<div>David Tuch, author of <em>The Wireless Operator</em>, joins Chris to tell the stranger-than-fiction story of Harold Derber—a wartime wireless operator who later ran blockade-busting weapons to Israel before reinventing marijuana smuggling in the 1970s. David explains how a loophole created by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act briefly made it legal to hold drugs in international waters—and how Derber exploited it with a “mothership” fleet, offloading tons of marijuana at sea. They break down why Deber’s flagship, the <em>Night Train</em>, became law enforcement’s obsession, built on counter-surveillance and tradecraft designed to keep informants out. The conversation then moves into Miami and Wall Street—money laundering, the Gambinos, and First Jersey Securities—alongside Derber’s documented ties to Cuban intelligence.<br> <br> Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.<br> <br> Learn more about David and his work: <a href="https://davidtuch.com">https://davidtuch.com<br> </a><br> Order <em>The Wireless Operator</em>: <a href="https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/the-wireless-operator/">https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/the-wireless-operator/<br> </a><br> </div> <h1><strong>Please share this episode using these links</strong></h1> <div>Audio: <a href="https://pod.fo/e/3681a7">https://pod.fo/e/3681a7</a><br> YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/dIYCKH35Y6s">https://youtu.be/dIYCKH35Y6s</a><br> <br> </div> <h1><strong>Support Secrets and Spies</strong></h1> <div>Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies">https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies</a><br> Buy merchandise from our shop: <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996">https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996</a><br> Buy us a coffee: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies">https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies</a><br> Subscribe to our YouTube page: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg</a><br> For more information about the podcast, check out our website: <a href="https://secretsandspiespodcast.com">https://secretsandspiespodcast.com</a><br> <br> </div> <h1><strong>Connect with us on social media</strong></h1> <div>Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social">https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social</a><br> Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/secretsandspies">https://instagram.com/secretsandspies</a><br> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/secretsandspies">https://facebook.com/secretsandspies</a><br> Spoutible: <a href="https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies">https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies<br> </a><br> Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:<br> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social">https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social</a><br> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net">https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net<br> </a><br> <em>Secrets and Spies</em> is produced by F &amp; P LTD.<br> Music by Andrew R. Bird<br> Photo by David Tuch, Ted Akey, Wolfson Archives &amp; Icon Books<br> <br> <em>Secrets and Spies</em> sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.</div>