ZeroZeroZero

  Zero, like the lens of the telescope through which you can observe the mirage of white gold, the best cocaine: 000.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  More than anyone else I would like to thank Federica Campana, who has followed this book since its inception, sacrificing her sleep and her free time. She has done it all with true passion. Her research and her analytical approach, her care and her competence have enabled ZeroZeroZero to grow with each new edition in every country in which it has been published. I thank her for her dedication and commitment to this work, which were contagious. Collaborators like her are a precious gift; they are what every writer would hope to find in his path: an indispensable ally, a fresh pair of eyes, another heart beating on each story, two more lungs breathing among the same horrifying mechanisms that make you lose your sleep and your faith in the world. I thank her for the work she has done on the language of the book: wherever ZeroZeroZero goes, and even though many readers will read it in translation, it has lost none of its original vision, nor seen its spirit diluted.

  • • •

  I would like to thank Penguin Press for believing in this ambitious project. Thanks to Andrew Wylie for our conversations and for the stories only he knows and reveals. Thanks to Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Stefano Albertini, Roberta Garbarini-Philippe, and Annalisa Liuzzo for making me feel at home in New York when I didn’t know anything or anyone and when I needed everything, above all advice and tranquillity. Thanks to Rocco Castoro and Professor Gaetana Marrone for appreciating my work. Thanks to Vice and Shane Smith for welcoming my writing and paying heed to my projects. Thanks to Eddy Moretti for loving these stories when I told him about them.

  I thank Helena Janeczek, who gave me her advice on literary structure.

  I thank Carlo Buga, who dove headlong into this intricate mass of stories and helped me find a guiding light among hundreds of pages. Thanks to Gianluca Foglia, a fierce and determined editor.

  To the Carabinieri, the police, the Finance Guard, the ROS, the GICO, the SCO, the DIA, and the DDA of Rome, Naples, Milan, Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, and all the ones I forgot to mention here, I am extraordinarily grateful for allowing me to read, study, and sometimes experience firsthand their investigations and operations: Alga, Box, Caucedo, Crimine-Infinito, Decollo, Decollo Bis, Decollo Money, Decollo Ter, Dinero, Dionisio, Due Torri Connection, Flowers 2, Galloway-Tiburon, Golden Jail, Green Park, Igres, Magna Charta, Maleta 2006, Meta 2010, Notte bianca, Overloading, Pollicino, Pret à porter, Puma 2007, Revolution, Solare, Tamanaco, Tiro grosso, White 2007, White City.

  Thanks to the DEA, the FBI, the Guardia Civil, the Mossos d’Esquadra, Scotland Yard, the French Gendarmerie Nationale, Interpol, the Brazilian Polícia Civil, some members of the Mexican Policía Federal, some members of the Colombian Policía Nacional, some members of the Russian Policija, who have accompanied me in their investigations and operations: Cabana, Cornerstone, Dark Waters, Delfín blanco, Leyenda, Limpieza, Millennium, Omni Presence, Padrino, Pier Pressure, Processo 8000, Project Colisée, Project Coronado, Russiagate, Reckoning, Relentless, SharQC 2009, Sword, Xcellerator.

  My gratitude goes to all the magistrates I’ve studied and spoken with for all these years. There are many things I could not have discovered without them.

  Thanks to my friends Lydia Cacho, Anabel Hernández, and Diego Osorno, who have made a “Mexican” of me over the years. Thanks to Glenda Martínez, Malcolm Beith, Christophe Champin, Yoani Sánchez for their opinions and their commitment. I am grateful for Robert Friedman’s vision, Misha Glenny’s intelligence, and Ricardo Ravelo’s analytical talent. Thanks to Peppe d’Avanzo; we’d started talking about this book, but as cruel fate would have it, we will never be able to do so again.

  Many thanks to the New York police agent AdN. He knows why.

  Thanks to Mark Bray, Valeria Castelli, and the Occupy Wall Street guys, who taught me so much.

  Thanks to Kim Ziegler and Rachel Love for their guidance with my English.

  Thanks to Bono Vox for listening to these stories when I was still wound up in them and for his lifelong open invitation to U2 concerts.

  I thank Salman Rushdie, who taught me how to be free even when surrounded by seven armed bodyguards.

  I thank Nouriel Roubini, who endured my South American stories one endless night and with whom I talked too much about finance and crime.

  Thanks to my followers on Facebook and Twitter: thousands of people who’ve held my sense of loneliness at bay and made me feel like I was out talking to people even when I wasn’t.

  Thanks to Sasha Polakow Suransky and The New York Times, who allowed me to talk about how the drug trade affected the economic crisis when everyone else was treating it as a marginal issue.

  Thanks to David Dannon, who made me another person for six months, free and almost happy.

  I thank all the people of the Arma dei Carabinieri who manage my life.

  Thanks to Manuela De Caro, always with me, at all times and all costs.

  Thanks to my family; I can never forgive myself for the high price they are paying because of me. These lines of thanks will not suffice. This, I know.

  And I thank you, American readers, for embracing my stories in your welcoming land. Thank you because, by reading these words, you will make them dangerous. Criminal organizations do not fear writers; they fear readers.

  —Roberto Saviano

  Angelo De Gennaro, gifted teacher of Italian language and culture, advised and inspired me on nearly every page.

  Fellow translator Ann McGarrell buoyed me with her wry wisdom.

  Patricia Caprotti, Rita Fabbrizio, Paola Inzillo, Gianni Marizza, Marinetta Piva, and Leonardo Venturini fielded a vast array of questions.

  Daniel Jewiss, police officer and soldier, offered his expertise and encouragement.

  My editor, Scott Moyers, provided perspective and a sense of humor.

  My warmest thanks for their generosity, meticulousness, and patience.

  —Virginia Jewiss, translator

  INDEX

  The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.

  Acapulco summit (1989), 29–31, 34, 57–60

  acetone, 75, 113, 118

  ACP Bank, 226

  active cuts, 118

  Adams, Barton, 253

  Adelaide, Australia, 194

  Adriano restaurant, 222, 226, 236

  Aegadian Islands, 230, 234

  Afghan War, 269

  Africa, 52, 74, 180, 187, 219, 233–34, 254–55, 291, 292, 297, 309, 312–25

  Agata (sniffer dog), 345

  Agencia Federal de Investigación (AFI), Mexican, 100–101, 365

  Agua Prieta, Mexico, 40

  Aguilar Guajardo, Rafael, 44

  Águilas Negras (Black Eagles), 165

  AK-47 assault rifles, 93, 100

  alcohol, 376

  Aldana Ibarra, Miguel, 32

  Alexandra (trawler), 180

  Algeciras, Spain, 306–7

  alkaloids, 113–14

  Almeida, Juan, 280, 281–82

  Almenno San Bartolomeo, Italy, 211–12

  Almond-flavored cocaine, 118

  aluminum, 332

  Alvarado, Gonzalo de, 88

  Álvarez Vázquez, Gerardo (El Indio), 50

  Amati, Lucio, 199

  Amazon River, 295

  ammonia, 113, 118

  Amnesty International, 71, 89

  amphetamines, 39, 118

  Amsterdam, 234–36, 308, 313, 334

  Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, 313, 314

  Andean folk paintings, 327

  angel dust, 113

  Ángel Miguel (former Kaibil
soldier), 85–90, 91

  Angola, 322

  Antilles, 225, 291, 300, 312, 313–14

  Antimafia District Directorate (DDA), Italian, 168, 185–86, 198, 202, 205, 236, 237, 298, 300, 305, 335

  Anti-Mafia Investigations Directorate (DIA), Italian, 305

  Antuna García, Bladimir, 367–70

  Antwerp, 291

  Arbat International, 268, 277–78

  Areiza, Marco Aurelio, 153–54

  Arellano Félix brothers, 30

  Arigon Ltd., 268, 277–78

  Arizona, 53, 290

  arms trafficking, 222, 272, 273, 282, 283

  Army Co-op, 272

  Arzola, Martín (El 53), 67

  Arzú, Álvaro, 83

  Aspromonte, Italy, 193, 210, 215, 341

  Assange, Julian, 287

  Associated Press (AP), 46, 54

  Association of Middle Magdalena Ranchers and Farmers (ACDEGAM), 138

  Atrium Hotel, 270

  Aulla, Italy, 302

  Australia, 179, 182, 193–95

  Autodefensas Campesinas de Córdoba y Urabá (Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá), 141–42, 152

  Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia) (AUC), 152–59, 160–66, 174, 176, 184–88, 191–92

  Averin, Viktor, 268, 276–77

  Averin, Ljudmila, 276–77

  Avesani, Massimiliano (the Prince), 234, 237, 239, 240

  Ávila Beltrán, Sandra (la Reina; Queen of the Pacific), 362–66

  Avilés Pérez, Pedro, 39

  Awainatt, Mohamed Ould, 321

  Ayala, Jorge (Riverito), 362

  Ayala, Ramón, 49

  Babushka restaurant, 280

  Baldomero Medina Garza, Hugo, 59

  Balearic Isles, 299

  bananas, 309, 310, 329, 335

  Banca di credito cooperativo di Ospedaletto, 251–52

  Banca di Roma, 251–52

  Banco de los Trabajadores, 129

  Banda della Magliana, 225–26, 227

  Banev, Evelin, 298

  Bank of America, 252–53

  Bank of New York, 250–52, 271

  Barba (Beard) (drug trafficker), 230

  Barbieri, Vincenzo (U Ragioniere), 175–76, 177, 182–83, 192, 194–96, 198, 199, 200

  Barcelona, 331

  Barranquilla, Colombia, 179, 233

  Barrón Hernández, Eliseo, 369

  “bases,” 115–16, 119

  Basques, 184

  basuco coke, 112

  BBC, 284, 286

  Beirut, Lebanon, 254–55

  Belgium, 291, 333–34

  Bellavia (ship), 334

  Bellocco family, 202–3 298

  Beltrán Leyva, Alfredo (El Mochomo), 47–48

  Beltrán Leyva, Arturo (El Barbas), 42, 48–49

  Beltrán Leyva, Héctor (El H), 50

  Beltrán Leyva family, 42, 49–51

  Benex Worldwide, 250–52

  Bergamo, Italy, 219

  Berlin, Peter, 250–52

  Berlin Wall, 270, 276

  Berlusconi, Silvio, 170

  Bernal, Alejandro, 158

  Betancourt, Ingrid, 155

  Bianchi brothers, 136–37

  Birbragher, Fernando, 280

  Black and White Clubs, 268–69, 275–76, 277

  “black poison,” 38

  Blair, Tony, 132

  Blanco, Griselda (Godmother; Queen of Cocaine; Black Widow), 53, 357–62

  Blaus VII (sailboat), 297–98, 299

  Bloque Catatumbo, 152–54

  Bogotá, 128, 137, 154, 173–74, 188, 191, 230, 238

  Bolívar Moreno, Gustavo, 135

  Bologna, Italy, 196, 197, 199

  Bosnia-Herzegovina, 154

  Boss (sniffer dog), 345

  “bourgeois pushers,” 115–17, 119, 123–24, 210–11, 297

  Boyaco (drug trafficker), 189

  Braun, Michael, 63

  Bravo, Alberto, 358–59

  Brazil, 180, 202, 291, 307, 322, 332, 333, 334

  Brembate di Sopra, Italy, 213, 237

  Brežnev, Leonid, 265

  Brindisi, Italy, 226

  Brownsville, Tex., 57, 58

  Bruzzese, Joseph, 203

  Bubo Na Tchuto, José Américo, 316

  Budapest, 269–70, 271, 272, 278

  Buenrostro Quiroz, Mario, 62

  Bumbaca, Francesco, 218, 238

  Bush, George W., 156, 242

  Butterfly (cocaine addict), 121–22

  Buzos, 369

  Caacupe-mí, Paraguay, 334

  Calabria, Italy, 131, 164, 168–206, 210, 213–14, 217, 229, 233, 239, 247, 302, 330, 335, 341

  Cala Palma (ship), 327

  Calderón, Felipe, 62, 64, 65, 70, 71, 95

  Calexico, Calif., 33–34

  Cali cartel, 20–21, 33, 129, 130, 131, 132, 142, 151, 152, 170, 176, 188, 189, 223, 256, 273, 280, 295

  Camarena Salazar, Enrique (Kiki), 19–34

  Camarena, Geneva (Mika), 24, 26

  Camberos Rivera, Francisco (El Chito), 41

  Camorra, 170, 217, 231, 264, 296–97, 339, 344, 346

  campesinos (peasants), 25, 62, 130, 137, 156

  Canada, 194, 213–14, 276–77

  Canary Islands, 180

  Cancún, Mexico, 66–67, 190, 280

  Cape Verde, 321

  capitalism, 126, 128, 129–32, 241–42, 255–57, 377

  Capone, Al, 259, 286

  Carabinieri, 178, 187, 188, 191, 202, 219, 238, 298, 329, 331, 333, 335–36, 344, 346

  Caracas, Venezuela, 179, 220, 330

  Caradec’h, Jean-Michel, 350

  Caratelli, Ovidio, 346

  car bombs, 46, 128, 144, 272, 273, 368

  Cárdenas Guillén, Antonio Ezequiel (Tony Tormenta), 60–61

  Cárdenas Guillén, Homero (El Majadero), 61

  Cárdenas Guillén, Osiel (El Mata Amigos; Friend Killer), 57–61, 91–92, 93, 94, 97, 185, 296

  Caribbean islands, 74, 114, 226, 283, 291, 293, 297, 298, 335

  Caro Quintero, Miguel, 30

  Caro Quintero, Rafael, 20, 22, 23–24, 27, 31–32, 39

  Carrà, Raffaella, 239

  Carrillo Fuentes, Amado (El Señor de los Cielos; Lord of the Skies), 43, 44–46, 47, 159

  Carrillo Fuentes, Rodolfo, 43

  Carrillo Fuentes, Vicente (the Viceroy), 43, 46–47, 60

  Carrillo Fuentes family, 30, 43–47, 60

  Carrillo Leyva, Vicente, 44

  Carrizales, Juan Francisco (El 98), 61

  Casablanca, 323–24

  casas de cambio (currency exchange agencies), 243–46

  Case Celesti neighborhood, 346

  Cassa Rurale e Artigiana Bank, 226

  Castaño, Carlos, 142–43, 152, 153, 159, 160, 162–63, 189

  Castaño, Fidel, 163

  Castaño, Vicente, 163, 165

  Castaño brothers, 142–43, 152

  Castañon, Paulina, 255–57

  Castel San Pietro, Italy, 197

  Catenacci, Domenico, 222

  Cat’s Piss cocaine, 118

  Cattelan, Fabio, 298–99

  Cattelan, Lucio, 298–99

  Cayman Islands, 250, 256

  Ceiba speciosa tree, 329

  cell phones, 123, 223–24, 228–30, 234–35

  Central America, 158–59, 283, 296, 304

  Central Office for the Suppression of Illicit Drugs Trafficking, French, 315

  Cesano Boscone, Italy, 336

  Cessna aircraft, 44, 317, 322

  Chalk cocaine, 118

  Channel
Islands, 277, 278

  Chara Bank, 274

  Chechens, 261–62

  checkerboard logo, 302, 303

  Chica Med, 135

  Chinese ideograms, 303–4

  Cianfa di Cavallo drug market, 340

  Ciconte, Nicola, 179, 193–95, 254

  Ciola, Pasquale, 222, 226, 236

  Ciotti, Luigi, 204

  Ciro (sniffer dog), 345

  Citibank London, 256

  Citibank Mexico, 256

  Citibank Switzerland, 256

  Cititrust, 256

  City of London, 250, 254

  Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico, 243

  Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, 30, 43, 44, 46–47, 60, 98, 127, 341

  Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, 100

  Civil Guard, Spanish, 331

  Civitavecchia, Italy, 345

  “clean loads,” 306, 307

  Clinton, Bill, 132, 154

  Coca-Cola, 263–64, 311

  cocaine:

  addiction to, 117–22, 158

  air transport of, 190–91, 198, 202, 218, 243–45, 281–82, 290, 294, 308, 312–25, 330, 345, 346, 359

  arrests and imprisonment for, 62, 115–16, 165, 213, 216, 219–22, 226–27, 236, 237–40, 255–57

  as asset, 73–77, 185–86

  auto shipments of, 289–90, 292–93, 302

  banks used for, 222–26, 241, 247–52

  blocks of, 230–31, 301–4, 331, 334

  brain function and, 35–36, 113–14, 120

  capital for, 210–11, 220, 247–57

  capsules of, 313–25

  cartels for, 30–33, 38, 75–77, 125–27, 273, 294, 302; see also specific cartels

  coded transactions in, 218, 228–29, 234–35

  crack, 113, 120

  cut or stepped, 118–19, 182, 230–31

  dealers for, 112–24

  distribution of, 22, 30–33, 58, 115–16, 119, 120

  economic influence of, 119, 126, 128, 129–32, 142–43, 210–40, 247–49

  effects and usage of, 1–4, 13, 35–36, 46, 112–24, 158

  entrepreneurship in, 210–40

  European market for, 180, 186, 209, 218, 231, 254, 290, 291, 292, 298, 302, 306–8, 314–25

  freebase, 113, 120

  front operations for, 129–30, 236–37, 251–53, 276–78

  grades of, 112–14, 117–18, 207–9, 235, 378

  health effects of, 119–22

  heroin and, 213, 215–16, 221

  international markets for, 210–40

  legalization of, 376–77