The Story of The Milkman: 2. Cocaine by the Sea
Summary
This episode of *Gangster* follows Captain Jim, a sailor and smuggler who transported cocaine for Brian Wright, the "Milkman," via high-seas boat handovers. The narrative expands to Miami, where former narco Luis Navia explains how the city became a hub for the trade and how middlemen like Alex Decubas linked Colombian cartels to UK distributors. The story also details a US Customs investigation that traced a massive airdrop bust to Navia, revealing the complex network of intermediaries that allowed Wright to source bulk cocaine for his London market.
Topics discussed
Introduction and content warning
Jim's parrots and smuggling origins
Meeting Captain Jim in San Diego
Jim's early drug smuggling career
The 1996 Atlantic cocaine transfer
How drugs are transferred between boats
The failed Sea Mist rendezvous
Jim's recruitment by the Milkman's network
Miami as the cocaine trade epicenter
Luis Navier and Miami's drug money
The role of middlemen in the trade
Life and violence in 80s Miami
Moving drugs from Miami to California
Key players: Nick, Pinky, and Alex
The Los Melosos twins and Barranquilla
US Customs and multi-agency efforts
Robert Harley's law enforcement work
The 1992 Gulf of Mexico airdrop bust
Flipping the boat captain and recovering drugs
Identifying Luis Navier as the link
Luis's arrest and the value of trust
Brian Wright's UK market and wealth
Closing and preview of next episode
Promo for Fame Under Fire podcast
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