The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 7 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 12-16-2024


About this item

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.

A Cuban exile whose family escaped Fidel Castro’s Cuba when he was eleven years old, Falcon, as a teenager, became active in the anti-Castro movement. He began smuggling cocaine into the U.S. as a way to raise money to buy arms for the Contras in Central America. This counter-revolutionary activity led directly to Willy’s genesis as a narco. He and his partners built an extraordinary international organization from the ground up. Los Muchachos, the syndicate founded by Falcon, thrived as a major cocaine distribution network in the U.S. from the late 1970’s into the early 1990’s. At their height, Los Muchachos made more than a hundred million dollars a year. At the same time, Willy, his brother Tavy Falcon, and partner Sal Magluta became famous as championship powerboat racers.

Cocaine, used by everyone from A-list celebrities to lawyers and people in law enforcement, came to define an era, and for a time, Willy Falcon and those like him—major suppliers, of whom there were only a few—became stars in their own right. They were the deliverers of good times, at least until the downside of persistent cocaine use became apparent: delusions of grandeur, psychological addiction, financial ruin. Thus, the War on Drugs was born, and federal authorities came after Falcon and his crew with a vengeance. Willy found himself on the run, his marriage and family life in shambles, the halcyon days of boat races and lavish trips to Vegas and parties at the Mutiny night club seemingly a distant memory.

T. J. English has been 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 drug trafficking. A classic of true-crime writing from a master of the genre, The Last Kilo traces the rise and fall of a true cocaine empire—and the lives left in its wake.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

CaliGirl
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read - puts the Netflix series to shame - far more info in the book
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
I just purchased this today and am already heavily immersed in this. I think that the author's ability to gain Mr. Falcon's respect and therefore have him open up - makes this story so fascinating. I appreciate Mr. Falcon sharing his story. I am an immigrant from Scandinavia - the world that these folks lived in is foreign to me - I have never even taken drugs - but I experienced the 1980s and all the fun it had to offer. Purchase this - you will find every page interesting!
Robert J. Ruttenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars sensational
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
I’ve read all his books and all were great, but this is his best. Great detail and exceptionally informative. WOW
Knocko
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will leave you feeling higher than a Denver Junkie
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
There’s nothing quite like reading a book that makes you want to devour it in a day or two, but then your discipline kicks in and instead of plowing thru it like a fat kid on a pizza, you instead savour it over time like a 12 course meal.

This here book by TJ English was just released in time for Christmas and stocking stuffers.

If there’s such a thing as a True Crime Crown Prince, TJ is the bearer of such. The man simply does not swing and miss. Every book is a unique treasure and a must read.

His latest salvo focuses in on the early 70’s and 80’s cocaine scene vis-à-vis a milieu of Cuban playboy refugees who were originally on a mission to overthrow Castro and retake their country, but got sidetracked by the money, glory and artificial adrenaline.

You’ll be shocked and amazed to see how they got manipulated by the shadow US Government and were able to then manipulate and corrupt the Government themselves.

What a wild ride!

Thank you TJ for the journey and the treasure.
Customer image
Knocko
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will leave you feeling higher than a Denver Junkie
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
There’s nothing quite like reading a book that makes you want to devour it in a day or two, but then your discipline kicks in and instead of plowing thru it like a fat kid on a pizza, you instead savour it over time like a 12 course meal.

This here book by TJ English was just released in time for Christmas and stocking stuffers.

If there’s such a thing as a True Crime Crown Prince, TJ is the bearer of such. The man simply does not swing and miss. Every book is a unique treasure and a must read.

His latest salvo focuses in on the early 70’s and 80’s cocaine scene vis-à-vis a milieu of Cuban playboy refugees who were originally on a mission to overthrow Castro and retake their country, but got sidetracked by the money, glory and artificial adrenaline.

You’ll be shocked and amazed to see how they got manipulated by the shadow US Government and were able to then manipulate and corrupt the Government themselves.

What a wild ride!

Thank you TJ for the journey and the treasure.
Images in this review
Customer image
Cactus Wren
5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from T. J.!
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
This is a work of non-fiction that reads like a novel, while being carefully researched. The revelations of the close historical links between the cocaine industry in America in the 1980s, anti-Castro immigrants (whose original intent was to finance the Contras in Central America), and government corruption/enablement were elucidating and interesting. Drug kingpin Willy Falcon’s life provides the framework for this exposition, which includes the business intricacies of running a drug empire, as well as his lavish lifestyle from coast-to-coast. While the War on Drugs finally caught up with him, Falcon reaped hundreds of millions while his tenure lasted. A worthy read.

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