1970s Most Infamous Drug Trafficker Boston George Jung
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A Dealer is Born
Boston George was the most infamous drug trafficker in the US in the 1970s. He was born George Jacob Jung on August 6, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts - a middle sized city approximately thirty minutes outside of Boston. George’s parents, Frederick and Ermine Jung, were a typical All-American couple that struggled financially. After barely graduating high school, where he was a star football player, George decided to pursue a higher education at the University of Southern Mississippi. After a brief enrollment at USM George decided that he would like to see what California was like and had to offer, so he moved in hopes of obtaining a degree in advertising.
After arriving in California in 1968, George began to use marijuana recreationally and soon began to sell marijuana to offset the costs of his habit. During his time distributing marijuana along Manhattan Beach, CA he became known as “Boston George” among his local clientele. Within an eighteen month time period, Boston George went from small time marijuana dealer to trafficking large quantities of the substance from Mexico, which he then distributed as far away as his native New England, where marijuana was of a lot less quality and could be sold for much more of a profit. In 1974 George’s drug trafficking business came to a screeching halt when George was arrested in Chicago, Illinois for possessing 660 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his car. George was convicted of possession with intent to distribute and trafficking and sentenced to 26 months in federal prison for his drug crimes. George was subsequently transported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT to serve out his sentence.
Partners in Crime
When George arrived to the prison in Connecticut he was placed in a cell with a man by the name of Carlos Lehder and the they soon became friendly. Carlos Lehder was a man of Colombian and German descent who was doing time for a running an organization that transported stolen vehicles from the US and Canada to Colombia, which were then sold at used car dealerships owned by Carlos’s family in Colombia. While the two were incarcerated they developed a plan that would flood the streets of the US with high quality cocaine, while George at the time knew nothing about cocaine he believed Carlos’s plan had potential to be very profitable. While cocaine sold for around $60,000 dollars per kilo in the United States, a kilo could be purchased for $5,000 in Colombia. The duo believed that a partnership exploiting both their individual specialties would complement one another. While George had a background in drug trafficking, Carlos had the resources to obtain the large quantities of cocaine thru his associations with Pablo Escobar, a founder of a large drug cartel in his native Colombia. Boston George was instructed to contact Carlos upon his release, as Carlos had already served his prison sentence and had been released well before George.
The Plan
Upon release Jung contacted Carlos who had already began preparations for their new drug crime business venture. Their plan was to smuggle into the US kilos of cocaine, hundreds at a time, from Pablo Escobar’s ranch in Colombia and George’s California connection, Richard Barile, would distribute the drugs. At the beginning they brought in the drugs using suitcases with hollow bottoms but gradually graduated to flying the cocaine in, after they were introduced to a pilot. The pilot would then smuggle the drugs from Colombia using the Bahamas as a home base. The plan had become reality and with great success, they became the first large scale drug smuggling operation bringing cocaine into the United States, later to become known as the “Medellin Cartel” . The smuggling operation was as successful as it was lucrative, that within the next few years Boston George accumulated nearly 100 million dollars in accounts at different Banks in Panama, where there are stringent secrecy laws regarding bank accounts.
Business is Good
While Boston George lived a high class lifestyle and enjoyed the fruits of his business, Carlos was making other plans. Unbeknownst to George, Carlos had been researching an island 210 miles off the coast of Florida, known as Norman’s Cay and had decided to purchase it. Norman’s Cay was an island that encompassed an air strip, a small marina, a yacht club and around a hundred homes. He used the island as a base for planes to fly from Columbia and then shuttle smaller planes filled with cocaine into the United States. Estimates put the purchase price of the island at around 4.5 million dollars. While the plans were ambitious there was one problem, Boston George was not in them. Carlos felt that he no longer needed George and that going straight thru Barile, George’s one time California connection, George could bypass George and he did just that, not wanting to pay George his fee as a middle man. While George was no longer in business with Carlos, he still had connections with Pablo Escobar. Without his long time partner, George continued to contract independent loads on his own accord.
In 1987 George was arrested at his Nauset Beach Cape Cod, Massachusetts mansion for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine. He quickly posted bond and upon learning he was facing a 10 year mandatory sentence he decided to become a fugitive from justice, and travel with his Family to Miami, FL. Upon arriving in Miami George reached out to an old pilot friend of his that that used to transport drugs for him in the 1960’s. The two quickly put together a deal to bring some cocaine in from Colombia for a large payday, but upon arrival of the drugs George was taken into custody and arrested. George had not known that his old pilot friend had been cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Around the same time that George was arrested, his old friend Carlos was also arrested for drug trafficking by DEA in Colombia and transported to the United States, where he began cooperating with authorities regarding Panama’s president Noriega. At that time, with the approval of Pablo Escobar, Boston George agreed to testify against Carlos Lehder with the conditions that he would receive full immunity for his participation. George was released from prison and in turn testified as a witness against Carlos in a Florida Federal court room. Carlos Lehder was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 135 years, but his sentenced was reduced to 55 years after Lehder agreed to testify against Manuel Noriega.
After his release George Jung attempted to leave the life of crime behind him and was successful staying crime free for many years. After years of struggling financially, George decided to get into the marijuana smuggling business once again. In 1994 he was arrested for possessing 754 pounds of marijuana in Topeka, Kansas. He plead guilty to three counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and was sentenced to a mandatory 15 years. He is currently inmate 19225-004 at the Federal Correctional Intuition – La Tuna in Anthony, Texas. In 2001 director Ted Demme made a film about George’s life entitled “Blow”, which of course is slang to describe cocaine. Apparently Boston George has not lost his entrepreneurial spirit as in 2007 he launched his official website GeorgeJung.com, which includes links to his up and coming clothing label “Smuggler Wear”, which can be purchased in stores in Canada or on-line at smugglerwear.com. He is currently 67 years old and scheduled to be released at the ripe old age of 72 .
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Andromida - The High Life especially in that era was intoxicating indeed. The adrenaline rush, the power, the money... You would think some people would learn after a prison term but for some its just the cost of doing business. Georges future remains to be seen.
Thanks for the input and visiting.
Problem is these guys have Kennedy senior as a role model, he was a booze smuggler and look at him, his family rose to the Presidency, so to them it's a question of moving values, especially as the CIA and Air America were the biggest drug smugglers ever.
When will they be arrested and arraigned?
Interesting comment aguasilver. Thats the rumor, but never been proven. Thanks for stopping in, appreciate the comment.
my favorite movie what a life style
I always found George an interesting person to research. Too bad his associates were snitches and only thought of themselves. George you lived an interesting life and you know what? Don't have any regrets, you did a lot of things people never had the balls to do and atleast got a big taste of what life can really give somebody!
Lexis
Interesting how some of these bad boys sing like birds when caught. George did the crime and did his time. I too found his life interesting.
Rolf Schot says ; Blow is the best movie ever made !! Norman's Cay will be used wisely
Rolf- It is a great movie. It depicts in detail the true story of Mr. Jung's rise and fall in the drug trafficking business. Interesting life , no doubt.
aquasilver...you have problems!! you are wasting your time
and mind, and getting evil yourself..concentrate on the
positive, not the nonsense, thats getting bigger in your
own mind...
george will be out, to enjoy the rest of his life..and doing
it legally..good luck..
I'm an undercover narcotics officer involved in a case very simular to Mr. Jung's story. Being involved in the case I have done research into Mr. Jung. I agree, Mr. Jung's life, stories and adventure are very interesting. As far as not becoming a "snitch" well that is simply not true. Mr. Jung testifed against his once partner. Was there justification for this? Probably. Through my years of working in dope there always seems to be. Snitching is just as much part the drug business as the importing, trafficking, selling, women, cars and money. As my best informant once told me. "I'll sell until caught, I'll snitch until free."
Fingers
You are right on both counts. He did "snitch" on his ex-partner and there always seems to be one. I hadn't heard the phrase "I'll sell until caught, I'll snitch until free" but as you state part of doing business...nothing personal. Thanks for reading and leaving your comment. Very much appreciated.
Very interesting hub - and the comments are equally as interesting lol...thanks for the read :D great hub!
Great Hub!!!!!!
I enjoyed a lot while reading your hub. The ultrasensitive matter of trafficking, which you described is amazingly fabulous. I hope your effort in this regard can be highly fruitful in overcoming this menace. Thanks a lot for sharing so precious information.
Enelle Lamb
I wasn't expecting to get such interesting comments but I value them as everyone has a different opinion. Also goes to show the fan club and loyal followers drug traffickers and infamous criminals can get. Amazing.
ateenyi
I don't know that trafficking is "amazingly fabulous" if that is what you meant. While George did live the lavish style, it did come to an end as most drug dealing careers do. Thanks for the comment though and for reading.
Great article...
An extraordinary story. What I can never understand is why, having made millions, anyone would continue? Surely, once George had made a fortune, he should have stopped - as being arrested was only a matter of time and the risk must have rised every day. Curious?
mikelong
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!
Nicks
I agree. You would think he could have taken his millions and retired somewhere warm. What posseses one to continue? Power and control? Greed? Pressure from the higher ups? I'm curious too. Thanks for stopping by.
Bail Up thanks for that story. I saw the movie " Blow " a while ago but I did not know about his little website ther. Interesting stuff ! Good job.
Tony072
Once an entrepreneur , always an entrepreneur. At least this time around looks legitimate.
Interesting read ! Never knew the movie was based on a true story. I might check it out !
mel 22
If you get a chance do so. The cast includes none other than Johnny Depp as George Jung and Ray Liotta whom plays his father. If anything it will give you a better understanding as to how cocaine came to rule the era.
Bail Up, thanks for this hub. i never new this guy, but I heard of Medellin Cartel. I think drug dealers are very dangerous and should be locked forever.
Remember Also, that during this time glamorized the life of crime.
Remember during this time period television glamorized the life of crime. The media made hero of People such as Pablo Escobar.
cameciob
yes, there were quite a few notorious drug dealers from that '70's and '80's era. Best known was Pablo Escobar that ran the Medellin Cartel but he also did business with types like George Jung and Carlos Lehder.
platinumOwl4
Very true, TV did glamorize the life of crime back then and always. Mafia and drug families have always been popular TV shows and movies. We can't seem to get enough of the length and ruthlessness these dealers will go to to build their empire. Thanks for reading.
Great hub. I thought the movie was excellent. Of course I dont admire the smuggling, but I do admire George for his bravery, ambition and money making skills. Criminals never think they will get caught, from the smallest to the biggest. I find that to be an interesting mind set.
Drug dealing sucks! People get hurt both physically/mentally; and, then, they DIE! Me, I much prefer living a boring plain ordinary normal life that, at least, is 'safe'.
you never put a guys number name and location on the web mr.hung ran with some very powerful people that never forget.as far as "why he didn't quit?"once you get to a certain level you really can't quit until you get caught,because you know too much and the guys over you will not feel comfortable with you walking around with that knowledge.being a drug dealer is fun in the beginning but is pain in the end.everything that you can imagine can and will happen,you never have any real friends,you can't trust anyone,and sooner or later you are going to wack somebody,or get wacked.and at the same time you are bringing death to people around you,if you gout and set up the wrong person these guys will kill your family and friends,and you.they will kill anybody they can to hurt you and to prove a point.and if you get around all that you have to worry about the feds as in the federal government these people will lock you up for a very long time.thats not including the local police,the broke people sitting around who think they might be able to take what you have.your friends will rob you for everything that you got.the drug game is really a complex game of death that destroys millions of lives every day.blood money only brings bloodshed.the women are only around to leech off the lifestyle you have and soon as you go broke they leave,the drug game is a mirage that makes people think they are rich and powerful when in reality they are poor and weak because at any minute any day they can loose it all their money their freedom their life even their manhood,the reality doesn't set in for most until after they are locked in a cage and realize that they are going to be here for about thirty years,and for others that talk and make deals well they live in constant fear of being shot in the back of the head one day.the drug game is not a life for anyone.its better to work for it,or start a business,or do it the right way,because know one leaves the life with out scars,some scars are mental.some are physical.even if you get away with it scott free,there will be a price to pay somewhere along the line,I don't care how bad you are,are how crazy you are,their are people in this world with no souls that will take your life and go out dancing like nothing ever happened.all I got to say is the game is death,had to be created by lucifer himself.up with hope,down with dope,don't be a fool stay in school,the only buck is a HONEST buck.
Yeah drugs suck, but they would be legal, but its not good for the economy.
lisadpreston
I'm glad you found this hub interesting. The movie was great, the glimpse into Mr Hungs life mesmerizing. Most of us don't admire this lifestyle nevertheless its intriguing to know about the other side.
paul ramnora
Thanks for reading. You are right, always best to play it safe.
bill yon
he put his own name, number and location in creating his website and clothes line. Apparently he no longer fears being found out when he gets out. I do agree though with the rest of your commenatary about once in having a hard time getting out. Thats been shown over and over. Thank you for reading.
I liked the blog fam--keep it up.
RedSelassie
Glad you liked it and welcome to same. Thank You!
He lived such an extrodinary life. I would have loved to live a life like his. Just think of how lucky he is. It had HUGE ups for long periods of time, it had some pretty low points too. The money, the drugs, the cops, the court, the evadeing, the women, the airplanes, the blow, pablo, columbia. Wow, to live in his shoes really would have been exciting.
truely seems to be a kind, so very realand indeed had so muc talent and ambition all in thy wrong direction. HOW SAD THAT HIS DOUGHTER HAS NOT YET SEEN HIM, OR HAS SHE? I FEEL THAT HE WILL RELEASE A STRONG 72 YR OLD MAN ONLY TO SEE HER.
Stress, Thats all that comes from that lifestyle.And eventually Death, Kinda like ole escobar getting gunned down on the roof, Catches up to ya sooner or later. Theres only one way to make honest money,, Suffer
Jmzzbond
You are so right. Drug dealing is a stress filled life, eventually leading to violence, imprisonment and potentially death. I'd rather make my money the hard way too. I think it's just too tempting for some to make one big score and then be done, it just never happens that way.
Very good reporting.
How do you know so much of this man's personal and business life going back to his childhood?
Thanks for your hub.
Thank you electricsky
I do my best to find pertinent information. Alot of research was done here but its fun for me as long as the topic interests me. A criminology class was what sparked the interest.
The trials and tribulations of being in business in testing for many including Drug dealers / traffickers. People like George Jung and Howard Marks (UK trafficker) developed their businesses by fulfilling a demand for their products just like any international company, such as Coke, Pepsi or Fosters Beers. If the drugs industry was able to be controlled some drugs would be legal and governments would profit from the taxes they could generate on them. Tobacco and alcohol kill more people than some drugs yet because they can be controlled they are legal. Jung's addiction to the high live, and growing up in times of financial difficulty, fuelled his desire to earn and have the best. This addiction can be regularly seen in many drug dealers who in essence have an 'entrepreneurial' spirit about them. Unfortunately, with drugs comes unruly greed and violence. The price of getting involved with the drugs business is loss of life, not just others, but your own, be it through incarceration, death or death of existence in a social form. The damage is irreparable I guess being in prison you at least have your fellow cons, in the ground well you don't exactly need any social life and on the run or 'going on the programme' by testifying against your former business associates, simply means you cut off life as you know it and live a life and existence that wasn't what you were born in to. Even losing your own identity and assuming the name of a nobody which also brings...No Past (apart from some still retaining their criminal records) ....No History....No Family.
they should let george go he needs to see is daughter before he dies give george a break.
bad larry
He's do to be released soon maybe he gains good behavior time.
i just hope he see's he's daughter before he died, that's probably the only reason he's still alive, forgive him or live with it after, peace all
kool
well wat this world cums down to is life and life is u gottta make it sum how so dont judge people bc u dont know how we live maybe we dont have nice jobs like u rich peolpe but we do know how to make money it maybe wrong for sum of u guys but wen ur not book smart ur street smart so keep ur head held hi gorge ull make it babe so far about ur kid i hope shell forgive i should know i been there but u i had to make it sum how babe so good luck on everything and plz dont judge bc u will be judge at da end peace
jessica davis
I hope you know I'm not judging. I found Boston George's life interesting and had fun researching and learning about his life for this hub. I'm noone to judgebut I appreciate you taking the time to post your comment. Thanks.
I feel the movie was very fascinating and surreal on how the drug business goes. It is a high powered lifestyle, and its not to be taken lightly. I have lost the father of my daughter due to drug dealing, he was only 30 years old, and his brother, her uncle is currently serving several prison sentences. There are never any winners!
kimlo
You are so right, there are never any winners in the drug dealing business. A temporary high powered lifestyle for some destroys all around, like in your case. Sorry to hear about your situation and hope other may learn about the reality of it all. Thank you for sharing and hope you are moving on to better days.
I have watched blow and read so much about this that i have decided that i can do it better. i will hopfully be that 85%
So whatever happened with his daughter?
Is there really no contact between them at all?
Read the book its closer to the real story. The movie was about Boston George, so they took a lot of liberties, such as Richard being gay. No way Richard was gay, I know him well, still do.
I don't think it's greed when your that deep in the game. It's just when the cartels or the higher-ups know you want out, they get scared you might that rat them out. Once you in that business, you really can't get out. They won't let you, at least alive. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I saw this movie when it first came out and put it as a classic to myself. It's probably the best self portrayed movies ever done. I love Scarface, but this one definitely beats just because it's about true events
great film love, i enjoyed it and reading your shiz haha. love the man!! hes a legend, him and howard marks are legends! god. i bet he gets straight back on it when he comes out even as an old man becoz he will have nothing so he may aswel, haha. pass that shizz!!
kie121
I'm afraid you might be right about George getting out and going back to what he knows best. Our criminal justice system unfortunately does nothing in the way of reform.
This life is great. I live his life everyday !
Interesting post. I loved the film "Blow" (Depp was great, as was Ray Liotta). The interview (Demme & Jung) was very moving. Strangely, I never heard of Jung before this film, though I went to college with a guy from Weymouth who also dealt marijuana on a much smaller scale. It took three busts for him to quit. It was just too easy to make money that way.
Something about George's story is very sad, though he really screwed up in a lot of ways. I think drug sentencing is insane; there are guys doing 10 yrs. for selling LSD and girls in jail for 15 yrs. because their boyfriend's car had coke in it, while rapists, child molesters and other scum walk after a few months! That's messed up. Anyone intersted in this should contact FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) or the Drug Sentencing Reform Coalition. The ACLU also has a project on reforming drug sentences.
I wish George could be pardoned--after all, his life's been pretty much ruined, time-wise at least. How much more "blood" do they want from this guy?
GonzoHunter
Thanks for enlightenening us about the group FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) for drug sentencing reform. I haven't heard of them.
I have to agree that sentences for rapists, child molesters and the like sometimes are lighter than for drug related crimes. If this in fact is their platform all the power to them as there is an urgent need to address the out of control growth in the prison population. We spent $68 billion in 2010 on corrections - 300 percent more than 25 years ago. The prison population is growing 13 times faster than the general population. Thats concerning.
Money or lack of it makes some people do things that winds them up in all sorts of trouble. I really enjoyed the movie Blow that itmademe want to research about George Jung and I found this blog! Wow! Amazing to read your research on George and equally interesting to read everyones comments! Thanks to everyone! I am such a scaredy cat and so frightened of the consequences of being an outlaw that even when I wasin the house watching the movie I was intenseley nervous and jumpedout of my skin during the film when the Pizza guy bang very hard on my door - as it was 2am in the morning and he was knocking at the wrong door I hadnt ordered pizza - it gave me a fear like I was dealing drugs and about to be caught! Yikes that was weird! The movie was so real and had me on the edge of my seat many moments throughout. Amazing! I must look up Georges websites thanks for this!
Gotaloveit
I really enjoyed your story, LOL
I suppose we are both alittle alike. If it wasn't for the fear and paranoia that come with the drug dealers business who knows we might enjoy the lifestyle. J/K
Thanks for reading and for your funny comment.
Well, smoking marijuana--or most everybody who smokes marijuana deals it in small amounts to their friends, innocently enough. I think it's innocently enough. Then I begin to see the money aspect of it. That was the driving force. I suddenly began to realize that to become an entrepreneur in the marijuana business would make me fairly well off. And I also liked the lifestyle, my own working hours. Basically, the whole conception of this came about when a friend of mine came out to Manhattan Beach for the summer in California. He was attending U-Mass at Amherst and I had a large punch bowl of pot sitting on the table, for anybody to use at their leisure. He asked me how much it was worth and I told him something like $60.00 per kilo. He told me that it sold for $300.00 back East in Amherst. The wheels began to turn and the next thing I knew we were purchasing the $60.00 kilos and transporting pot back to Amherst making a profit of approximately $200.00 on each one less the airline fare, what have you. At that time that was a lot of money
One thing I never get about some people, is how they can be so incredibly smart yet they devote themselves to such incredibly stupid endevors.
I realize the economy is hard. But when you get right down to it, George seemed like a smart enough guy. He still does seem pretty smart if he can still try to cash in on his "success" with this website. (Again, I am not supporting that)
You would think with a brain like that, he could have found a more legitimate way to make his cash. Like, what else could he have done that would have made him just as rich without a trip to the graybar motel, you know?
And the saddest part is, it won't end with him. That 2014 interview is only going to encourage a new generation of would-be smugglers to try to do the exact same thing.
NateSean
I agree. George had street smarts but was also a good entrepreneur. Had he followed a different path he may have become rich anyways and without the stress of looking over your shoulder. Who knows, maybe he just loved the excitement of it all. Thanks for the comment.
This was truly humorous simply because you don't have all your facts straight! I know the real story - as I should - he's my man!
Gjsangelfire
Please enlighten us! There's always more to every story, I would love to hear the real deal from someone within the circle.
Great hub. Saw the movie 'Blow', I was intreged by how an average guy 'Boston George' got into this business on such as large scale. He is lucky to be alive considering the company he kept.
Susan Miles
Great movie it was. I wondered the same. For an average Joe he sure climbed the drug dealing ladder quickly. I think in those days many people did they just didn't get caught.
"....Problem is these guys have Kennedy senior as a role model.."
I would think that Reagan secretly facilitating the sale of arms to Iran to go around congress fund the contras would be a more current role model don't you??
I like the film was brill.george should,nt be in there still hes done the crime hes done is time let him out .we ave,nt got long in life.x
Love this story!
What a story! This story might even top the story about Whitey Bulger, the Boston gangster! I've got to see the movie "Blow"! If I were George, I would have layed low and left the country after the first 100 million but then again, I'm not George and never would want to be George! In the long run crime doesn't pay, this is proof!
Wba108@yahoo
The gangster life certainly makes quite a story. We are in awe of all the fashion, glitter and risk they take but most of us shy away from it like the plague for obvious reasons. I would think even if one fell into the drug dealing business after amassing some serious money would want to get out but I suppose the lifestyle just just brings you back in, like Scarface.
This movie was so off from the real story, read the book, watch interviews, research it, watch documentaries...they left so many details out of this movie, but I guess if they would add all the details the movie would be like forest gump and talk about his life for 4 hours or be as long as scarface was...I would love to just have a drink with George, he is so interesting and probably one of my greatest influences because he shows that if you are good at something, dont give up on it just because others disagree, arrest the people buying drugs, not the ones flying it on a plane to make some extra cash
andromida Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
fascinating story.Seems like drugs this drug trafficking business also intoxicating-maybe that's why George once again involved the same business.Most of the drug lords ended up their career in jail-he forgot to realize this fact:).Perhaps he will realize the eventually of this destructive business at the age to 72.