Read Online White Death by Philip C. Baridon - Free Book Online
Authors: Philip C. Baridon
Tags: Suspense
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Right now, however, Tyrone was tired. He asked his assistant and one of his bodyguards to wait in the outer office with the receptionist. In addition to all of the demands of running his legitimate businesses, the drug distribution network, and keeping the IRS satisfied, he now felt like a babysitter for his two partners. Alvaro had good connections, good ideas, and some business acumen; but he was a loose cannon prone to violent and impulsive decisions. Marcus’s forte was logistics; he paid attention to details and could implement a plan, and even improvise as necessary. Tyrone knew, however, he was the smartest of the three, and the burden of overcoming this setback would largely fall on him, perhaps with help from Marcus. Alvaro was right about freighters out of Cartagena, but he offered no constructive alternative. Crossing the large expanse of open sea in small boats was out of the question. Using swallowers was just an interim solution.
Tyrone’s heroin came from Sicily and Brazil, by well-estab-lished routes, packed within legitimate merchandise. From the freighter, selected teamsters moved it onto cars or trucks and later drove to a safe garage for recovery. Unknown to U.S. law enforcement, the Sicilian Mafia was now operating in the U.S., with three of the five La Cosa Nostra families in New York. Tyrone had contracted with the Bonanno family for exclusive heroin rights in Baltimore and D.C. However, he could not piggyback on their heroin routes. Besides, the Mafia had shown little interest in cocaine. Soon-to-be-legendary drug trafficker Frank Mathews had approached the Gambino and Bonanno families to explore a partnership for heroin and cocaine, but the mafia turned him down. Not long after, Rolando Gonzalez would sell Mathews his first kilo of cocaine for twenty-thousand dollars. Mathews was doing well and could become a problem later. Right now, however, Tyrone had a more urgent concern.
They had used scheduled airliners before, and it had workedwell for marijuana when baggage handlers at both ends were bought and paid for, usually with a combination of product and cash. This had become more risky of late, as the U.S. Customs Service had expanded the use of dogs. To lose some weed was one thing, but to lose cocaine because a mixed shipment of both of them tipped off the dogs was quite another. They remained in the marijuana business because of high demand, steady revenue, and a plentiful product grown in Colombia.
Could a small plane make a direct run into Miami from an airfield near Barranquilla? Too far, not enough fuel. It was over one-thousand miles from Barranquilla to Miami. Moreover, Miami or any port of entry was far too risky. With enough fuel, could they make a long trip to somewhere else in Florida undetected by the U.S. military? Although Tyrone did not know much about general aviation (GA), he had driven past small airports all around Washington: Woodbridge; Beacon Hill; College Park; Bowie, and Leesburg to name a few. Therefore, Florida must also be full of these little airfields.
Wait
. The U.S. military, by law, had no role in civilian law enforcement. The military would relegate a small, slow aircraft to the trash as a civilian problem. So, it was back to Customs. What did they have? Not much besides fast boats.
Tyrone hit the intercom and asked his secretary to call Marcus. He wanted to know what Marcus thought of using small planes, and whether they should talk to Jorge Ortiz, one of several pilots from Batista’s old Cuban air force doing odd jobs for Marcus. If they agreed it was feasible, then they would broach the subject with Alvaro.
Chapter 11
A New Plan
Miami, Florida, May 1969
With the pressing need for a solution, Marcus agreed to a meeting with Ortiz. Tyrone agreed to take the next, direct Eastern Airlines flight to Miami. In the meantime, Marcus would put Ortiz to work on a plan, with an emphasis on details and feasibility.
The next afternoon Marcus picked up
Right now, however, Tyrone was tired. He asked his assistant and one of his bodyguards to wait in the outer office with the receptionist. In addition to all of the demands of running his legitimate businesses, the drug distribution network, and keeping the IRS satisfied, he now felt like a babysitter for his two partners. Alvaro had good connections, good ideas, and some business acumen; but he was a loose cannon prone to violent and impulsive decisions. Marcus’s forte was logistics; he paid attention to details and could implement a plan, and even improvise as necessary. Tyrone knew, however, he was the smartest of the three, and the burden of overcoming this setback would largely fall on him, perhaps with help from Marcus. Alvaro was right about freighters out of Cartagena, but he offered no constructive alternative. Crossing the large expanse of open sea in small boats was out of the question. Using swallowers was just an interim solution.
Tyrone’s heroin came from Sicily and Brazil, by well-estab-lished routes, packed within legitimate merchandise. From the freighter, selected teamsters moved it onto cars or trucks and later drove to a safe garage for recovery. Unknown to U.S. law enforcement, the Sicilian Mafia was now operating in the U.S., with three of the five La Cosa Nostra families in New York. Tyrone had contracted with the Bonanno family for exclusive heroin rights in Baltimore and D.C. However, he could not piggyback on their heroin routes. Besides, the Mafia had shown little interest in cocaine. Soon-to-be-legendary drug trafficker Frank Mathews had approached the Gambino and Bonanno families to explore a partnership for heroin and cocaine, but the mafia turned him down. Not long after, Rolando Gonzalez would sell Mathews his first kilo of cocaine for twenty-thousand dollars. Mathews was doing well and could become a problem later. Right now, however, Tyrone had a more urgent concern.
They had used scheduled airliners before, and it had workedwell for marijuana when baggage handlers at both ends were bought and paid for, usually with a combination of product and cash. This had become more risky of late, as the U.S. Customs Service had expanded the use of dogs. To lose some weed was one thing, but to lose cocaine because a mixed shipment of both of them tipped off the dogs was quite another. They remained in the marijuana business because of high demand, steady revenue, and a plentiful product grown in Colombia.
Could a small plane make a direct run into Miami from an airfield near Barranquilla? Too far, not enough fuel. It was over one-thousand miles from Barranquilla to Miami. Moreover, Miami or any port of entry was far too risky. With enough fuel, could they make a long trip to somewhere else in Florida undetected by the U.S. military? Although Tyrone did not know much about general aviation (GA), he had driven past small airports all around Washington: Woodbridge; Beacon Hill; College Park; Bowie, and Leesburg to name a few. Therefore, Florida must also be full of these little airfields.
Wait
. The U.S. military, by law, had no role in civilian law enforcement. The military would relegate a small, slow aircraft to the trash as a civilian problem. So, it was back to Customs. What did they have? Not much besides fast boats.
Tyrone hit the intercom and asked his secretary to call Marcus. He wanted to know what Marcus thought of using small planes, and whether they should talk to Jorge Ortiz, one of several pilots from Batista’s old Cuban air force doing odd jobs for Marcus. If they agreed it was feasible, then they would broach the subject with Alvaro.
Chapter 11
A New Plan
Miami, Florida, May 1969
With the pressing need for a solution, Marcus agreed to a meeting with Ortiz. Tyrone agreed to take the next, direct Eastern Airlines flight to Miami. In the meantime, Marcus would put Ortiz to work on a plan, with an emphasis on details and feasibility.
The next afternoon Marcus picked up
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