The Infiltrator: My Secret Life Inside the Dirty Banks Behind Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel

By Robert Mazur

Book Overview

The electrifying true story of Robert Mazur's life as an undercover agent who infiltrated one of the world's largest drug cartels by posing as a high-level money launderer -- the inspiration for the major motion picture The Infiltrator.

Robert Mazur spent years undercover infiltrating the Medell n Cartel's criminal hierarchy. The dirty bankers and businessmen he befriended -- some of whom still shape power across the globe -- knew him as Bob Musella, a wealthy, mob-connected big shot living the good life. Together they partied in $1,000-per-night hotel suites, drank bottles of the world's finest champagne, drove Rolls-Royce convertibles, and flew in private jets. But under Mazur's Armani suits and in his Renwick briefcase, recorders whirred silently, capturing the damning evidence of their crimes.

The Infiltrator is the story of how Mazur helped bring down the unscrupulous bankers who manipulated complex international finance systems to serve drug lords, corrupt politicians, tax cheats, and terrorists. It is a shocking chronicle of the rise and fall of one of the biggest and most intricate money-laundering operation of all time-an enterprise that cleaned and moved hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Filled with dangerous lies, near misses, and harrowing escapes, The Infiltrator is as bracing and explosive as the greatest fiction thrillers -- only it's all true.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316077526
• ISBN13: 9780316077521
• Release Date: June 2016
• Publisher: Back Bay Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Diary of An American Hero

With minimal support from supervisors, Bob Mazur accomplished more in his two years of undercover work than most other agents do in a career with the Government. He put his life and the safety of his family in jeopardy and wrote an expose like no one has ever been able to write. He provided the reader with details, which are hard to believe, yet true. He explains in part, why our Government will not win the "war on Drugs". He explains why certain Government officials made it difficult for him to accomplish an even more successful undercover operation. Anyone who has any interest in the "dope trade" that has impragnated our country should read Bob's book. Bob takes the reader through the step by step process of laundering money. The reader can't help but be totally amazed at the corruption of some banking officials, the shear volumn of cocaine that enterers the United States and the totality of the network upon which the drug trade is is built. He explains the subculture and the lifestyle of criminals involved in the distribution process, which will "blow the mind" of most readers. Finally, he makes us, former law enforcement folks proud, that he was able to share his story and write about the bad guys. One heck of a book, is my concluding statement!

Just an awesome read but skip Preface as is give too much away

As an avid reader I come across many memoirs and this was one that was well above average. Very tense and interesting. One warning is to skip the Preface as it is basically a summary of the entire book and could take away some of the suspense.

Unbridled bravery

Mr. Mazur tells an amazing story of his very brave infiltration of the Medellin Cartel. He tells his story in a very readable way. I could hardly put down this book. He tells not only of the challenges of infiltration but also an eye opening look at the challenges he faced working within his own govt. agency. These ongoing challenges could have defeated his infiltration (his life?) at any time. My deepest respect to Mr. Mazur and to those like him who are brave enough to face these challenges and go after those who are too willing to do us harm.

I was impressed and amazed!

I took the book on my two week vacation hoping that I would get a chance to read it between other activities. When I started to read it, I found that I could not put it down! I began looking for places to read where I would not be disturbed. I am still on vacation, but I finished the book in record time -- now I am looking for another book. I was impressed by the dedication to duty by the team in the face of real and present danger. I was also impressed by the creativity of Mazur and the rest of the team. I was extremely disappointed by the lack of support provided by our government agencies, even to the extent of putting Mazur and team in danger of being killed. You will find it hard to believe that it is NOT fiction. Thank You, Robert, for sharing these experiences with me.

A Great Read

This book is a page turner that reads like a good novel, but the most incredible thing is that it is non-fiction. Robert Mazur/Musella is a true American hero. He was willing to risk his life and spend long periods away from his family to do what he thought was important. This will make a great film and it's a story that more people need to hear.