Psychedelic nudibranchs hold high numbers in the international black market, which is why they are going extinct.To tell this story, I followed two smugglers who are involved in this lucrative industry. One who delivers the cash from China and the other who delivers the nudibranchs slugs from Slug Island, a privately owned estate unknown to the outside world.
These very rare psychoactive sea slugs are raised in slug farms deep in the forests near the Hinuwentu Villages of Slug Island. The slugs contain a potent aphrodisiac when consumed and are known to give off intense sexual hallucinations. Slug farmers dress in colors that help sooth the slugs as they are being captured. This color response relaxation method prevents the slug from secreting it’s air born hallucinogenic toxins.
I followed Najua, a black market nudibranch transporter on his journey from Slug Island to Montauk. A thirty five day plane ride.
Back in NY, I also followed Sarah, an international money transporter who models on the side. Her special made coat can fit up to half a million dollars of any foreign currency.
Two men are needed for these international transactions. One to count the cash, and one to handle the merchandise.
David, is the cash man.
Judging by the looks of Sarah’s padded coat, I bet she has at least two hundred thousand on her right now.
Sometimes it’s a waiting game when it comes to this line of work.
When Sarah arrived, Najua had me take this picture of them together. Something to show his family back home I guess.
They headed to a hotel room that their bosses had set up for them weeks in advance.
Inside the room, things got moody.
Sarah went quiet and Najua went quiet.
David, the cash man, closed the blinds to hide this transaction from public view.
This was the last picture I remember taking before collapsing. The toxins got released and everyone passed out.
Inside the realms of hallucinations.
When I woke up, I found Sarah lying on the beach with a nudibranch sea slug on her face. She was in a deep trance.
Najau and Sarah were both in a deep hallucination when I left them on the beach. The fact that they were holding hands is a good sign in the Slug Islander tradition. It’s a sign of Coastal Love.
You can watch the documentary film I made about the subject here.