The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade

The Dope is a myth-busting history of the Mexican drug trade—spanning one hundred years from its origins in small opium plantations to the current continent-spanning industry that has created fortunes, reshaped nations, and taken thousands of lives. Drawing on unprecedented archival research, documents, and harrowing interviews, historian Benjamin T. Smith illuminates how the illicit business essentially build modern Mexico. With vivid depictions of historical figures on both sides of the border, Smith provides a "vital corrective" (Francisco Cantu) to the pernicious myths surrounding the trade and reveals how American intervention helped turn a once-peaceful industry into a world of chaos and violence.