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SNOWING IN BALI

Believe me, when I go to California there is [a man like] Pablo Escobar - a boss, selling drugs around Brazil, around the world - he came to me and says, 'Marco, now listen to me. You go to America. I have many friends in America, international, so you can make more money.' I take 3 kilos the first time, came through easy. There is another Pablo Escobar... came to my hang-glider.

I compete everywhere in the world and always I bring narcoba [drugs]. I take cocaine to America, to Italy, to Spain, to Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, everywhere. I'm a Brazilian champion, so when I come, they check but they don't really check.

- Marco

The trafficking gave Marco his own cash for the first time. It gave him freedom to fly, and he would often soar in the skies above Rio, sometimes 3000 feet up - so high that the arms of the famous statue of Christ would fade out, then disappear. Sometimes he'd circle with 10 or 20 others, flying close for a chat, before swooping through the sky like a god - with adrenalin in his veins and peace in his heart. Often, to enhance the bliss and awe, he'd smoke a joint before launching off.

Ooh, it's the best you know; a very good sensation if you smoke a joint to fly. Wow. I always smoke and fly, smoke and fly, you know, like meditation. I have flown many places in your country, you know. I fly everywhere over there: Adelaide, Stanwell Park, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, I fly everywhere. I fly competition for 12 years, I always carry some cocaine.

- Marco

A near-fatal accident when he was 19 undoubtedly instilled a deep sense of invincibility. It was as if some angel was perched

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