Testimonials

Peter B. Bensinger, DEA Administrator (1976-1981)

“Charles Lutz’s story is an extraordinary one that should be of great interest to all Americans, and to all who respect democracy and the rule of law. He was an outstanding Special Agent and leader within the DEA, and his public service prior to and subsequent to the DEA is a reflection of his commitment to the mission, and to our country.”

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Paul Brown, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, DEA Houston Field Division (Retired) 

Welcome to the real world of DEA special agents, criminals, diplomats and politicians. A difficult book to put down, Charles Lutz captures the history of international drug trafficking and terrorism, much of which you will not read about in other books. He takes you back to the mid-sixties through the early 2000s, and brings to life scenes from his past experiences that are more exciting than anything you will see on TV. It is the most authentic narrative of a government agent’s career I have ever read. 

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Thomas V. Cash, Special Agent-in-Charge, DEA Miami Field Division (Retired)

“I had the right man on my team in Miami. Charles Lutz’s leadership helped reduce the amount of cocaine and marijuana coming into our country through the Caribbean. His story is one of his many accomplishments in a career that literally spans the globe. When it comes to international drug law enforcement, Lutz knows what he’s talking about.” 

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Gary Fouse, DEA Special Agent (Retired) and author

“This book is more than just an account of one DEA agent’s outstanding and distinguished career. It provides a valuable history of a great law enforcement agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and an overview of the evolving drug threat worldwide. It is the best book I have ever read about international drug law enforcement written by a DEA special agent. I am proud to have worked with Charles Lutz and to be his friend.”

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Stephen H. Greene, DEA Deputy Administrator (Retired)

“Charles Lutz reveals a wealth of knowledge about the complex history and difficult mission of illegal drug suppression efforts. He had a long and distinguished career as a Special Agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration, serving at many of DEA’s most challenging posts, both domestically and overseas, and in senior positions at headquarters and in the field.

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John H. Kramer, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Criminology, Pennsylvania State University

“Charles Lutz takes the reader along his career path from Vietnam through his distinguished career in the DEA and to his latest crusade to recognize the contributions of Harry Anslinger, the first head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Readers will be inspired by Charles’s dedication at each stage of his career. His story gives us an inside look into the career of one of many unsung heroes who have devoted and risked their lives to strengthen our country.” 

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John C. McWilliams, Professor of History, Penn State U. (Retired)

“Charles Lutz — whose own thirty-two-year career with the DEA included extensive experience in the United States and abroad with tours in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America overseeing jungle operations — accords Anslinger his place as a formidable figure in shaping federal drug control initiatives. Anyone interested in the history and nature of federal drug enforcement will benefit from Lutz’s use of archival documents and his access to other DEA agents as he recognizes Anslinger’s extraordinary career and legacy in federal drug enforcement.”

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Rick Scovel, TSA Assistant Federal Security Director (2002-2005)

“Charles Lutz could have devoted this entire book to those turbulent times for the Transportation Security Administration. What struck me and his staff was his diplomacy and patience with the politicians and their appointees during his years as Federal Security Director. I probably wouldn’t have lasted three months in his position.”