Customer Reviews

SWORDFISH: A True Story of Ambition, Savagery, and Betrayal

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"Swordfish: A True Story of Ambition, Savagery, and Betrayal" is the story of the largest drug bust to date. The book is very well-written, detailed, and very interesting. The book spans 1980 through 1987 in detail with the epilogue continuing through 1993. The book's characters are many and varied and range from individuals to governments. It is not a bang-bang shoot-em-up; however, there is violence and intrigue.

I recommend this book highly for the reader beyond gratuitous sex and violence.

December 22, 1980, Robert Darias, a man, despondent because he doesn't have enough money to buy Christmas presents for his children, shows up at the Miami DEA office and volunteers information on the Columbian drug connection. Carol Conner realizes the value and danger involved and immediately takes action to save his life and preserve his connection. This leads to a long, involved, multi-national, multi-level, dangerous, and deadly undercover investigation where the DEA and IRS set up a fake bank to launder the drug money. However, Darias becomes a political prize as the local DEA management fights for control so they can look good and get promoted. Then, he becomes a political prize as the FBI and DEA fight for control ... The fact that his life is on the line seems to be lost in the in-fighting. Meanwhile, in Colombia and Venezuela, the drug dealers fight among themselves. No one is safe. Then, enter the guerrillas ... Finally, arrests are made, trials are held, convictions are made and overturned, and life went on. The investigation snares politicians, bankers, politicians, judges, drug dealers, multinationals, and many in-between.

The main characters are Mr. Darias, the undercover volunteer; Carol Connor, Darias's controller; and Marlene Navarro, the main target; however, the cast of minor characters reads like a who's who of 80s news reports. One REALLY nice technique is that Mr. McClintock puts a cast of characters at the very front of the book which really helps if you lose track. Mr. McClintock's writing makes the cast of characters come alive. Since Darias is undercover, the essence of pressure of working undercover is captured. The inter-office politicking frustrates Carol Connor, Darias's control. Mr. McClintock brings out the psyche of Marlene Navarro, the target, one of the "world's deadliest criminals."

The detail is amazing and exciting. Mr. McClintock reveals the minor annoyances of listening to an unending wiretap and how the little nuances undermine the morale of the agents. The excellent trait of this book is that Mr. McClintock's careful management of detail doesn't drown the reader. If you want more detail, it is elsewhere in the book. However, the details make the book come alive.

There are many readily-identifiable names and organizations from the news: DEA, DOJ, IRS, Department of State, White House, Miami Bank of Miami, the Government of Venezuela, the Government of Colombia, M-19, Reagan, Bush, William French Smith, and on and on.

The book culminates in arrests and confiscations. It also results in the impeachment and conviction of Federal Judge Alcee Hastings [the 17th Fed judge impeached by the House since 1787; the 7th Fed judge convicted by the Senate since 1787].

If you want an exciting, detailed, involved, non-fiction read, I highly recommend "Operation: Swordfish."

Note: There is a rumor "Swordfish" is being made into a movie for release this summer. The press releases on the movie say that a major character in the movie is a computer hacker. There are no hackers in the book. Ignore the movie.

An outstanding book for those interested in true crime but with a desire to read beyond the glitz and flash of sex and murder so prevalent in books of this type today. Swordfish focuses on a small group of DEA agents, their desire to "make the big case" even when it involves undermining the teamwork, loyalty, and trust that is the bedrock of any law enforcement operation. It does not present the sexy side of the drug war like "Miami Vice" or "Scarface". Rather, it shows you the plodding periods of lull, interjected with the occasional momentary brilliance of the drug sale or large sum money exchange.

Swordfish is about a group of agents establishing a false bank with the help of the IRS in order to launder money for a major Colombian supplier based in Florida. It presents the political in-fighting among agents trying to maintain control of the willing Cuban volunteer out to sieze his moral high-ground in an attempt to correct his petty criminal past and strike a blow for domocracy.

Swordfish won't hook you with the quick read of easy sex, expensive toys, and large sums of money exchanging hands over hundreds of kilos of cocaine, while murderous deeds are done cheap in dark alleyways.

If you are looking for more insight into a drug enforcement case with some of the real life issues and problems then read on--with a little diligence.