Nightlife Icon Eric Goode Unveils HBO Series Exposing Global Reptile Smuggling Rings

HBO’s five-episode documentary "Monsters of God," debuting Aug. 6, is the latest venture of Eric Goode, the former NYC nightclub impresario turned conservationist. The series revisits Goode’s early career, including his 1980s club Area, and follows his investigation into the illicit reptile market, spotlighting characters such as South-Florida reptile dealer Tom Crutchfield, who served 30 months after Operation Chameleon, and Anson Wong, dubbed the “Pablo Escobar of animal trafficking,” whom Goode interviewed in Penang, Malaysia.

The program also features cocaine-linked animal collector Mario Tabraue and examines the roles of institutions like the San Diego Zoo and U.S. agencies pursuing smugglers. Drawing on his work with the Turtle Conservancy, Goode seeks to portray the trade’s moral ambiguities rather than a simple good-versus-evil narrative. He hopes the series will entertain while raising awareness of wildlife protection challenges.