It treats the cocaine trade as "capitalism on overdrive," detailing how the cartel evolved from small-time smuggling to a sophisticated $2 billion system that manipulated global politics.

The narrative centers on the four "kings" who built the modern cocaine trade: Pablo Escobar , Jorge Luis Ochoa , Carlos Lehder , and José Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha .

Because the authors were reporters on the ground in Miami, the book features in-depth coverage of early DEA efforts and the trial of Carlos Lehder. Where to Read or Listen