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Nicholas Nehamas
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Dirty Gold: The Rise and Fall of an International Smuggling Ring Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Jay Weaver (Author), Nicholas Nehamas (Author), Jim Wyss (Author),
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 131 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
See all formats and editions
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The explosive story of the illegal gold trade from South America, and the three Miami businessmen who got rich on it—until it all came crashing down.
 
In March of 2017, a team of federal agents arrested Juan Pablo Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, or as they came to be known, "the three amigos." The trio—first identified publicly by the authors of this book—had built a $3.6 billion dollar business in metals trading, mostly illegal Peruvian gold mined in the rain forest.
 
Their arrest and subsequent prosecution laid bare more than a scheme between a few corrupt traders. Dirty Gold lifts the veil on a massive and very illegal international business that is more lucrative than trafficking cocaine, and often just as dangerous.
 
As this award-winning team of current and former Miami Herald reporters shows, illegal gold mines have become a haven for Latin American drug money. The gold is sold to metals traders, and ultimately to scores of unwitting Americans in their jewelry and phones. By following the trail of these three traders, Dirty Gold leads us into a sprawling criminal underworld that has never before been in full view.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    PublicAffairs
  4. Publication date
    March 2, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6.55 x 1.5 x 9.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1541762908
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1541762909
  8. See all details
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Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

From the Publisher

Julie Brown blurb for Dirty Gold

T.J. English blurb for Dirty Gold

Toby Muse blurb for Dirty Gold

Oliver Bullough blurb for Dirty Gold

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of March 2021: Dirty Gold is a jaw-dropping true story of illegal gold mining that exposes its devastating ecological impact on developing nations in Latin America and a complex web of corruption and money laundering worth billions in the US. Gold is both recession-proof and easily melted down, leaving no trace of its lineage, and Dirty Gold offers a rare and exciting window into a criminal underworld that is the wild west of gold. —Seira Wilson, Amazon Book Review

Review

“[A] shocking true crime epic…show[s] how a criminal enterprise can thrive with a product where melting can erase all traces of origin easier than documents can be forged. This is a must-read for fans of Matthew Hart’s Diamonds and Roberto Saviano’s ZeroZeroZero.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An authoritative consideration of “dirty” gold’s grip on the environment and role in rampant geopolitical corruption.”―Kirkus Reviews

“[An] engrossing account with a cast of picaresque characters ... [that] tells the full story of how unethically mined ('artisanal') gold makes it from shanty camps like La Pampa in southern Peru — a Stygian hellhole of brothels, child labor and violence — through the global supply chain to become jewelry or part of the motherboard in your smartphone.”―The New York Times Book Review

“A fascinating deep dive into the most primal elements of human greed. Dirty Gold breaks new ground in more ways than one: as an expose on South America’s illicit gold trade, as an international cops and robbers caper, and as a rip roaring tale of avarice that reads like an upscale version of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Amazing. Do yourself a favor: get this book and read it.”―T.J. English, New York Times–bestselling author of The Corporation and Havana Nocturne

“Dirty Gold is a jaw-dropping true story of illegal gold mining that exposes its devastating ecological impact on developing nations in Latin America and a complex web of corruption and money laundering worth billions in the US. Gold is both recession-proof and easily melted down, leaving no trace of its lineage, and Dirty Gold offers a rare and exciting window into a criminal underworld that is the wild west of gold.”―Seira Wilson, Amazon Book Review

“An engaging narrative…a fascinating story peppered with colorful characters.”―Americas Quarterly

“The best account I’ve ever read on Latin America’s massive illegal gold underworld. Fascinating, fast-paced, it documents the wild west of the gold industry, filled with memorable characters. It reminds us of the terrible toll this clandestine business takes on the environment, tearing up rain forests to satisfy the world’s endless thirst for the precious metal. Dirty Gold reads like a thriller.”―Toby Muse, author of Kilo: Inside the Cocaine Cartels

“Leaping from the glitz and glamor of South Beach to the muddy jungles of South America’s most impoverished corners, Dirty Gold takes us on a fascinating, meticulously researched excursion deep into the underbelly of the global gold trade, where almost nothing appears to be on the level and everyone is out for themselves. Studded with unforgettable characters and told with the brisk tension of a thriller, the authors reveal the true, very human cost of all that glitters.”―Ken Bensinger, author of Red Card

“Criss-crossing the world from glitzy Miami to the remote jungle lands of Peru, Dirty Gold exposes the dark underbelly of the illegal precious metals business. A must-read for anyone trying to understand gold’s role as a pivotal spoke in the global money laundering wheel.”―Anita Raghavan, author of The Billionaire's Apprentice and the Fall of the Galleon Hedge Fund

“A fascinating story about one of the world’s biggest, and least talked about, illegal businesses. It reads like a thriller!”―Andres Oppenheimer, author of Saving the Americas and The Robots are Coming!

“An astonishing read -- full of corruption, greed, strong drink and stronger language -- that reveals the rotten heart of the global economy.”―Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland

“By tracking the complex web of money launderers, drug traffickers, and big money corporations who have exploited America’s demand for gold, these journalists exposed how this brutal trade is poisoning workers, polluting rainforests, and creating a human trafficking pipeline. This is investigative journalism at its finest.”―Julie K. Brown, author of Perversion of Justice

“For years, doomsday profiteers have pushed gold as a smart hedge against the coming apocalypse, but where is all that metal coming from? This deeply reported book connects Conquistadors to drug cartels to Miami real estate to the Peruvian Amazon—revealing a greed-fueled global gold trade so rotten, it makes Fred C. Dobbs look wholesome."―Rachel Slade, author of Into the Raging Sea

“An eye-opening, compulsively readable investigation…This is journalism and crime writing at its very best and most essential.”―CrimeReads

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs (March 2, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541762908
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541762909
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.32 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.55 x 1.5 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

About the author

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Nicholas Nehamas

Nicholas Nehamas

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
131 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michael A. Cipoletti
5.0 out of 5 stars Non-Fiction that reads like a novel.
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
I was excited to read Dirty Gold from the moment I learned of it's release and the book did not disappoint. A true page turner that reads like an action thriller. This book tells an incredible story from different angles; covering the crimes of gold smuggling and money laundering while explaining the environmental devastation wrought by informal mining. Wyss, Gurney, Weaver and Nehamas take us on an adventure through Peru, Chile and Miami as we follow the gold from its source to its sale. Filled with larger than life characters and the incredible lengths they go to bring gold to market the book illustrates the desperation of miners that are struggling to escape poverty and the middle men and corporations that exploit them to bring this gold to market. The book is also a call to action for consumers, who all too often forget just how much gold plays a role in our daily lives.
My one critique would be that at times I believe that editors could have done a better job of stitching the story together. (Characters that have been previously introduced are reintroduced in proceeding chapters) however this in no way diminishes the power of the book and the flow of the story. This book is a MUST READ for everyone!
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random
4.0 out of 5 stars Nowhere Near as Good as Blood Diamonds, But Worth a Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
I’m always interested in precious metals and gems. If you want to understand where illegally mined (“dirty”) gold comes from, and makes its way into the US market, you will like this. I think what it lacks is personal involvement. It would be a better book with first hand experiences told from a first-person point of view. Nonetheless as a gold “investor” I found it interesting.

The book leaves me with questions. Are gold bullion coins like the Eagle, Maple, or Krugerrand made up of the stuff? That would have made an interesting discussion.
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Christian Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Original Exploration of a Dark Corner of International Trade
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
I couldn’t put this book down. From the real, expertly characterized people and places to the connections drawn to our global systems of commerce, politics, and law enforcement I found Dirty Gold to be captivating from start to finish. The authors’ backgrounds in investigative reporting really shined through and I found myself constantly impressed by both the level of research and the construction of such a truly compelling, fast-paced narrative. I especially appreciated the ‘Solutions’ segment at the end; I’ve found many nonfiction books that are trying to explore such complex issues run into trouble when trying to be prescriptive but I found it to be a near perfect coda for a truly excellent book.
One person found this helpful
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Martin Donsky
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but where were the proof readers and copy editors
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
Page 248. "Schoonmaker was set to retire on Feb. 30, 2017"

Really, since when does February have 30 days. This is an interesting book, but the deeper I get I wonder if anybody really edited it - lots of repetition, no central theme(s). Great stories, but again....do we still have book editors? or have they all been retired?
5 people found this helpful
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Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECT CONDITION & GREAT PRICE
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
Came fast, perfect condition and great price.
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Deborah C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was a well -crafted read. Although it is non-fiction ( based on a series of investigative reporting articles done by the authors for the Miami Herald; the authors were nominated for a Pulitzer ) it reads like a fiction drama, and explains the illegal gold trade in a way that is easy for a lay person to understand. After a couple of years of a plethora of non-fiction books about politics and COVID , this book was a welcome respite. It’s a good read & highly recommended
2 people found this helpful
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Daniel J. Dundon
4.0 out of 5 stars Important issue explored
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2021
Before picking up this book I knew relatively little about "Dirty Gold" or the importation of illegally mined gold into the United States.
The reporters from the Miami Herald certainly did an exhaustive job of exploring the international smuggling ring and its impact on several South American countries.
Parts of the book are well done and parts need assistance from a good editor. For example, I was intrigued by the workings of the U.S. Attorney Office and the competition with other federal agencies. Given the animosity that existed between major players, it's amazing that anyone eventually got indicted.
The stories about the bizarre smugglers needed a good editor to bring all the information together into a understandable, coherent narrative. At times, I had the impression that I was reading newspaper stories that were never published so the reporters decided to put them into a book format.
Nevertheless, the book explores an important area that does not get the attention it deserves especially with regard to the vast environmental damage caused by independent miners in Peru and other South America countries.
The reporters offer some solutions at the end of the book but they are not promising. It is clear very little can be accomplished until consumers become more aware of "dirty gold" and demand more accountability from major corporations and their dealings with middlemen who don't care how the gold is obtained. Until that happens, the environmental damage and money laundering likely will continue unabated.
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KeyRat
1.0 out of 5 stars Superficial research riddled with inconsistencies
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
The research “compiled” here seemed elementary at best. After reading River of Gold, I’d been excited to continue exploring the often opaque world of the precious mining industry. This novel is riddled with gramatical and spelling inconsistencies that make it almost impossible to get through, even after you overlook the unstructured web of superficially researched novellas that seem to emerge from participants trying to clear their names. It almost makes you wonder if these “journalists” were commissioned by parties at fault to clear their names post-hoc. The rudimentary research seems to change from chapter to chapter and once you finish, these gaps leave you with no idea if you know more of what took place or if you’re just better versed on their alibis. Don’t waste your time.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Gold never loses its lustre...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
What happens when you try and corner the gold market? Governments, drug cartels and several groups in between become very interested...
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