The Infiltrator

My Secret Life Inside the Dirty Banks Behind Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel

By: Robert Mazur

Narrated by: Robert Mazur

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Federal Agent Robert Mazur spent five years undercover as a money launderer to the international underworld, gaining access to the zenith of a criminal hierarchy safeguarded by a circle of dirty bankers and businessmen who quietly shape power across the globe. These men and women control multibillion-dollar drug-trafficking empires, running their organizations like public companies. Accountants, attorneys, and financial advisors, their roots run deep in their communities, and they are laundering billions of dollars a year, manipulating complex international finance systems to serve drug lords, corrupt politicians, tax cheats, and terrorists.

In 1987 Mazur began infiltrating BCCI, the bankers behind the Medellín cartel. He meticulously gathered evidence for years until, during a fake wedding, federal agents arrested over 40 high-ranking criminals, who were all found guilty and sent to prison. Never before told, this is the incredible true story of how he did it.

©2015 Robert Mazur (P)2015 Random House Audio

Very blow-by-blow. Great guy, great storyteller

I had just finished a book centered on the notorious BCCI bank, and this one fits well with that story. This Mazur is a smart guy, always thinking on his feet, and we get tons of details large and small here, as he walks us right into the luxury suites and office scenes of money laundering in that era, connecting of course to the Colombian cartels. Not only did Mazur have to keep up an Oscar-worthy act in real time as an undercover Customs agent posing as a mafia guy, but back in the law enforcement bureaucracy lurked all kinds of people pushing their own agendas that could get him killed out on the streets. So, after a hard day of cruising around in Porches and Rolls to parties and shopping trips with mobsters, he and his team would have to battle the back-office stuff too. And it all required a sharp eye, every inch of the way. And a sharp storyteller like this, naturally with an eye for the nuanced, telling details, plays it all beautifully here. Those with further interests can find BCCI books galore, elsewhere.

Play by Play

I watched the movie about a month ago and was really impressed with Bryan Cranston's acting in "The Infiltrator" as the undercover agent, Robert Mazur. Listening to Mazur as an true undercover agent on what went down Medellín cartel and the banks is even better than the movie. The movie is a must watch for anyone who watched the first two seasons of Narcos on Netflix. They go hand and hand, but there was a reason why I wanted to read this book because of the play by play.

Agent Robert Mazur recounts everything on what went on being undercover for five years and being away from his family. Before they roll the credits and after the last scene ends, you get to read what happens, like an epilogue with the main characters in the movie. Well, after they bust the cartel in Mazur's fake wedding, there is a lot more in the book. Like his name tag in the trial.

I just could not get into the story.

I have very rarely ever liked a book that the author narrates. Just never works out. This is no exception to the rule. Just spend the money and hire a pro. Sounds like a great story not very well preformed.

Damn interesting as well as entertaining!

After watching the Bryan Cranston movie based on this story I decided to listen to the book and as usual the novel is packed with far more details and also includes a side of the story that wasn't really portrayed in the movie. That story explains how Mazur had to deal with the corruption of the people who were supposed to be helping him while instead only were only focused on furthering their own careers, even if it meant putting him and other undercover agents at major risk of being discovered and very likely killed. I won't ruin the ending but I will say the last chapter or two will put a smile on your face after hearing the authors unnecessary struggle caused by his own bosses and fellow agents.
The only detractor from this novel would be that it sometimes gets bogged down in all the fine details and conversations that occurred throuought the investigation. This, to me, is understandable as the author clearly intended to write the full, true story as it happened and in doing so had to cover all the bases of what went on.
If you buy this book you will not be wasting your money!

Great story, great performance

There almost wasn't enough in this book. The stories here are amazing and unbelievable, if you don't know how federal law enforcement works. Highly, highly suggested!

Fantastic! One of the best undercover reads out there.

This book is fantastic in both subject matter and delivery. The level of detail and candor are several notches above many books in the genre.

This book is all over the place.

there is very little semblance of order in this book. it's narrated fine, but the plot and story are too fast, short and frequent. gave up listening after about an hour and a half. hopefully the movie is better.

Astonishing, Alarming and Completely Engrossing

Robert Mazur has served his country above and beyond any job description. His integrity, courage, and deep grasp of the drug and money-laundering world make him a national treasure in my book. This book is worth every minute of readers’ time. My understanding of our country and its politics has forever changed.

Review?

I wish I read/listened to the book before watching the movie.
I'm not much for words on reviews. I enjoyed it!
You can't have Richard Attenborough, James Earl Jones, or Morgan Freeman narrating every story.

riveting

This true story is simply riveting, amazing, and spellbinding. Nuff said, I had to force myself to stop for a particular day and now that it's over, it's bitter sweet.