“Les Go Fast” was what the French police called a group of drug couriers who used high-end German cars to transport coke and weed throughout Europe. Carrying up to 1400 lbs of contraband, “Les Go Fast” were famous for using an SUV as a “rabbit” to spot police and run over any that tried to block the road. They didn’t go the stealth route, they simply drove so fast it would have been too dangerous to try to stop them.
Now there’s a movie coming out about them on October 10th. Unfortunately…for many…it’ll only be released in France. (Thanks to Chris M. for the tip…)
The following is a translation by tipster Chris M. from the article in Le Figaro:
As you may not know, since the last 3-4 years the lives of European “Cannonballers” have become more difficult. The reason is that they are (quite understandably) confused with a new kind of very dangerous guys who use the same playground and the same behaviour. The French cops call these bad guys “Les Go Fast.”
Basically a “go fast” is a very high speed convoy of multiple powerful german vehicles carrying 1400 pounds of canabis and cocaine. V12’s or turbocharged V8’s only. Fuel cells for at least 600 miles. A 4×4 is in the lead and one vehicle trails the convoy a few minutes back. Coming from Marbella or Malaga they use the spanish and french highways to outrun the police at insane speed and deliver their load to various cities or countries. Cigarette power boats on wheels.
Now you might think that drug dealers would like to “run silent, run swift”, with radar detectors, jammers, scanners and all. Wrong. Not anymore. The demand for marijuana has gone so high (an estimated 12,000 lbs. a week in Paris alone) that no one bothers hiding 100 pounds in a stealth vehicle anymore. The way it goes now is “go fast”. Fast enough to become so dangerous that no one will dare to stop you.
So they don’t even care to hide. Why would they?
Police cars? Too slow.
Choppers? The convoys only run at night when no chopper flies.
Roadblocks? Never used on european highways. They don’t have medians. Too dangerous. Even on two lanes the bad guys don’t stop. So the cops got tired of having their Peugeots as smashed as their colleagues.
Toll booth? This is where the 4×4 comes in. Remember it runs ahead of the pack. The driver gets out of his car, looks everywhere for any kind of ambush, and then calls to OK the others. A moment later the convoy passes through, using the “no-stop” lane.
Of course the cops tried to block the way with a police car. The 4×4s simply roll over it. Another time, in Marseille, they tried to stop them with a flatbed truck in the way. A Merc 500SL managed to push it.
The drivers are paid ~15000$ each. Go Fast convoys happen almost every night.
The French cops say that they are developing a new kind of road spike technology…and also cameras that read license plates to check for stolen cars. They will maybe hurry up a little now that this movie has come out on the subject.
(ALEX WRITES: Hey Avalancher…thanks for the tip AND the translation!)
(ALEX ALSO WRITES: Some of the comments didn’t make the transition…working on it…and pasting a copy of them below in the meantime…)
French filmmakers have a good track record on car movies — even if sometimes they overdub the engine sounds…
so this could be good.
I want a new french twisty-bendy road chase. Ronin and the Transporter DVD’s are getting worn out from overuse. Fingers crossed!
@fpborg: Ronin was made by John Frankenheimer…
not quite franch, but The Transporter was, just
like Go Fast, produced by Luc Besson (who is).
I’ve hunted high and low for hard news stories about the allegedly real “Les Go Fast” and can’t find anything. AND I speak French…so it’s not a language issue.
Something about the backstory of the “real” people doesn’t quite ring true here….
Any thoughts? Is it just a cool story inspired by life…perhaps sexed up for film?
Avalancher?
Best, Alex
Who cares if it’s real or not, this movie looks very very promising.
Here’s an Independent piece that’s got a bit more depth, including some comments from members of the Gendarmerie and the French DEA.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/trafficking-in-the-fast-lane-936176.html
The movie is (also) based on this book…
http://www.amazon.fr/Au-coeur-trafic-Lhistoire-vraie/dp/2910753832
It’s written by an ex-gofaster.
There’s been many TV shows in France for the
promotion of the movie, and although I haven’t
seen any real gofaster onstage, there were
multiple police officers witnessing.
I guess I should have added more authentication links
when I wrote to Peter, but the most interesting article
was this 2003 article from Le Figaro.
Based on what the movie’s actors and cops were saying
the go fast convoys are still used nowadays.
Dear Mike & Avalancher:
Thanks for the links. Reading both now, and I just ordered the book.
E-mail me at adanielr@gmail.com. I’d love to chat with you both offline.
Best, Alex