The Infiltrator: The True Story of One Man Against the Biggest Drug Cartel in History

Robert Mazur, as Bob Musella, was the principal undercover for Operation C-Chase, a money laundering investigation targeting Colombian drug cartels. Mazur intriguingly built his Musella cover with the help of informants from previous cases. He fabricated or adapted existing corporations and companies to position himself as a mob-related businessman and launderer. The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) became his prime and willing conduit for cleaning drug funds after he stumbled on their Tampa branch.

The several year investigation resulted in over eighty arrests and convictions worldwide and a trove of information about how widespread corruption was in the banking industry.

Mazur doesn’t hesitate to name names, and show more government bureaucracy and infighting get mentioned here. High-level careerists and those trying to gain promotion and jobs from the case earn as much scorn as the targets of the investigation. This is a clear and well-written account. show less

Quick impressions: Overall a very interesting read. Mazur gives a lot of insight into how undercover work actually works, with a lot of attention to small details. If you like stories like Donnie Brasco's, you will probably like this one as well.

Full review to post on my blog later.

Just another example of how the book is so much more than the movie. Robert Mazur shows how thinking outside the box and being meticulous is the only way to take down criminal organizations and the banks that help them.

Robert Mazur provides an encyclopedic account of his undercover work. His work to the arrest of dozens of drug traffickers and money launders. It also led to the dismantling of BCCI, a large banking operation that seemed focused on dirty money.

Unfortunately, the book also reads like an encyclopedia. Most disappointing was the the book provided little insight on how money laundering works. I was hoping for a bit more insight.