Narcotopia Audiobook By Patrick Winn cover art

Narcotopia

In Search of the Asian Drug Cartel That Survived the CIA

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Narcotopia

By: Patrick Winn
Narrated by: Patrick Winn
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The gripping true story of an indigenous people running the world’s mightiest narco-state—and America’s struggle to thwart them.

In Asia’s narcotics-producing heartland, the Wa reign supreme. They dominate the Golden Triangle, a mountainous stretch of Burma between Thailand and China. Their 30,000-strong army, wielding missiles and attack drones, makes Mexican cartels look like street gangs.

Wa moguls are unrivaled in the region’s $60 billion meth trade and infamous for mass-producing pink, vanilla-scented speed pills. Drugs finance Wa State, a bona fide nation with its own laws, anthems, schools, and electricity grid. Though revered by their people, Wa leaders are scorned by US policymakers as vicious “kingpins” who “poison our society for profit.”

This is a saga of native people tapping the power of narcotics to create a nation where there was none before—and covert US intelligence operations gone wrong.

©2024 Patrick Winn (P)2024 PublicAffairs Asia China Indigenous Studies Organized Crime Social Sciences Specific Demographics True Crime Crime Imperial Japan Mexico Latin America

Critic reviews

"Those who fail to read this forsake their chance to know the truth."—Roberto Saviano, author of Gomorrah

“Patrick has made a riveting read out of the largely overlooked—but critically important—Wa State... The history behind it, the masterminds pulling the strings, and the many CIA operations against them. It’s a fascinating and incredibly well-researched dive into Asia’s underworld and some of the greatest narcotics traffickers in the region. And above all, it’s beautifully crafted storytelling.”—Isobel Yeung, VICE

"A riveting portrait of a little-known and often vilified people, a harrowing tale of Asia's epic, multi-billion dollar, drugs trade, and a unique perspective on our world today."—Thant Myint-U, author of The Hidden History of Burma
All stars
Most relevant  
Wonderful.
I reside in Bangkok and was fascinated learning the history of Burma, Thailand, China, Taiwan, and the U.S. And how the opium trade was critical to the story.
Thanks to the author Patrick Winn.
It is a must listen.

A must listen for Asia history buffs

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Incredible story telling for a subject so unknown but so relevant to so many of us. Absolutely great story telling and way deeper and more impactful than I would ever have expected just based on the title and cover.

Absolutely Incredible

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Engrossing, educating, and at times heart-breaking narrative of the heroin trade in Southeast Asia and the proud people caught in the middle of it.

A fantastic read on a topic I knew little about

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This guy is a clown and with a horrible voice for narration . Selective facts and twisted facts not the real story ! Also Bill Young (RIP)committed suicide not because of the treatment of and his sorrow for what happened but because of all his debilitating illness he was suffering from . The author is not worthy to even mention The name of Bill Young !

Too many false statements

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really good in depth book of the wa staye nestled in burma it is hard to tell the accuracy of the book but it is an amazing story none the less.

good book

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