
Chasing the Squirrel
The Pursuit of Notorious Drug Smuggler Wally Thrasher
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Narrated by:
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Kyle Tait
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By:
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Ron Peterson Jr.
About this listen
Nicknamed "The Squirrel" for his elusiveness, Thrasher was a daredevil pilot who made millions flying marijuana and cocaine from South America into the US in the '70s and '80s. With his beautiful Portuguese-born wife, Olga, he lived in a mountain estate near Virginia's New River Valley. He owned oceanfront homes and yachts in Florida, spent weekends in the Caribbean, and laundered money in Las Vegas, where he partied with Frank Sinatra's entourage.
The Feds were hot on his tail in 1984 when word came that he had died in a plane crash in Belize, his body burnt to ashes. But investigators soon learned the crash was staged and the death certificate fake. Meanwhile, Olga became a federal informant assisting the DEA in an audacious undercover sting to infiltrate the highest levels of his smuggling ring. Thirteen international traffickers were indicted, including Bolivian drug lord Roberto Suarez-Gomez, known as the world's "King of Cocaine".
But Wally Thrasher was never caught. Authorities believe he has spent the past four decades living in some faraway tropical land. He was recently profiled on America's Most Wanted as US marshals chased leads around the globe in his pursuit.
©2020 Ron Peterson, Jr. (P)2021 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Chasing the Squirrel
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- Gmintz1973
- 03-31-25
Good story from my home state.
The narrator was the worst part. But great story, True or not. It will make you wonder
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- Melissa
- 08-24-24
Outstanding!
As a Roanoker, this book gave me chill bumps knowing this all happened HERE and in areas so close to me! I was only in my 20’s and didn’t have a television, so I rarely watched the news! I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS BOOK! At the end, I smiled and said “Fantastic!” and saw the Squirrel as more of a hero! This is a must read with all the twists and turns and wonderment!!! Thank you Mr Peterson, once again!!!
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- Jason Walker
- 03-20-25
Great story of a great pilot
A great story, would make a good movie. Definitely an enjoyable listen. Won’t be disappointed
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- Adrian Flores
- 06-02-22
Long live the squirrel!
Good story very interesting on how the squirrel eluded the long arm of the law
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- Heidi Mitchell
- 04-15-25
very informative
couldn't stop listening. what a great book! I'm from swva and this was so cool!
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