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Dirty Gold: The Rise and Fall of an International Smuggling Ring
The explosive story of the illegal gold trade from South America, and the three Miami businessmen who got rich on it.
In March of 2017, a team of FBI agents arrested Juan Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, or as they called themselves, "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.
Their arrests and subsequent prosecution laid bare more than a corrupt finance firm, though. Instead, Dirty Gold lifts the veil on an illegal international business that is five times as lucrative as trafficking cocaine, and arguably more dangerous.
As the award-winning team of Miami Herald reporters show, illegal gold mines have become a haven for Latin American drug money. The gold is then sold to metals traders, and ultimately to Americans who want it in their jewelry, smartphones, and investment portfolios. By following the trail of these three traders, Dirty Gold leads us into a criminal underworld that has never before been in full view.
In March of 2017, a team of FBI agents arrested Juan Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, or as they called themselves, "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.
Their arrests and subsequent prosecution laid bare more than a corrupt finance firm, though. Instead, Dirty Gold lifts the veil on an illegal international business that is five times as lucrative as trafficking cocaine, and arguably more dangerous.
As the award-winning team of Miami Herald reporters show, illegal gold mines have become a haven for Latin American drug money. The gold is then sold to metals traders, and ultimately to Americans who want it in their jewelry, smartphones, and investment portfolios. By following the trail of these three traders, Dirty Gold leads us into a criminal underworld that has never before been in full view.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 15, 2021
Dirty Gold explores illegal (wildcat) mining (mainly) in Peru, and the dubious ways gold brokers - such as those detailed in this book - manage to sell or obtain that gold to be recycled and sold to other entities or made into consumer goods.
I'll say this right off the bat: writers of narrative nonfiction could use this as a textbook. It is intelligently laid out, the cast of characters not only denoted before the book begins, but named and described in the text in a way that does not require constant flipping to the beginning to see who is who, the history of illegal mining given (but not in an overwhelming way) along with the sociological, economic, corruption, and political ties to it, and how the various schemes worked to get the gold out of South America. It's masterful.
At its base, this book is about three men in Miami - Juan Pablo Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, dubbed the three amigos - working on behalf of a larger company, manage to bring an astonishing $3.6 billion worth of mainly Peruvian gold to their company. In doing so, both they, and their primary local buyer in Peru, go to a great number of steps to obscure the actual origin of the gold. Those steps include the creation of fake/shell companies, smuggling Peruvian gold to other countries in order to export it to the US, and failed or too-loose vetting of the supposed exporting companies in Peru that declared the gold obtained in a legal manner.
If you're interested in anything related to gold, money laundering, smuggling, political and law enforcement corruption, sociological, ecological, and health impacts of illegal mining, and the utter chasm between those riding high on the backs of those in abject poverty, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Absolutely a five out of five star read. I'd also recommend "A Most Wicked Conspiracy", about the Alaskan gold rush, another five star read.
Thanks to Public Affairs and NetGalley for the review copy.
I'll say this right off the bat: writers of narrative nonfiction could use this as a textbook. It is intelligently laid out, the cast of characters not only denoted before the book begins, but named and described in the text in a way that does not require constant flipping to the beginning to see who is who, the history of illegal mining given (but not in an overwhelming way) along with the sociological, economic, corruption, and political ties to it, and how the various schemes worked to get the gold out of South America. It's masterful.
At its base, this book is about three men in Miami - Juan Pablo Granda, Samer Barrage, and Renato Rodriguez, dubbed the three amigos - working on behalf of a larger company, manage to bring an astonishing $3.6 billion worth of mainly Peruvian gold to their company. In doing so, both they, and their primary local buyer in Peru, go to a great number of steps to obscure the actual origin of the gold. Those steps include the creation of fake/shell companies, smuggling Peruvian gold to other countries in order to export it to the US, and failed or too-loose vetting of the supposed exporting companies in Peru that declared the gold obtained in a legal manner.
If you're interested in anything related to gold, money laundering, smuggling, political and law enforcement corruption, sociological, ecological, and health impacts of illegal mining, and the utter chasm between those riding high on the backs of those in abject poverty, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Absolutely a five out of five star read. I'd also recommend "A Most Wicked Conspiracy", about the Alaskan gold rush, another five star read.
Thanks to Public Affairs and NetGalley for the review copy.
January 29, 2022
The story seems complicated at times but it is really straightforward. Gold is being mined illegally in Peru, sold to brokers hired by an American firm, and exported to Miami. So what is at stake? The illegal miners are not licensed. They tend to be drug traffickers and other criminal enterprises. The process of small scale mining is devastating the environment, creating thousands of desolate areas shorn of trees, poisoned with mercury. And finally small scale, illegal operations inflict human rights abuse on workers, including children.
These facts, however, are not the focus of the story. Three brokers are exporting gold to Miami, knowing full well that their product is tainted. Eventually a huge investigation uncovers the details, nabs a few suspects and a some corporations cease operations. It's not a happy ending. Destruction of the rain forest cannot be reversed and the illegal trade continues despite the authors' optimism that it can be curtailed. Did I mention that huge profits are involved ?
These facts, however, are not the focus of the story. Three brokers are exporting gold to Miami, knowing full well that their product is tainted. Eventually a huge investigation uncovers the details, nabs a few suspects and a some corporations cease operations. It's not a happy ending. Destruction of the rain forest cannot be reversed and the illegal trade continues despite the authors' optimism that it can be curtailed. Did I mention that huge profits are involved ?
February 6, 2022
Definitely a remarkable work of journalism covering a very complex topic. This is an issue I knew nothing about but I found this book at my library and it seemed interesting. I appreciate the way the authors discussed the complex issues around illegal gold mining by focusing in on this one specific issue. I would recommend this book for people interested in this topic or environmental issues in general.
April 6, 2021
After watching an episode on netflix about the dirty gold trade I wanted to explore more. We hear alot and read alot about the drug, gun and unfortunately human trafficking side of things but rarely do we hear about the illegal gold trade. This covers a story mainly set about in South America involving an american trio who work for a big corporation. Dealings with people in south America who are quite dodgy but still push through to make a dollar but its consequences are vast. Would make a great film
October 5, 2021
Peru is the 6th top producer of gold in the world and most of it comes from what is called 'artisanal' mines. Truthfully, in many cases, they are basically outlaw or illegal mines especially in Madre de Dios and La Pampa due to the placer deposits - gold bits mixed with soil, clay and gravel. To bring the gold to the surface, it involves environmentally destructive actions from water cannons breaking up the ground to an annual 40-180 tons of discarded mercury used to bind gold into an amalgam lump that can be sold. Mercury that is toxic on the ground and up the food chain all the way to humans.
Peru's illicit gold is worth ~ $15 billion a year yielding profits of about $600 million. In turn, the profits from the cocaine trade "only" yields about $115 million due to the foreign syndicates and middlemen. And Columbia's illicit gold mining generates about $2.4 billion/year which is 3 times!! the amount of money in cocaine trafficking. Criminal activities and illegal gold mining easily go hand-in-hand.
The authors - there are 4 of them - set about giving the history of the 'three amigos' of NTR Metals of Miami who - through contacts in the gold-buying and selling industry of Peru and other nations of South America - managed to 'trade' (buy) tons of illegally mined gold and import it into the United States. This reads like an action thriller as the traders from America make connections with various sellers in Peru, Columbia, Bolivia and Chile in order to keep making their massive sales - which yields massive commissions - as well as the background of the locals that create and discard straw companies that sell tons of gold for a few months and then disappear.
When the Peruvian government tightened its customs procedures in an attempt to keep gold from questionable locations and legality from being exported, all moved their operations into smuggling gold into the nearby nations and exporting it from there. Still Peruvian gold. Still mined under brutal conditions. Using and creating more temporary and transitional companies to supply documentation. Some of their rather ingenious ways smugglers were getting the ingots across national boundaries was not surprising but certainly enlightening.
But it all collapses in 2017 when the US government finally makes their move and in turn, forces the Peruvian government to do the same. Just about everybody goes to jail for different amounts of time.
There are two items that prevent me from giving this intriguing book that fifth star - first, there are four writers and they tend to repeat certain information that was already revealed in a previous chapter. The editors could certainly have done a better job of consolidating the - basically - four stories into a more cohesive whole.
And then there is number two - a really glaring error that just messed with my appreciation of the book as well as the editors that reviewed it before publishing. Chapter 48, near the beginning, had DEA agent Schoonmaker's retirement date being listed as February 30, 2017. Seriously!? Last time February had a 30th was in Sweden in 1712 (yes, I looked it up). Afterwards, I mentally questioned every 'fact' because I don't know if the editor missed any other mistakes.
Overall, an intriguing story that should open people's eyes to the reality that it isn't just gemstones that are placed into the economic stream requiring certification of being a non-conflict resource. So buyers should not only be concerned where that diamond came from but the gold that forms the setting as well.
2021-204
Peru's illicit gold is worth ~ $15 billion a year yielding profits of about $600 million. In turn, the profits from the cocaine trade "only" yields about $115 million due to the foreign syndicates and middlemen. And Columbia's illicit gold mining generates about $2.4 billion/year which is 3 times!! the amount of money in cocaine trafficking. Criminal activities and illegal gold mining easily go hand-in-hand.
The authors - there are 4 of them - set about giving the history of the 'three amigos' of NTR Metals of Miami who - through contacts in the gold-buying and selling industry of Peru and other nations of South America - managed to 'trade' (buy) tons of illegally mined gold and import it into the United States. This reads like an action thriller as the traders from America make connections with various sellers in Peru, Columbia, Bolivia and Chile in order to keep making their massive sales - which yields massive commissions - as well as the background of the locals that create and discard straw companies that sell tons of gold for a few months and then disappear.
When the Peruvian government tightened its customs procedures in an attempt to keep gold from questionable locations and legality from being exported, all moved their operations into smuggling gold into the nearby nations and exporting it from there. Still Peruvian gold. Still mined under brutal conditions. Using and creating more temporary and transitional companies to supply documentation. Some of their rather ingenious ways smugglers were getting the ingots across national boundaries was not surprising but certainly enlightening.
But it all collapses in 2017 when the US government finally makes their move and in turn, forces the Peruvian government to do the same. Just about everybody goes to jail for different amounts of time.
There are two items that prevent me from giving this intriguing book that fifth star - first, there are four writers and they tend to repeat certain information that was already revealed in a previous chapter. The editors could certainly have done a better job of consolidating the - basically - four stories into a more cohesive whole.
And then there is number two - a really glaring error that just messed with my appreciation of the book as well as the editors that reviewed it before publishing. Chapter 48, near the beginning, had DEA agent Schoonmaker's retirement date being listed as February 30, 2017. Seriously!? Last time February had a 30th was in Sweden in 1712 (yes, I looked it up). Afterwards, I mentally questioned every 'fact' because I don't know if the editor missed any other mistakes.
Overall, an intriguing story that should open people's eyes to the reality that it isn't just gemstones that are placed into the economic stream requiring certification of being a non-conflict resource. So buyers should not only be concerned where that diamond came from but the gold that forms the setting as well.
2021-204
April 30, 2021
Probably more like a 3.5 but rounding up feels fair. This book is a truly commendable accomplishment, but writing about such a complex industry also comes with a lot of responsibility. The authors explained a very complicated and generally obfuscated supply chain in an engaging way. They also made clear how such serious crimes could be so widespread. It was a page turner for the majority of the book.
One thing that concerns me, though, is that it was a one sided look at artisanal mining (which they at one point equate with informal mining, implying artisanal miners necessarily "work outside the regulated government system") I can easily see this tainting the reputation of artisanal mining in general. Organizations holding artisanal miners to a high standard and helping them with resources to improve their practices need much more support from everyone and this is threatened if the public sees artisanal mining in a negative light. Gold has been mined for millenia and as long as there is gold in the ground, it will continue to be mined. Of course the huge problem of mercury pollution and deforestation needs to be addressed, and more support for Fairmined and Fairtrade gold (and other organizations working on this) can help do that. It's dangerous to add to a negative view of artisanal miners who depend on the trade for their livelihoods while huge foreign mining corporations are not held to account. That being said, it is also so important to understand that recycled gold is not the solution to environmental degradation many believe it to be and Dirty Gold really drives that point home!
One thing that concerns me, though, is that it was a one sided look at artisanal mining (which they at one point equate with informal mining, implying artisanal miners necessarily "work outside the regulated government system") I can easily see this tainting the reputation of artisanal mining in general. Organizations holding artisanal miners to a high standard and helping them with resources to improve their practices need much more support from everyone and this is threatened if the public sees artisanal mining in a negative light. Gold has been mined for millenia and as long as there is gold in the ground, it will continue to be mined. Of course the huge problem of mercury pollution and deforestation needs to be addressed, and more support for Fairmined and Fairtrade gold (and other organizations working on this) can help do that. It's dangerous to add to a negative view of artisanal miners who depend on the trade for their livelihoods while huge foreign mining corporations are not held to account. That being said, it is also so important to understand that recycled gold is not the solution to environmental degradation many believe it to be and Dirty Gold really drives that point home!
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.
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.
December 5, 2020
We’ve all heard of blood diamonds well now its golds turn in the spot light. I had to admit that I had no idea all this was going on. The book focus on the ‘three amigos’ as they were called who would buy illegal mined gold in South America. This is the story of their rise and downfall. But as in most cases the little guys get caught not the corporations. It also follows some of the players in South America and how it all went down.
Who know that the gold business is more lucrative then drugs but it makes sense that once gold is melted down there is no way to trace where its come from.
I had no idea about the Peruvian gold trade or how much environmental damage it had done. Just looking up pictures of the areas is jaw dropping. Not to mention the human rights issues. The impact on the miners as well as the people in the living in the area thanks to the use of mining with mercury.
The book talks about how hard it is to stop this practice. Once one area is stopped miners will go somewhere else and start over again. Not to mention selling to foreign countries.
It really gives a good overview of a topic one does not know a lot about.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
Who know that the gold business is more lucrative then drugs but it makes sense that once gold is melted down there is no way to trace where its come from.
I had no idea about the Peruvian gold trade or how much environmental damage it had done. Just looking up pictures of the areas is jaw dropping. Not to mention the human rights issues. The impact on the miners as well as the people in the living in the area thanks to the use of mining with mercury.
The book talks about how hard it is to stop this practice. Once one area is stopped miners will go somewhere else and start over again. Not to mention selling to foreign countries.
It really gives a good overview of a topic one does not know a lot about.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
September 28, 2021
We have such a demand for gold, that drug cartels are using illegal gold mines in Peru to launder billions of dollars, devastating the Amazon in the process
The authors investigate how a trio of American metal traders recognized an increasing demand for gold after the financial crisis of 2008. They built up a massive gold-buying apparatus in South America for their employer, but the majority of the gold was illegally mined.
The three Americans would eventually work with many companies in Peru, but the demand was so high that they resorted to buying from a known criminal exporter and smuggler, even bribing officials. The book describes why we are complicit in these crimes because we want gold
The book showcases the massive law enforcement response from the American, who spent years probing how gold imports were increasing even though legal mines weren’t producing. Illegal mining in South America is incredibly destructive to the environment and must be curtailed
The authors conclude with solutions that can be enacted to stop the harmful effects of gold mining. The industry should be more effectively regulated to ensure environmental compliance, better technologies need to be utilized, and consumers should demand conflict-free gold
The authors investigate how a trio of American metal traders recognized an increasing demand for gold after the financial crisis of 2008. They built up a massive gold-buying apparatus in South America for their employer, but the majority of the gold was illegally mined.
The three Americans would eventually work with many companies in Peru, but the demand was so high that they resorted to buying from a known criminal exporter and smuggler, even bribing officials. The book describes why we are complicit in these crimes because we want gold
The book showcases the massive law enforcement response from the American, who spent years probing how gold imports were increasing even though legal mines weren’t producing. Illegal mining in South America is incredibly destructive to the environment and must be curtailed
The authors conclude with solutions that can be enacted to stop the harmful effects of gold mining. The industry should be more effectively regulated to ensure environmental compliance, better technologies need to be utilized, and consumers should demand conflict-free gold
September 22, 2023
A book born out of articles written by four journalists from the Miami Herald that explores the flow of gold from Latin America to the US through Miami. In matter of fact writing the book explains how illegally mined Peruvian gold was shipped to the US and law enforcements ultimate effort to catch the perpetrators.
This book primarily focuses on the three US buyers and their efforts to make the gold “clean” for importation and, eventually, the law enforcement agencies that build the case against these two.
Little is said about the illegal Peruvian mines (other than they are bad), its exploitation of children (also bad), and the environmental destruction (still bad). The apprehension of the three Miamians is really the books focus. A newsworthy story for Miami and an interesting review of US and international law enforcement personnel efforts. These are solid aspects of the book.
But the aforementioned environmental destruction and exploitation was/is a missed opportunity to highlight greater wrongs. Three stars on the reporting but no higher due to this lost opportunity. While that would be a very different book – it is, I feel, the more important issue than convicting three importers.
This book primarily focuses on the three US buyers and their efforts to make the gold “clean” for importation and, eventually, the law enforcement agencies that build the case against these two.
Little is said about the illegal Peruvian mines (other than they are bad), its exploitation of children (also bad), and the environmental destruction (still bad). The apprehension of the three Miamians is really the books focus. A newsworthy story for Miami and an interesting review of US and international law enforcement personnel efforts. These are solid aspects of the book.
But the aforementioned environmental destruction and exploitation was/is a missed opportunity to highlight greater wrongs. Three stars on the reporting but no higher due to this lost opportunity. While that would be a very different book – it is, I feel, the more important issue than convicting three importers.
February 2, 2023
What an eye-opener. The crime here is less the smuggling and more the exploitation of an entire region. The people busted were only sentenced to less than a decade each, and a ton of effort and resources were used to hunt them down and convict them.
This book tells a the dirty tale we already know, that anything we want in this world, somewhere down the line comes at a sacrifice; in this case illegal gold mining that has devastated the environment and exploited the people around it.
The most shocking thing about this story is the very articles of jewelry we see in our local shopping malls have very likely, yet unintentionally, played a role in perpetuating the crimes against humanity and commerce discussed in this book.
Sure, the tale of greedy gold smugglers is a compelling one, but the real story is the tragedy of how difficult it is to regulate this commodity and the socioeconomic and environmental ruin associated with it. You’ll definitely think a little more about that next time he goes to Jared. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book tells a the dirty tale we already know, that anything we want in this world, somewhere down the line comes at a sacrifice; in this case illegal gold mining that has devastated the environment and exploited the people around it.
The most shocking thing about this story is the very articles of jewelry we see in our local shopping malls have very likely, yet unintentionally, played a role in perpetuating the crimes against humanity and commerce discussed in this book.
Sure, the tale of greedy gold smugglers is a compelling one, but the real story is the tragedy of how difficult it is to regulate this commodity and the socioeconomic and environmental ruin associated with it. You’ll definitely think a little more about that next time he goes to Jared. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 8, 2021
Do you remember back in the 1980's and 1990's when you begin to here the stories about blood diamonds ? You know those that are mined in warzones and used to finance insurgencies and different criminal elements. This is the story as the title reveals about dirty gold being gathered by illegal mines in regions of South America with a primary focus on the country of Peru and the three individuals to bring as much gold to United States and in the end what leads to their downfall. It also talks about the environmental disaster this these people are or were creating with the methods they used to extract the gold. I found it interesting the methods that various agencies recognized that things were amiss and it is staggering the amount of gold that they were buying up. There was so much money to be made that even South American drug gangs were laundering their drug money buy gold and melted it down to pass off as mined gold. This is a fascinating read.
June 18, 2021
Jay Weaver, et. al. do a great job telling a story that otherwise seems to be untold. The illegal trade in gold and its use in money laundering is fascinating and told here very well. The story focuses on several main traders and their actions during the mid teens. What's really interesting is that none of these people seemed to think they were doing anything wrong. In fact they seemed to think what they were doing was very right. Their corrupt life styles as well as their blasé attitudes are what brought about their downfalls. The book also does a very good job at portraying the human cost of illegal gold mining.
A book well worth your time.
A book well worth your time.
February 24, 2022
Nowhere Near as Good as Blood Diamonds, But Worth a Read
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.
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.
June 20, 2021
An incredible piece of investigative journalism about a topic that I knew nothing about. The writers did a wonderful job of breaking down the intricacies of the gold smuggling operation from start to finish in a way that was easy to follow. I love this phrase, "a veritable turducken of smuggling." This book devoted a good proportion of pages to the illegal activities and then the investigative process of figuring out how to prosecute the responsible parties. If you're a fan of true crime, this is a different spin on the genre.
August 20, 2021
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author, publisher, and goodreads.
I really enjoyed this book. I had no knowledge of illegal gold smuggling before. The book was easy to understand and I enjoyed seeing how people got caught and faced consequences.
Left off one star because I wish the author would have talked more about the mercury poisoning, damage to the rainforest, and other repercussions of the gold mining. I also had trouble following the cast of characters, but the author did include a list in the beginning for reference, which was helpful.
I really enjoyed this book. I had no knowledge of illegal gold smuggling before. The book was easy to understand and I enjoyed seeing how people got caught and faced consequences.
Left off one star because I wish the author would have talked more about the mercury poisoning, damage to the rainforest, and other repercussions of the gold mining. I also had trouble following the cast of characters, but the author did include a list in the beginning for reference, which was helpful.
July 21, 2021
A well written and informative book about the illegal gold dealing between South America and the U.S.
A negative aspect in the writing of this book is the frequent repetition of various story lines and facts. Written by four authors and from their newspaper articles that problem would seem to be inevitable.
Best read in a timely manner, without stopping and starting too often, to keep the myriad characters straight in one’s mind.
Overall, a good book.
A negative aspect in the writing of this book is the frequent repetition of various story lines and facts. Written by four authors and from their newspaper articles that problem would seem to be inevitable.
Best read in a timely manner, without stopping and starting too often, to keep the myriad characters straight in one’s mind.
Overall, a good book.
December 20, 2021
I was only vaguely aware of the illegal gold trade, I had visited a park near Puerto Maldonado, Peru in 2014 and caught some glimpses of devastated ecologies on the plane ride, which our hosts didn’t want to discuss. This book felt well researched and even handed. I just wish my edition didn’t have so many typographical errors, it took away from the reading experience and gave the impression of sloppiness.
November 30, 2020
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.
February 21, 2022
Interesting to read about how gold was illegally mined and the different ways the players would bring the gold into the US. As with most of these industries (diamonds), a lot of people made a lot of money but only a few were held responsible. The author does their best to tell the stories of multiple players but it gets confusing at times and jumps around a bit.
March 29, 2024
A non fiction which is as great a read It is as exciting as the fiction of Jason Bourne.Its dealing with the bad guys but as is often the case that truth can be more exciting than fiction
Having visited Perú in 2019 I was totally unaware of the artisenal mining of gold and the dangers to the people mining it and the destruction of the natural habitay
Having visited Perú in 2019 I was totally unaware of the artisenal mining of gold and the dangers to the people mining it and the destruction of the natural habitay
May 31, 2021
A fascinating expose of the legendary commodity, and the modern-day Pizzarros that will stop at nothing to acquire it. The human and environmental costs of the illegal gold trade are continuously mounting.
November 10, 2021
I'd actually give this 3.5 stars. It is very interesting and informative. It reads like a novel, but is all too real. There are just a lot of characters to keep straight, so you can't put it down for too long or you'll be lost!
February 8, 2022
Best account I’ve ever read on illegal mining and international gold smuggling operations. Breaks down complex legal and international trade topics in a way that is easy for a lay person to understand. Reads like a thriller!
February 26, 2022
This book should really be a 4 1/2. It has a lot of characters and that can get confusing but it is a good story. It makes you think about the where gold comes from and the real impact it has on people and the earth.
Want to read
October 21, 2020I've ordered this book and am looking forward to reading more about "the three amigos." Will update review asap after reading!
April 17, 2021
Such a fascinating read. And written well enough to not get boring.
April 21, 2021
This was a lot of information about a subject I wasn't aware of. I learned a lot and it's good that the bad guys were caught and punished.
May 18, 2021
Fascinating!
June 13, 2021
Gold is more valuable than cocaine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews