National Geographic: Cocaine White Gold

This episode of National Geographic Drugs, Inc. explores the vast and perilous cocaine trade, tracing the drug’s journey from Peruvian coca farms to users across the United States — a distance of more than 4,500 miles. The program exposes the hidden infrastructure behind the trade, revealing the farmers, traffickers, smugglers, and dealers who sustain a global industry worth billions.

With over 4 million regular cocaine users in the U.S., the drug’s appeal lies in its powerful stimulant effects and immense value, fetching more per ounce than gold. National Geographic takes viewers inside major markets, including Los Angeles, to show the complex, evolving networks that keep the supply flowing and illustrate the scale and reach of the modern cocaine economy.

“All of my friends are scared of me getting killed … for each kilo I get paid $100. I need it for my education and to buy clothes and things for school.”

"Having got past the police and into the air, the value of the coke on board has soared from $1,300 to $10,000 a kilo​."

"Officially, there have been 169 tunnels throughout both our borders. When you have suitable areas in which to tunnel and you have the willingness on somebody to do that work, the threat of tunneling is always going to be there."

"From the border it’s trafficked along the notorious I-5 smuggling route to Los Angeles. Having got past cops and customs, the coke has shot up in value from $14,000 to $28,000 a kilo."

"Friday night in West Hollywood, and party girl Coco is flirting with danger, snorting Peruvian coke that’s travelled 4,500 miles to get to her. As Coco heads out to party, she is on a high. But soon her high needs topping up."

"Usually the way he pays me is he deposits in my bank account, right? But the banking system, they are not accepting any more deposits from anybody other than the owners of that account."