflix series, especially the Narcos series. I didn’t realize that Willy and Sal were that close with Escobar and some of the Sinaloa Cartel. It seemed kind of incredible to see how Los Muchachos had to navigate the relationships between different distributors of cocaine in Columbia, working with different cartels and trying to import the goods to America. It also showed how ingenious they were in subverting the DEA’s means of halting smuggling.
The Last Kilo is an exciting and fun read. Although the days of crime were action filled and entertaining, the last sections when Los Muchachos begins to fall apart was also compelling to read. English shifts from a crime story to more of a legal tale, exploring the various indictments against Willy, Sal, and many of their compatriots in Los Muchachos. It was amazing to read about the long stint that Willy and Sal spent in prison despite not being convicted of a crime. Furthermore, it was incredible to see the ways they were able to maneuver around the charges, and eventually find a plea deal to reduce their time in prison. Although English had access to Willy’s accounts, I felt like sometimes this book may have overlooked some of the crimes or the cost of addiction. Other books focusing on drug crimes often give the perspective of the victims of drugs—especially the addicts, and there’s not much about the cost of addiction in 80s. One of the pilots that Willy and Sal worked with did become addicted to a early form of crack, and Willy learns about the cost of crack, but he also seems somewhat indifferent to it, like his smuggling was not really resulting in all of the crack addiction, crime, and punishment that was a result of the failed war on drugs. If anything, Willy seems kind of oblivious to his role in furthering this dark period of American society that we are still dealing with. The book always seemed to go back to the idea of fighting for Cuba’s independence and using drugs as a means to subvert Castro’s Cuba, despite not really seeing where the money or weapons went.
I really enjoyed reading English’s book, and I look forward to reading some of his other true crime books. Although I haven’t read too many books about drug smuggling empires, I think that this one ranks with Mark Bowden’s Killing Pablo, one of my favorite and one of the more exciting books I’ve read. The one aspect of The Last Kilo that I felt could be better is the dialogue in the book. Some of the dialogue seemed a little stilted and didn’t quite have the sound that major drug smugglers might sound like—or maybe my ideas about their discussions may be more influenced by popular media like television shows and movies. Specifically, whenever Willy and Sal would talk to other dealers, it seemed like they were always kind of understanding. English also mentioned that they didn’t really engage in violence and often were forgiving of mistakes and issues. However, he does raise questions about the deaths of witnesses that occur while Willy and Sal are awaiting trial. English never directly implicates Willy and Sal, but it seems like they may have had a hand in some of these deaths. Regardless, this was a really fascinating story that covers a range of issues from crime and drugs, to immigration and American opportunities, as well as foreign policy and covert missions to combat communism. A really entertaining and compelling read.