Part 5/9:
By the early 1980s, law enforcement intensified its efforts against drug trafficking, resulting in a significant crackdown that disrupted many families’ livelihoods. The stories of old timers recounting their participation in such covert operations reveal a bittersweet nostalgia for a time when money flowed in, and risks were taken for the sake of survival. Despite the tumultuous circumstances, many locals found a way to adapt, pivoting towards cleaner businesses, including airboat rides and nature tours, catering to burgeoning tourism.