Blow-n Away

After a long day at work, I was sitting on the sofa in front of the TV flipping through the channels. Everyone else had retired to bed. I was savoring the last few moments alone when I came across the movie Blow. I had remembered seeing the movie a while ago and remembered liking it, so I figured I'd watch on for a bit. I became mesmerized with the story again.

Blow, described as a "biopic docu-drama" based on the true life story of George Jung, a huge cocaine trafficker in the 70's and 80's, stars Johnny Depp and Penolope Cruz. Jung in his heyday, was responsible for over 85% of all of the cocaine brought into the United States. The real George Jung who more likely resembles Bella Ligosi than the handsome Johnny Depp, was a major player. The American Part of the Medellin Cartel, Jung started out selling marijuana and was smuggling huge amounts to the US in airplanes he stole from private airports in Cape Cod and other locations. He was arrested in Chicago in 1974 and was sentenced to prison where he served in Danbury, CT. His cell mate while there, Carlos Lehder, was a small time criminal with some big time connections. Upon their release, Lehder introduced Jung to the Columbian Cartel and Jung taught Lehder how to smuggle. It was then that their very profitable cocaine business began.

In the height of their cocaine reign, they were said to be making millions and millions of dollars. Jung lived a life that was enviable by even Hollywood standards and he showed it off. He married Mirtha Jung, played by Penelope Cruz, a beautiful Columbian who had a taste for cocaine and money, and they had a daughter Christina. During that height Jung charged $10,000.00 per kilogram and had 5 planes a day carrying 300 kilograms from Columbia to California. Jung would make $15 million a run. Jung needed to launder that crazy drug money , so he kept it in the National Bank of Panama City.

Then, as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end", (it's also questionable if this was a good thing) and Jung's wealthy house of cards came tumbling down. The bank in Panama City siezed his money and his wife ratted him out to the cops during a drug-induced traffic stop that sent him to prison. While he was in prison, his wife divorced him and took away his one true love, his daughter. Upon his release, Jung allegedly tried to get clean and worked odd jobs, then decided to reconnect with his old contacts and get back into the business. He was betrayed by his old associates and was arrested for drug trafficking yet again, this time he was sentenced to 60 years.

Jung is scheduled for release in November, 2014, and here's the investing thing: at 71 years old, the guy stands a good chance of making some serious money. In some circles he is considered a celebrity and get this, he has a legitimate website. Check out georgejung.com if you are interested because I think this guy has nine lives for real.

As I said, I was captivated by this story and while doing my research, I found that I am not alone. It's a fact, according to georgejung.com, that interest in this story always spikes when the movie airs on television. To say that he's an interesting character is an understatement. Some believe him to be a legend, others see him as a criminal . I'm not quite sure what I think other than he is fascinating.

And I truly believe that this is not the end of the Goerge Jung story.