Teen Kingpins Who Flooded the U.S. with Canada’s Best Bud

The Teen Kingpins Who Flooded the U.S. with Canada’s Best Bud

Nate and Tofer were two teenagers from Idaho who dreamed of striking it rich by smuggling high-quality marijuana from British Columbia into the United States. In 2001, with Canada’s medical marijuana industry booming, they believed a single pound of premium “BC bud” could multiply their small capital of $1,400 into serious profits. After a shaky start—being scammed into buying low-grade weed—the pair stumbled upon a workable scheme. Tofer would sneak across the border through remote forests with a backpack, while Nate crossed legally by car. On the U.S. side, Skuz, another resourceful teen, sold their product at double the price, proving the model worked.

They quickly moved beyond small deals, cutting partnerships with skilled growers in Nelson, BC, who provided top-grade cannabis. Runners—high school friends dubbed the “Nerd Gang”—donned camouflage, carried duffel bags stuffed with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and hiked through bear-infested forests at night. Each successful run made Nate over $150,000. Soon, they expanded into a well-organized operation, moving thousands of pounds and earning millions.

As their wealth soared, they abandoned their initial vow of discretion. Nate bought mansions, threw parties, and flaunted his newfound lifestyle. Meanwhile, rivalries emerged. Another teenage dealer known as “Vank” sought to eliminate Nate by hiring a hitman. But this plan backfired horribly. Instead of killing Nate, the would-be assassin murdered Vank himself, leaving his body in the woods. Violence and paranoia crept into the smuggling world.

Law enforcement eventually closed in. Arrests of lower-level dealers began tipping off the DEA, FBI, and Homeland Security. The crew started facing serious scrutiny, and the forest runs became riskier. When Skuz’s house was robbed by masked men, Nate realized how dangerous the situation had become. Tensions mounted further when Nate’s reckless spending and public presence drew more attention. Tofer grew uneasy, urging Nate to quit before it was too late. But Nate pressed on, promising legal support if anyone got caught.

Finally, the authorities dismantled the operation. With his crew turning on each other under pressure, Nate turned himself in. He was surprised that the officials expected a hardened gangster but found only a young, nerdy-looking kid. Nate received a 12-year sentence, Tofer got two years but eventually died in a later shootout, and other associates faced their own penalties. After his release in 2013, Nate reinvented himself in a legitimate business, leaving behind a cautionary tale of teenage ambition, easy money, and inevitable downfall.

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