From CEO, to Divorced Peruvian Cocaine Smuggler, to 37 Years Sober

John’s journey is nothing short of jaw-dropping. He started drinking at a shockingly young age, long before most kids even know what addiction is. But for years, he lived in denial—brushing off the red flags, numbing the pain, and convincing himself he had everything under control. By all appearances, he was succeeding. He built his own logistics company from the ground up and looked like a man on the rise. But behind the scenes, the addiction was tightening its grip.

Then it all came crashing down.

John lost everything—his company, his home, and his marriage. The very foundation of his life crumbled beneath him, and he found himself standing in the rubble, broken and desperate. With no real direction and no one left to turn to, John made a choice that would change the trajectory of his life in a terrifying way: he got involved in the international drug trade.

What followed was a chaotic descent into Peru’s cocaine underworld. John began smuggling kilos of cocaine while still deep in the throes of drinking and using. He was living life on the edge—trafficking drugs, dodging disaster, and numbing the wreckage of his past with whatever he could get his hands on. The money was fast, the risks were higher, and the darkness just kept growing.

But somehow, he survived.

John eventually found recovery—through grit, surrender, and sheer determination. Today, he has nearly 38 years sober and is living proof that no one is too far gone to turn their life around. He’s a man who once smuggled cocaine by the kilo and now shares his experience to help others find the light.

And here’s a twist: John once got into a heated verbal altercation with Louis, one of our hosts, during a recovery meeting. Emotions flared, words were exchanged—but instead of letting it divide them, they both grew from it. Today, they’re close friends and allies in sobriety.

This episode is raw, real, and packed with lessons about resilience, redemption, and the power of transformation. Tune in to hear how John went from drowning in addiction and international drug trafficking to becoming a living example of what long-term recovery can look like.

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