Owen Hanson on Feds Busting Him for Trafficking 1 Ton of Coke, Facing Life in Prison

Owen Hanson recounts his dramatic fall from freedom after being caught trafficking nearly one ton of cocaine. Hanson admits his initial hesitation gave way to greed and adrenaline as he built a lucrative drug money-laundering operation spanning Australia and the U.S. His downfall began when undercover federal agents posing as money movers infiltrated his network, wooing him with seemingly legitimate business on a golf course. Hanson describes how the "too good to be true" 12.5% commission aroused little suspicion—until after a deal involving five kilos of cocaine, when he was warned he was dealing with the feds. Arrested in a dramatic swoop involving a helicopter and a staged golf outing, Hanson faced federal charges that he admits likely mean spending life in prison. Reflecting on his choices, he acknowledges the perilous mix of trust and risk that led to his capture and the crushing legal consequences awaiting him.