Smuggler's Blues
A True Story of the Hippie Mafia
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Smuggler's Blues
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Narrated by:
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Richard Stratton
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By:
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Richard Stratton
About this listen
Goodfellas meets Savages meets Catch Me If You Can in this true tale of high-stakes smuggling from pot's outlaw years.
Richard Stratton was the unlikeliest of kingpins. A clean-cut Wellesley boy who entered outlaw culture on a trip to Mexico, he saw his search for a joint morph into a thrill-filled dope run, smuggling two kilos across the border in his car door. He became a member of the Hippie Mafia, traveling the world to keep America high, living the underground life while embracing the hippie credo, rejecting hard drugs in favor of marijuana and hashish.
With cameos by Whitey Bulger and Norman Mailer, Smuggler's Blues tells Stratton's adventure while centering on his last years as he travels from New York to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley to source and smuggle high-grade hash in the midst of civil war, from the Caribbean to the backwoods of Maine, and from the Chelsea Hotel to the Plaza as his fortunes rise and fall. All the while he is being pursued by his nemesis, a philosophical DEA agent who respects him for his good business practices.
A true-crime story that sounds like fiction, Smuggler's Blues is a psychedelic road trip through international drug smuggling, the hippie underground, and the war on weed. As Big Marijuana emerges, it brings to vivid life an important chapter in pot's cultural history.
©2016 Richard Stratton (P)2016 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Smuggler's Blues
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- EMANON
- 18-10-21
Riveting story
I really liked it, I couldn't sleep one night and started to listen to this book and it just gripped me. I just like listening to people who live life on their own terms and the perils and pitfalls, lessons and of course rewards they experience from living their own lives, and not a life borrowed from another. This is what attracted me to the book, I don't so much care for the 9-5 life myself to be fair so maybe this is one reason I was drawn to this mans story. It also fascinates me as a psychology graduate what is behind such extremes of human behaviour and such high levels of risk taking. What drives people like this? I think the author does a good job of revealing this inner 'angst' so to speak, to shed light on what drove him forwards each day. The story was more than enough to amuse and entertain me for 8 hours anyhow! Great listening. Bravo sir! Bravo!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- alexander hill
- 12-12-22
Great story, Great writing. Great narration. loved it.
Great story, Great writing. Great narration. loved it.
why must i type another 15 words?
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-05-22
A good read
The book starts off well, then feels a bit rushed and empty towards the end. Still a good story and worth a listen.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nick Ford
- 20-11-21
A great story, well told
Awesome insight into another time. Many thanks Richard - I hope you have found peace
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr P D Airey
- 14-05-24
What a story!
Loved the story.
Lebanon?! Crazy to think all this was is and has been going on.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-03-25
Brilliant book by excellent author. I loved listening to Richard Straton
Wow! The author shared his journey as a smuggler of marijuanas. Living on the edge. Driven by this lifestyle. it has given me a wonderful insight into the experience, thoughts, feelings, reflections and ethics of his life when smuggling. Richard sacrificed much because of his compulsion to continue and carry on and on, even though he had the money and enough of the herb. By writing this superb book he has given so much of himself to the people of this world. He writes well and it reads well. A delightful read. He has honoured humanity and his creator by sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with him. thank you!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Marcus Goat
- 29-12-21
Black Hash
Excellent tale of days passed
When hippies sold drugs and not gangsters
Truly enjoyable folklore
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- michael fahy
- 18-08-22
Great old romp !
really enjoyed his tales of decadence and deborchery!
assume this is sequel in the slammer !
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- GC
- 31-10-23
Captivating
The Authors narration style and delivery makes this ‘Outlaw’ story all the more intriguing. An open and frank exposure of one mans obsession with the excitement, danger and financial reward in obtaining and supplying drugs internationally. A worthy listen. Richard Strattons Ted Talk post his ‘adventure’ compliments this book perfectly. Certainly one of the most entertaining books that I have listened to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Peach Pitba
- 19-10-23
Loved it! What an attitude with integrity
Love this guys integrity and belief in his morals. Great story well written and performed.
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1 person found this helpful