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St. Pierre and Miquelon’s Illicit Liquor Empire

In the early 20th century, a small archipelago off the coast of Newfoundland, France’s St. Pierre and Miquelon, became a hotbed for financial crime, transforming into one of the most valuable real estate on earth during the 1920s and 1930s.

A Geographical Advantage

St. Pierre and Miquelon’s unique geographical advantage and French laws made it an attractive hub for smugglers and suppliers. The archipelago’s remote location, just 15 miles off Canadian shores, made it an ideal spot for bootleggers to operate with ease.

Prohibition Era

After the United States enacted Prohibition in 1920, St. Pierre and Miquelon became a lucrative hub for smuggling liquor into North America. The islands attracted some of the biggest names in the industry due to French law allowing for the production, storage, and transport of alcohol.

• Canadian distillers exported their products to the United States without paying duties or dealing with local officials.
• Over 1,000 ships annually docked at storage facilities on the islands, accommodating the influx of liquor.

Economic Prosperity

The economic prosperity brought by Prohibition lifted all boats in St. Pierre and Miquelon, transforming the lives of its residents. Locals who had previously made a living as fishermen were now either making an easy living or more money by transporting liquor.

The Repeal of Prohibition

However, this boom was short-lived, as the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 brought an end to the islands’ illicit empire. The sudden loss of demand led to a massive depression that lasted for years, causing many gangsters and Canadian bankers to leave the area.

Legacy

Today, while the archipelago has diversified its economy through tourism and oil and gas exploration, it has never again experienced the same level of prosperity as during the Prohibition era.