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Outlaws Inc.: Under the Radar and on the Black Market with the World's Most Dangerous Smugglers
This riveting account reveals the secret corners of our supposedly flat world: black markets where governments are never seen but still spend outrageous amounts of money. Journalist Matt Potter tells the story of Yuri and his crew, a gang of Russian military men who, after the collapse of the Soviet Union found themselves without work or prospects. So they bought a decommissioned Soviet plane-at liquidation prices, straight from the Russian government-and started a shipping business. It wasn't long before Yuri, and many pilots like him, found themselves an unlikely (and ethically dubious) hub of global trading. Men like these are paid by the U.S., the Taliban, and blue-chip multinational companies to bring supplies- some legal, some not-across dangerous borders.
In a feat of daring reportage, Potter gets onto the flight deck with these outlaws and tells the story of their fearless missions. Dodging gunfire, Potter is taken from place to place by men trafficking everything from illicit weapons to emergency aid, making enemies everywhere but no reliable friends. As the world changes, we see the options for the crew first explode, then slowly diminish, until, in a desperate maneuver, they move their operations to the most lawless corners of Africa, where they operate to this day.
The story of these outlaws is a microcosm of the world since the end of the cold war: secret contracts, guerrilla foreign policy, and conflicts too thorny to be handled in public. Potter uses the story of these men to articulate an underground history of the globalized world. At once thrilling, provocative, and morally circumspect, this book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in espionage, or in how the world works today.
In a feat of daring reportage, Potter gets onto the flight deck with these outlaws and tells the story of their fearless missions. Dodging gunfire, Potter is taken from place to place by men trafficking everything from illicit weapons to emergency aid, making enemies everywhere but no reliable friends. As the world changes, we see the options for the crew first explode, then slowly diminish, until, in a desperate maneuver, they move their operations to the most lawless corners of Africa, where they operate to this day.
The story of these outlaws is a microcosm of the world since the end of the cold war: secret contracts, guerrilla foreign policy, and conflicts too thorny to be handled in public. Potter uses the story of these men to articulate an underground history of the globalized world. At once thrilling, provocative, and morally circumspect, this book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in espionage, or in how the world works today.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2011
46 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Matt Potter
51 books21 followersMatt Potter is a journalist, editor and broadcaster. He has reported for BBC Radio from Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia, and co-presented Radio 1's award-winning global travel shows. As a journalist, his nose for the unusual has seen his writing appear in places as diverse as the Daily Telegraph, Golf Monthly, Esquire, Sunday Telegraph, Jack, Maxim, the Irish Examiner and Q, and his stories on cocaine trafficking in Latin America have been published in Russian, Spanish and English. As a journalist in Belgrade, he broke the story of the NATO 'spy' giving away secrets to Serb forces on the web. He speaks a handful of languages but attempts to speak at least twenty more. Matt is 39 and lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 18, 2012
This book takes what is a truly interesting subject for about 40-60 pages and milks it over and over for 300 pages until bone dry. The basics can be summarized in a long paragraph:
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to sudden unemployment for hundreds of thousands of former Soviet soldiers, and essentially free-for-all looting of former Soviet military supplies. A large number of experienced military pilots and crew immediately went into business as "no problem" couriers (as in, "any cargo, any place, any time -- no problem") using ex-military Antonov and Ilyushin cargo jets. Due to the complete inability of any international agency to comprehensively monitor planes, companies, and crews, and the complete porousness of borders and customs operations in most of the developing world, these crews have thrived as couriers of cargo ranging from completely legitimate food aid to international sanction-busting arms (although the bulk of the money is made in the "gray" middle). Some of these businesses are more legit that others, but even so, there's no way to really know whether a particular flight is totally clean or not, since the crews are often make their money by smuggling tons of personal cargo. The beauty of the ecosystem is that there's enough plausible deniability for all governments involved, as well as the owners, and crewmen. The so-called "kingpins" you may have heard about, such as Viktor "The Merchant of Death" Bout (upon whom the film Lord of War is largely based), are only middlemen, there are people higher up the food chain who may or may not be very highly placed in former Soviet states such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
That story is pretty interesting, however Potter isn't able to tell it in a fluid or concise way. To his credit, he has clearly put in tons of on the ground research hanging out with these aviators and interviewing people in the air freight business and international watchdog types. However, the book is incredibly repetitive, and structurally zig zags between a chronological account and a geographical one. Along the way, there are lots of interesting details buried here and there (someone needs to do a feature about these small communities of ex-Soviet airman in the backwaters of Africa), but it is awfully repetitive and the topic could have been covered almost as well with a long magazine feature. Those interested in international relations and gray economies will find the content interesting, as will those with an interest in the former Soviet Union, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it to general audience.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to sudden unemployment for hundreds of thousands of former Soviet soldiers, and essentially free-for-all looting of former Soviet military supplies. A large number of experienced military pilots and crew immediately went into business as "no problem" couriers (as in, "any cargo, any place, any time -- no problem") using ex-military Antonov and Ilyushin cargo jets. Due to the complete inability of any international agency to comprehensively monitor planes, companies, and crews, and the complete porousness of borders and customs operations in most of the developing world, these crews have thrived as couriers of cargo ranging from completely legitimate food aid to international sanction-busting arms (although the bulk of the money is made in the "gray" middle). Some of these businesses are more legit that others, but even so, there's no way to really know whether a particular flight is totally clean or not, since the crews are often make their money by smuggling tons of personal cargo. The beauty of the ecosystem is that there's enough plausible deniability for all governments involved, as well as the owners, and crewmen. The so-called "kingpins" you may have heard about, such as Viktor "The Merchant of Death" Bout (upon whom the film Lord of War is largely based), are only middlemen, there are people higher up the food chain who may or may not be very highly placed in former Soviet states such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
That story is pretty interesting, however Potter isn't able to tell it in a fluid or concise way. To his credit, he has clearly put in tons of on the ground research hanging out with these aviators and interviewing people in the air freight business and international watchdog types. However, the book is incredibly repetitive, and structurally zig zags between a chronological account and a geographical one. Along the way, there are lots of interesting details buried here and there (someone needs to do a feature about these small communities of ex-Soviet airman in the backwaters of Africa), but it is awfully repetitive and the topic could have been covered almost as well with a long magazine feature. Those interested in international relations and gray economies will find the content interesting, as will those with an interest in the former Soviet Union, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it to general audience.
December 29, 2025
This book is a bit outdated, but it's still interesting - particularly if you're interested in aviation.
After the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of its armed forces, an Antonov cargo jet could be had for a case of Stoly and a handshake. This book is about what happened next. Quasi-legal, with and emphasis on the quasi, cargo outfits proliferated. Former Soviet Air Force pilots flew these things, seemingly held together with speed tape and bailing wire, all over the world. They were cowboys, hauling legitimate cargo and humanitarian aid where inspectors could see; and hiding drugs, weapons, and people where they couldn't. Operating throughout Africa and those parts of Asia where the law is thin, the big fish made fortunes and the small fish died.
Y'know, capitalism.
As a former Navy C-130 pilot, I remember seeing these Antonovs in places like Sharjah and Al-Fujairah, Nigeria and Indonesia. I've always wondered who was flying these old rattletraps, and where they were going. Now, I know.
I imagine the audience for this particular book is rather limited. If, however, you're part of that audience, I think you'll find it very interesting.
After the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of its armed forces, an Antonov cargo jet could be had for a case of Stoly and a handshake. This book is about what happened next. Quasi-legal, with and emphasis on the quasi, cargo outfits proliferated. Former Soviet Air Force pilots flew these things, seemingly held together with speed tape and bailing wire, all over the world. They were cowboys, hauling legitimate cargo and humanitarian aid where inspectors could see; and hiding drugs, weapons, and people where they couldn't. Operating throughout Africa and those parts of Asia where the law is thin, the big fish made fortunes and the small fish died.
Y'know, capitalism.
As a former Navy C-130 pilot, I remember seeing these Antonovs in places like Sharjah and Al-Fujairah, Nigeria and Indonesia. I've always wondered who was flying these old rattletraps, and where they were going. Now, I know.
I imagine the audience for this particular book is rather limited. If, however, you're part of that audience, I think you'll find it very interesting.
March 17, 2013
Forget what you thought you knew about the movement of contraband around the planet. Ok, so you had knowledge of the trade before you picked up this book. For any body who's ever spent long delays in a Third World airport wondering what that ground crew was loading into that unmarked Antanov, this is the perfect book to look away to, and find out the real story. Hold on to your seats, you're in for the flight of your life.
November 9, 2025
There's always been a certain romance to the old Soviet aircraft you see rusting among the palm trees on the edge of Middle Eastern airports, abetted entirely by the Star War-sy aesthetic of the Il-76 "Candid" freight carrier (which I think is one of the most beautiful mechanical artefacts ever produced by humankind DON'TJUDGEME). I've heard a few stories about these pilots from an acquaintance working in charity aid logistics, and the general concept that "the guys who fly humanitarian aid to conflict zones are the same guys who fly in the guns" isn't a big revelation. But it's fascinating to read about the specifics of how it all works.
There is a certain romance to air freight smugglers. Matt Potter only refers to a crew loadmaster as "Chewbacca" one time; it would have been churlish not to, at least once! I love the way he consistently refers to the "flock" of Il-76s migrating from nesting site to nesting site throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The depictions of airfreight community hubs like Entebbe and Sharjah are very compelling, as are all the stories about booking gigs and flying into airports through hails of RPG fire.
The author does avoid falling into a starry-eyed trap, however. The book rather loses momentum when trying to follow the money backing the aircraft, because the answers are either unavailable or obvious. There's a general disorganisation and repetition, especially in the second half. What he definitely succeeds in is humanising the pilots. Books about the post-Soviet mafia era tend to involve connected intelligence operators entering the private sector and becoming staggeringly rich or rapidly dead. These guys weren't spooks, just the battlefield tribe of Afgantsy veterans, and by the end of the book the overwhelming impression remains of lost soldiers from a forgotten war, unable to ever truly stop fighting or come home, abandoned and passing away from this Earth.
There is a certain romance to air freight smugglers. Matt Potter only refers to a crew loadmaster as "Chewbacca" one time; it would have been churlish not to, at least once! I love the way he consistently refers to the "flock" of Il-76s migrating from nesting site to nesting site throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The depictions of airfreight community hubs like Entebbe and Sharjah are very compelling, as are all the stories about booking gigs and flying into airports through hails of RPG fire.
The author does avoid falling into a starry-eyed trap, however. The book rather loses momentum when trying to follow the money backing the aircraft, because the answers are either unavailable or obvious. There's a general disorganisation and repetition, especially in the second half. What he definitely succeeds in is humanising the pilots. Books about the post-Soviet mafia era tend to involve connected intelligence operators entering the private sector and becoming staggeringly rich or rapidly dead. These guys weren't spooks, just the battlefield tribe of Afgantsy veterans, and by the end of the book the overwhelming impression remains of lost soldiers from a forgotten war, unable to ever truly stop fighting or come home, abandoned and passing away from this Earth.
December 27, 2019
Matt Potter does indeed tell an interesting story in the book. Former Soviet pilots taking former Soviet planes and using them to move legal and...less-than-legal goods across the world. It's always been sort of known that world governments use suspicious means to accomplish their goals, and this book definitely indicates that. That being said, like another reviewer has mentioned, the author takes the long way around. Though there is a lot of good information contained in here, it seems to be drug out. The way the author kind of meanders through his story makes it a bit confusing at times. You can tell the author put a lot of research and ground work into the story, including hitching a ride with one of the smugglers. That being said, a shorter story would've been better i suspect. I still absolutely recommend it due to the often ignored or unknown world presented in the book, presented in detail. I'd love a more in-depth look at some of the things mentioned in the book.
It was recommended to me from someone I served with. He had seen a certain plane at a certain airfield in Afghanistan too small for the plane, and no one knew the origin. Years later, he read this, and got quite the surprise.
It was recommended to me from someone I served with. He had seen a certain plane at a certain airfield in Afghanistan too small for the plane, and no one knew the origin. Years later, he read this, and got quite the surprise.
July 18, 2018
Potter tells his tales travelling with ex-Soviet flight crew, who fly their Iljušin 76's in various states of disrepair. They could be called "smugglers", because they smuggle contraband, but the pilots see themselves as simple postmen. They deliver the cargo; it's not theirs to question what the cargo pallets contain. The pilots come off as amoral, instead of immoral.
But the book also tells about the nebulous web of intelligence officers (ex-Soviet and otherwise), government officials, mafiyoso and shady businessmen, who operate within this shadow economy. This was for me the most interesting part of the book.
I loaned this book on a whim from library, thinking it'd be perfect light reading for summer holidays. I wasn't disappointed. This was entertaining and interesting book. It could've been better with tighter editing, though. Potter rambles way too much and wastes pages on useless descriptive passages. You could've cut 100 pages, easily, and the book would been better for it.
But the book also tells about the nebulous web of intelligence officers (ex-Soviet and otherwise), government officials, mafiyoso and shady businessmen, who operate within this shadow economy. This was for me the most interesting part of the book.
I loaned this book on a whim from library, thinking it'd be perfect light reading for summer holidays. I wasn't disappointed. This was entertaining and interesting book. It could've been better with tighter editing, though. Potter rambles way too much and wastes pages on useless descriptive passages. You could've cut 100 pages, easily, and the book would been better for it.
January 4, 2020
When I picked up this book I was excited. I con't to read in hopes that it was going to get good. How can you totally destroy a book about Arms Smugglers. Matt Potter achieved this. He managed to take a 100pg book and stretch it out for another 3-4pgs. DO NOT READ THIS. If any1 who got taken by this book for it's Topic, fancy Cover Art & "provocative" yet misleading title, but; have read one that is Amazing, please lmk. Cheers.
January 13, 2022
On the one hand, this book is a bit of a romp with the antics of the pilots and their derring-do with the gigantic planes. On the other hand, the stories made me sad because all the smuggling activity I THOUGHT I knew about is really a drop in the bucket for what really happens. I am especially saddened by the wildlife and wildlife products which are just decimating some species.
April 5, 2023
Absolutely incredible read. I was reading it for a month or 2 then took a break and read some other pieces, and came back to it astonished as to why I had ever stopped. I found it wonderfully light, and the amount of research, time and effort invested into the piece shows. One of the better reads of my entire life. Would 100% recommend and have recommended to several others already.
December 14, 2018
The book is a revelation.
The facts make you realize how naive you are.
Well researched, a good read.
The only drawback I felt was that it was a drag. I had to push myself to complete the book.
The facts make you realize how naive you are.
Well researched, a good read.
The only drawback I felt was that it was a drag. I had to push myself to complete the book.
July 30, 2021
I just couldn't believe that customs doesn't check the plane out, to allow them to smuggle drugs all over is crazy probably still happens till this day
April 3, 2022
Great story of how wars never end.
April 11, 2023
It was very interesting, but the writer stumbled around a bit during the storytelling. Could have been a bit more concise or had a more logical flow.
November 10, 2023
Very repetitive. Didn't have a lot of interesting stories. A lot of politics which I understand how it this industry was built but I would have rather heard the stories than the politics
November 22, 2023
此書主要講述蘇聯前空軍人員如何在全球黑市中掘起，但作者的寫作方式結構鬆散，內容重覆，如果能夠再精煉一下，整體感覺會更佳。
另外，儘管我總覺得此書部分內容有點誇張，但很適合拍攝成HBO或Netflix的節目，應該會較精彩。
另外，儘管我總覺得此書部分內容有點誇張，但很適合拍攝成HBO或Netflix的節目，應該會較精彩。
October 16, 2025
The longest I’ve ever taken to finish a book, bar against the gods.
Good book and great aviation read
Good book and great aviation read
October 8, 2016
If this book is to believed (and I believe it is). A lot of the shit we are in right now is because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. And for that we can blame the USA. And as this book tells us, many, many governments (and government secret agencies) use unofficial carriers like these to arm rebel, governments and out and out murderers. Taking place in a giant chess game with human lives a guaranteed result of all the work these agencies are involved in.
It's a dirty violent world of dictators and government manipulation. Sadly the real culprits never seem to be brought to task, just the lowly workers.
Whilst the corrupt and power hungry load their pockets with riches.
It's a dirty violent world of dictators and government manipulation. Sadly the real culprits never seem to be brought to task, just the lowly workers.
Whilst the corrupt and power hungry load their pockets with riches.
February 20, 2019
Its sorcery in midair, ex-Soviet, battle hardened, vodka guzzling pilots living on both sides of the law that their life now is nothing but vapours. Mixed with survival instinct, experience and something more than courage, these men carrying weights beyond the flying capacity of their old IL76 and Antonovs held together with duct tape, nose dive into battle wrecked zone, often dodging RPGs only to deliver goods for NGOs, relief organisations, private businessmen, warlords, rebels, defense ministries of world governments and even for the UN at the same time. Yes, the unaccounted for underbelly of theses flying giants carry loads for both sides of a battered nation in need. Along with humanitarian aid they crack their own deals like running guns, missiles, rocket launchers for CIVILIAN use (yeah, mighty clever.) in return for drugs and vice versa, in short whatever could pay them on the side enough to stay flying.
Camouflaging themselves with other logos (sometimes even the UN logo), using other flight’s landing permission, communicating the wrong co-ordinates on the radar, and forged paperwork these phantoms take off as one, fly as other and land as something else. They know these planes better than they know themselves, they fly them like a frigging video game. But as mystically as these men exist they disappear even more shadily, with unexplainable crashes to pushing the fuel limit. Sheer accidents or flying narcosis theses men meet their end in no less Bond style.
Keep your imagination at an overdrive because words might fall short of soaring to heights these dodgers attain. You will be in awe of them, even grateful, admire their mastery at what they do then instantly be scared of their extent, and hate them for all the wrong in the world. The book is honest enough to be not able to clear the fug and fog of the real world because a single person can never see the whole picture and there is always someone higher than you know pulling the strings. A hierarchy that ends at God.
The author paints a life that has not only been adventurous but inevitable for these men. They were forged by the times. These outlaws played the game like champions. The planes may be built again and newer, fitter ones to replace the older ones but the pilots flying them are an endangered species. Risen from the ashes of the collapsing Soviet Union they were bred and fueled by the past and the future they saw ahead. They are irreplaceable and can only be found after millennia entombed peacefully in their crashed planes in the hills or in the bottom of the sea. These men who roamed the skies as the ultimate flying antiheroes!
www.fizzyrant.com
Camouflaging themselves with other logos (sometimes even the UN logo), using other flight’s landing permission, communicating the wrong co-ordinates on the radar, and forged paperwork these phantoms take off as one, fly as other and land as something else. They know these planes better than they know themselves, they fly them like a frigging video game. But as mystically as these men exist they disappear even more shadily, with unexplainable crashes to pushing the fuel limit. Sheer accidents or flying narcosis theses men meet their end in no less Bond style.
Keep your imagination at an overdrive because words might fall short of soaring to heights these dodgers attain. You will be in awe of them, even grateful, admire their mastery at what they do then instantly be scared of their extent, and hate them for all the wrong in the world. The book is honest enough to be not able to clear the fug and fog of the real world because a single person can never see the whole picture and there is always someone higher than you know pulling the strings. A hierarchy that ends at God.
The author paints a life that has not only been adventurous but inevitable for these men. They were forged by the times. These outlaws played the game like champions. The planes may be built again and newer, fitter ones to replace the older ones but the pilots flying them are an endangered species. Risen from the ashes of the collapsing Soviet Union they were bred and fueled by the past and the future they saw ahead. They are irreplaceable and can only be found after millennia entombed peacefully in their crashed planes in the hills or in the bottom of the sea. These men who roamed the skies as the ultimate flying antiheroes!
www.fizzyrant.com
April 6, 2012
Matt potters often shocking Account of the underbelly of the 'Courier' business, paints a picture of an under publicized but very real 'grey' world that most of our leaders know exists, and often partake in.
The narrative is simple enough to follow. The collapse of the Soviet union had many consequences. One of these was the logical privatization of Russia's industries. Shares handed out to every citizen was seen as a way to start the populace off on an equal footing in the new capitalist Russia. Of course this isnt how it worked out and a lot of ordinary Russians didnt understand the value of the pieces of paper they were given and promptly traded them in for "vodka and food" centralizing the wealth back into the hands of a few enterprising entrepreneurs.
Another consequence was the less logical decision made by the then leader of the armed forces, Shaposhnikov, to have a 'fire sale' on ex soviet military equipment.
The new Russian elite took advantage of the situation and stocked up on decommissioned soviet war planes and started up an amoral world-wide shipping Bizness. Jobs were done for old foes, the Taliban and the US government, Arming the former in exchange for drug money and doing the jobs that were to hot to touch for the latter. New partnerships were forged with the leaders of republics situated within former Yugoslavia. trading cigarets by the ton for Ex russian arms and munitions while in warlord controlled Somalia, Diamonds were traded for RPGs and smuggled in under the facade of aid missions.
Potter lifts the veil on a world where death is common, under the table deals are made by world leaders, warlords and businessmen alike and massive amounts of money changes hands illuminating the new 21st century global underground network. Rather then criticize or become disillusioned with what he discovers, Potter presents the facts and allows you to draw your own moral boarders. You often find yourself sympathizing for these airmen as it quickly becomes apparent that they a merely pawns in an elaborate game of chess. The Western world isnt as black and white as world leaders would have you believe...
The narrative is simple enough to follow. The collapse of the Soviet union had many consequences. One of these was the logical privatization of Russia's industries. Shares handed out to every citizen was seen as a way to start the populace off on an equal footing in the new capitalist Russia. Of course this isnt how it worked out and a lot of ordinary Russians didnt understand the value of the pieces of paper they were given and promptly traded them in for "vodka and food" centralizing the wealth back into the hands of a few enterprising entrepreneurs.
Another consequence was the less logical decision made by the then leader of the armed forces, Shaposhnikov, to have a 'fire sale' on ex soviet military equipment.
The new Russian elite took advantage of the situation and stocked up on decommissioned soviet war planes and started up an amoral world-wide shipping Bizness. Jobs were done for old foes, the Taliban and the US government, Arming the former in exchange for drug money and doing the jobs that were to hot to touch for the latter. New partnerships were forged with the leaders of republics situated within former Yugoslavia. trading cigarets by the ton for Ex russian arms and munitions while in warlord controlled Somalia, Diamonds were traded for RPGs and smuggled in under the facade of aid missions.
Potter lifts the veil on a world where death is common, under the table deals are made by world leaders, warlords and businessmen alike and massive amounts of money changes hands illuminating the new 21st century global underground network. Rather then criticize or become disillusioned with what he discovers, Potter presents the facts and allows you to draw your own moral boarders. You often find yourself sympathizing for these airmen as it quickly becomes apparent that they a merely pawns in an elaborate game of chess. The Western world isnt as black and white as world leaders would have you believe...
December 3, 2012
Engagingly written, the author recounts the background as well as his own experience of flying with modern day smugglers, mostly former Soviet, who operate on the edge of what's legal.
Transporting anything anyone is willing to pay for between any two locations, cargo can be humanitarian aid, paid for by the UN, flown into, say, Somalia, or shipments of weapons for rebels in the exact same country. Though overstating the perceived glamour somewhat and dramatizing his stories, the tale rings true and feels credible enough. However, the author himself states in the prologue, that the names, history, shipments and, basically, everything described in the book, has been adjusted to protect those described, effectively meaning that any detail the author relates could be complete fiction.
Indeed. It feels that the central characters around which the history of illicit transports since the collapse of the Soviet Union unfolds are completely fabricated, or at best an amalgamation of a host of characters, providing a personal touch to the story and allowing Potter to be more sensationalist and less academic.
Additionally, the author rehashes his stories, particularly his reasoning, a tad too often. Also, many of the locations that feature in the book I'm myself reasonably familiar with; Bangkok, Kabul, Kampala, Freetown, as well as a few others. And Potter's descriptions of them sound somewhat familiar and are recognizable, to me, to some extent, but also appear much more esoteric than I know them.
In the end, Potter paints a very interesting picture of, what is effectively, a dying breed, post-Soviet air force pilots having themselves rebranded as anything-goes taxi drivers for hire. The book is a captivating enough and an interesting read, if repetitive, even though it's hard to judge to what extent Potter made up the stories he committed to paper.
Transporting anything anyone is willing to pay for between any two locations, cargo can be humanitarian aid, paid for by the UN, flown into, say, Somalia, or shipments of weapons for rebels in the exact same country. Though overstating the perceived glamour somewhat and dramatizing his stories, the tale rings true and feels credible enough. However, the author himself states in the prologue, that the names, history, shipments and, basically, everything described in the book, has been adjusted to protect those described, effectively meaning that any detail the author relates could be complete fiction.
Indeed. It feels that the central characters around which the history of illicit transports since the collapse of the Soviet Union unfolds are completely fabricated, or at best an amalgamation of a host of characters, providing a personal touch to the story and allowing Potter to be more sensationalist and less academic.
Additionally, the author rehashes his stories, particularly his reasoning, a tad too often. Also, many of the locations that feature in the book I'm myself reasonably familiar with; Bangkok, Kabul, Kampala, Freetown, as well as a few others. And Potter's descriptions of them sound somewhat familiar and are recognizable, to me, to some extent, but also appear much more esoteric than I know them.
In the end, Potter paints a very interesting picture of, what is effectively, a dying breed, post-Soviet air force pilots having themselves rebranded as anything-goes taxi drivers for hire. The book is a captivating enough and an interesting read, if repetitive, even though it's hard to judge to what extent Potter made up the stories he committed to paper.
April 3, 2013
Imagine yourself in a small bar within a stones throw of a dirt airstrip in the Congo. Smokey room filled with hushed conversations punctuated by the bellowing laughter and hard talk of Ex Russian military fly-boys. The moment you see them you know they have clocked more hours than any pilot in here, you also start to get the feeling that there is no way in hell these guys are flying for UPS. Enter the world of the best of the best, Smugglers from the bowels of the earth, flying massive planes filled with tons of illicit cargo. The book does an amazing job of giving you the sensation of what it would be like to see these guys in action. Relays that feeling of being there with them as they sit around and tell you their stories. Which is what it should do, because that is what it was set up to do. I guess the part that I miss is that I wish it felt more like I was with them up there, doing the runs. Knowing what its like to take off with 15 tons of guns heading for a African war zone. Or get searched in Iranian customs. What its like to hand off much needed medical aid packages to rebel leaders and know that they will be sold, instead of given to the people who need it most. I wanted to see the humanity in here, or I wanted to see their hard core indifference, instead the narrative walks in the gray zone, which makes me just hate them more. Its a hard book to fall in love with. Its a tough group to love, even though I really am a romantic about outlaws. I guess when you take their makeup off, their just a bunch of dirty, drunk whores. That said Matt Potter can write. Journalist style and really engaging.
April 4, 2012
Outlaws, Inc, is an exhaustive and impressively researched book on post Soviet Airmen turned smugglers in the 1990s and present day. By the midpoint, however, I just couldn't get myself to finish this book.
Having read the synopsis, I was sold instantly. Journalist Mark Potter follows a group of Soviet Airmen who, at the fall of the Soviet Union, re-registered an IL-76 Cargo plane and became the bona fide A-Team of international smuggling. This had me interested on every level. How could you go wrong reading about real life Han Solos nose diving cargo planes onto war torn air strips dropping guns, UN aid, or drugs to the highest bidder?
Unfortunately, the book felt more like a 360 page long collection of the same article written over and over again. The book sells itself as creative non-fiction (or so I thought), following the crew and their trials and tribulations as international smugglers, but ultimately focused more on the grand scale and very little on the crew. Not to say this book wasn't interesting as hell -- it's got some genuine gems, but they're so scattered within blocks of repetitive bouts of information, it became a real chore to get through.
Nonetheless, Potter really did his research, which I give props. It just needed a little bit of dramatic flair to keep me reading.
February 21, 2013
An absolutely fantastic book, dealing with a complicated and fascinating issue. Matt Potter brings all of his journalistic powers to bear on the issue of modern-day smugglers: no Han Solos here, but rather desperate men and women who have found a niche in a global economy that polite society refuses to acknowledge.
This is more than just a telling of dates and times, though. Mr. Potter digs deep into the geopolitics, reveals the false dichotomy of 'good guys' and 'bad guys,' and adds his own unique interpretation of this situation.
From the big picture of global movers and shakers, with power-drenched mafiya sorts and intelligence operatives as corrupt as they are ambitious, down to the simple reality of a hard life full of uncertainty and danger- and yes, even some mystique- Matt Potter's tale is an intriguing one, and one I certainly recommend to anyone who likes looking beneath the surface of the new global economy, and the intersection of government and crime- and what happens to those caught in the middle of it.
This is more than just a telling of dates and times, though. Mr. Potter digs deep into the geopolitics, reveals the false dichotomy of 'good guys' and 'bad guys,' and adds his own unique interpretation of this situation.
From the big picture of global movers and shakers, with power-drenched mafiya sorts and intelligence operatives as corrupt as they are ambitious, down to the simple reality of a hard life full of uncertainty and danger- and yes, even some mystique- Matt Potter's tale is an intriguing one, and one I certainly recommend to anyone who likes looking beneath the surface of the new global economy, and the intersection of government and crime- and what happens to those caught in the middle of it.
July 6, 2012
Matt Potter takes an intrinsically-interesting subject -- the worldwide illicit air cargo/smuggling network that came into existence after the breakup of the Soviet Union, flown by fearless Russian crews manning high-time and sometimes derelict Ilyushin and Antonov cargo planes, fronted by movers and shakers like the infamous Victor Bout -- and writes a book that, after the first 50 to 60 pages, is all repetition. This would have been a terrific long article in Rolling Stone. Expanded to book length, it's almost unreadable, at least if you have a functioning memory. Didn't I just read that? Why yes, he mentioned it on page 10. And what's this? It's the story told on page 10 all over again, with extra words that add nothing. Very disappointing. If I were not a died in the wool aviation buff, I would give it one less star for trying to waste so much of my time.
December 19, 2013
i liked that the plot was action packed from the beginning. i felt like the book starts quickly and then chapter by chapter its slows down. i loved all of the book because there was nothing not to like. the book was interesting because its talking about war.
my favorite character is mikey because he was an outgoing person and he is not afraid of anything. i think he reminds me of my brother because they are both in the army and they will do anything for their country. mikey is like me because we both are not afraid of anything
hate= the author tells us that if you trust the wrong person then he will stab you in the back like what happend to mikey when he trusted the enemy because the enemy literally stabbed him in the back.
my favorite character is mikey because he was an outgoing person and he is not afraid of anything. i think he reminds me of my brother because they are both in the army and they will do anything for their country. mikey is like me because we both are not afraid of anything
hate= the author tells us that if you trust the wrong person then he will stab you in the back like what happend to mikey when he trusted the enemy because the enemy literally stabbed him in the back.
July 29, 2014
Interesting insight into a world I was vaguely familiar with (basically from snippets in Lord Of War) but that had more depth to it than I initially expected. The world of illegal flights & how they tie into the greater geopolitical milieu since the fall of the Soviet Union is explored but the book also touches on the pilots themselves & offers a glimpse of the lives they lead. It's interesting though the constant barrage of different locations do begin to blend together. There is an underlying sense of conspiracy theory about some sections but nothing too implausible. I may have read this a little bit too quickly so the details may fade quite quickly but the underlying message is well put forward.
June 23, 2024
Olihan tässä ilmeisesti tehty kovasti journalistista kenttätyötä ja kaivettu esiin mielenkiintoisia juttuja. Ja aiheenkin sanoisin olevan kiinnostava.
Mutta jokainen vähänkään enempää kirjoja lukenut varmasti tajuaa, että tämän kirjan kirjoitus on tehty todella hutiloiden. Jos kustannustoimittaja olisi vaikkapa laitattanut tapahtumat kronologiseen järjestykseen ja poistattanut tekstistä turhan toiston (jota oli aivan poikkeuksellisen paljon), niin olisihan tämä ollut kirjana paljon paljon parempi ja mukavampi lukea. Vaikka olisikin sitten sivumäärältään puolet pienempi.
Mutta jokainen vähänkään enempää kirjoja lukenut varmasti tajuaa, että tämän kirjan kirjoitus on tehty todella hutiloiden. Jos kustannustoimittaja olisi vaikkapa laitattanut tapahtumat kronologiseen järjestykseen ja poistattanut tekstistä turhan toiston (jota oli aivan poikkeuksellisen paljon), niin olisihan tämä ollut kirjana paljon paljon parempi ja mukavampi lukea. Vaikka olisikin sitten sivumäärältään puolet pienempi.
December 11, 2012
This was a great insiders look into the world of the Black Market dealers and the people that move the product around.The way things are stored in plain sight inside the planes could give David Copperfield a run for his money.It also tells the story of how these men became pilots for hire,the men that found them & what happens when you fly so close to the edge in aging planes with overloaded cargo holds.
This is a great read with many funny,shocking & holy moley moments.
This is a great read with many funny,shocking & holy moley moments.
March 13, 2012
The topic is interesting for sure, and the author has firsthand experiences that shed some light onto the personal aspect. That said, I struggled to get through the book. The syntax is bad. What's worse is the author can't decide whether to write it like a factual account or to embellish as if it were a novel (full of trite metaphors and redundancy). A great opportunity for insight was lost to a self-centered and intellectually inept analysis.
September 11, 2014
Don't bother.
About 50 pages of content stretched into a book. There was a few really interesting stories but they were too far apart to sustain any sort of pace. I gave up when it rambled around the same hidden tonnage revelation for the fifth time.
About 50 pages of content stretched into a book. There was a few really interesting stories but they were too far apart to sustain any sort of pace. I gave up when it rambled around the same hidden tonnage revelation for the fifth time.
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