Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta were considered just another pair of “Cocaine Cowboys” in an area of rampant lawlessness. The longtime friends lived in South Florida and oversaw a narcotics enterprise that imported cocaine from Colombia and Mexico and lavished the addictive powder across parts of the East and West Coasts of the United States. The exact amount that their organization, Los Muchachos, imported has been speculated on over time, but the weight may have been as much as 7.5 tons. Falcon and Magluta’s presence on the drug scene may not have occurred were it not for the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro.

"THE LAST KILO further demonstrates T.J. English’s mastery in the subject of true crime. English animatedly relates the rise and fall of a criminal empire while not sparing the exhaustive details."

The overthrow of the Cuban government at the beginning of 1959 had long-term ramifications for the people of Cuba. The promise of the Castro government soon succumbed to worry as the actions of Castro and his minions became more repressive. The families of Falcon and Magluta no longer felt safe and fled to the friendlier confines of Miami, where a large exile community had taken up residence since Castro’s ascension. Falcon’s entry into the drug trade began after an introduction to an exile legend and CIA asset, Rafael “Chi Chi” Quintero. Initially, Falcon and a friend were aiding the movement to retake Cuba with their first cocaine deal. However, the lucrative possibilities were too good to ignore, and Falcon and his associates became distributors.

Whereas many of the actors in the drug trade were engaged in violent territorial battles, Los Muchachos usually remained removed from the bloodshed. They preferred to cut ties with troublesome associates rather than have them permanently neutralized. They played both sides in obtaining cocaine from the Medellin and Cali cartels in Colombia. Falcon, Magluta and their underlings staved off lengthy incarceration with high-priced legal representation from lawyers well-versed in drug trials.

Despite initial success in their illicit dealings, law enforcement’s scrutiny of Los Muchachos arrived early in a sting that rounded up Falcon and Magluta. Their operations were often shielded by corrupt lawmen, but most cops and prosecutors were straight shooters and desired their arrest and prosecution. The salad days of the organization were in the 1980s when a costly bust could be balanced out by the next day's successful shipment. The turbulence would arrive as former associates were detained and began cooperating. The drama wouldn’t end with a high-profile arrest but served as a mere prelude for what the trial would offer.

THE LAST KILO further demonstrates T.J. English’s mastery in the subject of true crime. English animatedly relates the rise and fall of a criminal empire while not sparing the exhaustive details. He elucidates the complex inner workings of a criminal organization through exemplary research and interviews. He doesn’t make excuses for Falcon and Magluta’s criminal exploits, but he also gives them a dose of humanity that is often removed from the mainstream media and law enforcement portrayals.

Willy Falcon is the dominant presence in this engrossing saga, the charismatic head of an operation that employed family and friends, and supplied a growing demand for a country’s destructive addiction. T.J. English has written another home run of a book in his illustrious career.