A Smuggler’s Blues: Adventures in Pot Smuggling

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history with his unique perception of the mafia. In this episode, Gary talks with Tom Jenkins, the author of “The Next Run”. Tom recounts his experiences as a significant pot smuggler in the 60s. He shares fun stories of his adventures in Mexico and beyond. He details how he got started in smuggling, the evolution of the drug trade, and his close relationships with his Mexican contacts, particularly Abelardo. Tom also discusses the challenges and risks involved in smuggling, including the use of unconventional methods like hidden compartments in cars, plane landings in the desert, and dealing with flimsy suitcases for transporting drugs. Tom reflects on the changing attitudes towards narcotics over the years, mentioning the surge in marijuana dispensaries and the shift in perception from a mysterious substance to a recreational drug. He critiques the impact of narcotics on society, pointing out the devastating consequences of addiction and the flawed approach to drug enforcement. Tom also highlights his views on rehabilitation effectiveness for addicts and his observations as a physician regarding drug use. Support the Podcast Subscribe to get new gangster stories every week. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here! Transcript [0:00] Introduction [0:00]Well, Hey, welcome all you guys out there. Glad to be back here in the studio of gang land wire. And I have a particularly interesting story. I, you know, I guys, you may, or you may not know what I get contacted by, uh, publicity companies and book companies all the time when they have a book that they think might be appropriate for the podcast. And so I got this and I always get the book and sometimes I read it. Sometimes I kind of glaze over and I’ll make notes out of it. Well, I got one. not too long ago called The Next Run. And those of you on YouTube, there it is. And I started reading it. And next thing I know, I’m like halfway through it and I haven’t put it down yet. It is a page turner. And we are lucky enough to have the author here and the man that lived this crazy, crazy life, Tom Jenkins. Welcome, Tom. [0:51]Thank you so much. Happy to be here. Well, it’s an honor to beat you, even though you were on the one side of the law and I was on the other all those years. But it’s really cool to beat you. And, you know, this whole marijuana thing,