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COMING TO PARADISE

Indonesian customs officials on the resort island of Bali have arrested a Brazilian accused of smuggling 4.3 kilograms of cocaine hidden in his surfboard, a customs official said on Saturday.

— Reuters, 15 January 1994

Frank’s bust exposed and ruined for a while the method of using surfboards to carry drugs to Bali, as boards suddenly got more attention. But drug traffickers constantly worked creatively to stay that one critical step ahead of authorities, by devising new tricks. On this first run, Rafael was using the so far undetected method of stitching the grass into the lining of a surfboard bag. His insouciant confidence only slipped when his bag came through Bali’s airport with a large cross slashed across it in chalk. It gave him a scare, but didn’t stop him.

I freaked out a bit, but when they say, ‘Open the bag,’ I was acting very calm, smiling. They asked, ‘How many boards inside?’ I say, ‘Three.’ ‘Okay, you can go.’ Oh shit yes! Close. ‘Ciao.’

— Rafael

Winning his first hand of Russian roulette was always going to ensnare him in the game. In days his cash balance had rocketed from zero to $5000, giving him precious freedom to live his dream life, spending several months cruising the islands of Lombok, Sumbawa and Sumatra, surfing from dawn until dusk. At nights though, he contemplated his next move, especially as the cash started running out.

Rafael was never going to just be a horse. He was smart and savvy, with a fierce confidence and strong ego. In Amsterdam, he’d closely watched as the master drug packers stitched the dope into the lining of the surfboard cover, using exactly

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