Smuggler (SMUGGLER ROGER REAVES)

Roger takes you through his wild, crazy, and dangerous life. His stories are super interesting and captivating. His attention to detail and ability to relay his story is impressive. Definitely get the audio book, as Roger’s voice and how he tells the story makes it even better (although you miss out on the pictures that the physical book has). Great book that is worth the time and money.

I've read a few such books, I enjoyed Traffic by Berkley Rice, and reading about George Jung's exploits and the movie about him, and a few others. Sort of lost interest in the matter, over the years. But I stumbled across a podcast on Youtube talking about the world's most prolific smuggler that you never heard of, and they were right, I hadn't, there was Roger Reaves. IMO, all others pale in comparison to this man's daring sense of adventure. Obviously a smart and and well-read man, but mixed in with some seriously foolhardy decisions along the way. After all the years he had already spent in the US prisons, all the times, dealing with the nincompoops, scoundrels and rascals, with some occasional competent and good people mixed in, the latter not being often, I was really surprised, he still wanted to make the Australian run.I was reluctant to purchase such a book, over 500 pages, just wasn't sure It was going to be able to keep my interest. But give it time, and it grows on you, then you can't put it down. I lost count how many times, I burst out laughing from the stories. This isn't just about making big money smuggling drugs through air and sea, the life that kind of money brings you, it's also a lot about a very loving family, about all of the daring escapes, and also about how the corrupt judicial systems work, the corrupt politicians and banks, mostly with a lot of USA influence around the world.Concerning the moral dilemma many face with whether not they would do such a thing for the kind of money involved. The long and harsh prison sentencing and property forfeiture is enough to deter me, although I think such harsh laws asinine. There will always be a small part of the population (2-5%?) that can’t handle alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, other drugs, even gambling, and could never be responsible with it. Does that mean the majority of adults who might want to partake or participate in such activities, not be allowed also? These are questions society has to deal with.I came close to writing a long review, sharing my favorite stories, along with a few criticisms along the way, but realize, no review, mine included can do it justice, it's just one of those things, you have to pick up, and read for yourself. Most will not be disappointed. This shouldn’t be in a movie, but a series, I hope Netflix doesn’t let us down.

orderrecieved in good comdiction, it is what i expected

An incredulous story that, while entertaining, leaves a lot to be desired in the form of editing. Riddled with incomplete paragraphs and incorrect punctuation. Some trains of thought aren’t complete.Don’t get me wrong— the story is entertaining but the writing and lack of attention to detail seem to lack respect for the reader.

The book is extremely long. I always have to discount stories by people like this by 50% as they are by nature storytellers. People like this are addicted to the hunt and the danger. After being tortured in a Mexican prison and almost dying he goes back to the life. I can understand that but once you have your 5-10 million, can’t you just move into legit businesses? He obviously loved the lifestyle and hanging with other criminals like himself. He left his sister as a hostage and left his wife and kids to escape capture by the authorities. I’ll finish the book but we know he spent a good chunk of his life in jail and only got out in 2020. He tells you he wouldn’t do it the same way again but he had multiple opportunities to quit and didn’t. He comes across as a nice guy who never killed anyone and blames the drug laws for his actions. He has no one to blame but himself. Not impressed or have any admiration for this guy or people like him who refuse to take any responsibility for their nature and actions

Roger has lived a life that most would love to live! His life story is full of adventure and it is a nail biting page turner! His life story if full of amazing and terrifying days that change in the blink of an eye! It is also an incredible love story about two people so in love and not willing to ever abandon the sanctity of marriage vows that connects two hearts for life, for better or worse, for richer or poorer! Even though they were apart from each other and many years not able to be together they stayed in love and took on the greatest of several adventures as an unstoppable force till death do they part! After many years apart and thrills followed by sadness by being apart. Roger and his beautiful wife are now on yet another grand adventure!

Travel around the world and stay at the best hotels while eating drinking and entertaining. Send your children to college. Drive expensive vehicles boats ships and planes. All with the help of your wife and other family members! Most mem spend 30 years of work so they can get a small taste of such a life. One question he does not answer...was it worth it? I don't think so.

I heard this man on our local radio station talking about his book. I bought it because I have read a lot about Barry Seal, Mena, the CIA, and the Clintons etc. I thought he might fill in some blanks in what I had read. He did do that, but the majority of the book is about his life and exploits all over the world. He calls his book "a Memoir" and that is what it is. He has had the craziest life story you will ever read about. They say cats have nine lives this man must have had a hundred. He has a scar on his skull where a bullet grazed it, one on his cheek, and a missing big toe that was shot off. He almost died in several airplane incidents. You have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next.He owned several airplanes, boats, houses, dined at exclusive restaurants and spent money like water. He went through millions.He is a well-read man too. He is familiar with all the classics, the Bible, and to my surprise, "Pilgrims Progress". He quotes from all these repeatedly.Let me just repeat again, this is the wildest life story you will ever read. Ignore the grammar Nazis on this book.

I definitely loved the memoir. Mr.Reaves provided amazing life experiences for his wife and children. It’s unfortunate the Government locked him away for such an unjust amount of time. Mr.Reaves is BLESSED to have such a wonderful devoted wife. My only complaint about the book was the fact the spine was weak and the pages fell out as I turned them. I was reading lakeside and a few blew out into Lake Erie! Lol 🤣

A good book, hard to put down. Roger has led a very interesting life, but has also wasted half of it languishing in jail. For the first half of the book i was rooting for him, then it became clear he was motivated by pure greed. From all his drug traffiking, he made allot of money, he could have given it all up and still lived comftably for the rest of his life. But instead, he chased the dollar to fund a lavish lifestyle, and ended up wasting half his life, languishing in jail, seperated from his family and kids, who would have needed him. What a waste. His lack of insight into his offending is something to behold, apparantly its all the governments fault, and drugs are harmless. Tell that to all the addicts who have had their lives destroyed, or even just go into a mental health clinic to see the link between Cannabis and mental health problems. The way Roger describes it, you would think he was traffiking in health food or something.

A good read, very informative. Some of the paragraphs are interjected and don't flow with the story line, but all in all an informative guide to smuggling and the life of luxury it provides.

A really interesting read for a true crime story. Will be interesting to see if Reaves ever gets to leave the shiny shores of Western Australia. Like any true crime story you know to take with a grain of salt as self preservation and interest may colour what is revealed or interpretation of events. Reaves essentially through his journey highlights the inadequacy of prohibition and the drug war. All together an interesting tale.

buy it second hand