THE TRUE STORY OF A MAN WHO LIVED ON THE
EDGE OF LAW, WAR, AND POWER
DIRTY
combat
Secret Wars and Serious Adventures
From the battlefields of Angola to the jungles of Colombia, from covert operations and intelligence watchlists to prison cells on both sides of the Atlantic, Tomkins lived a life shaped by danger, ambition, conflict, and survival.
A LIFE WITHOUT RULES
david tomkins
Born in London during World War II, David Tomkins followed a path unlike any conventional biography.
After a troubled childhood, time in reform institutions, and service in the Merchant Navy, he entered the criminal underworld as a skilled safe-breaker and explosives expert. His expertise eventually led him into the world of international mercenary operations and weapons trading. Over the following decades, he traveled through some of the most volatile regions on earth, operating in environments shaped by war, revolution, political instability, and organized crime.
His name appeared on the radar of intelligence agencies across the world, including the CIA and Interpol. He became known as a figure who operated where governments, criminal organizations, and private military interests intersected.
Dirty Combat is not fiction.
THE UNTOLD MEMOIR OF A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
It is a first-hand account of one man’s journey through some of the most dangerous conflicts and covert operations of the late twentieth century.
Inside the book, readers will discover:
- Mercenary campaigns in Angola
- International arms trafficking networks
- Political assassination plots
- Intelligence operations and covert missions
- The criminal underworld of Europe and South America
- Prison experiences in the United Kingdom and the United States
- Encounters with warlords, spies, soldiers, and drug cartels
Tomkins recounts events candidly, often refusing to soften the consequences of his decisions or the realities of the world he inhabited.
FEATURED STORY
THE PABLO ESCOBAR MISSION
Among the most infamous episodes of Tomkins’ career was his involvement in a plan connected to the campaign against Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.
According to later accounts, Tomkins became involved in efforts backed by Escobar’s rivals to acquire military aircraft capable of attacking Escobar’s strongholds. The operation ultimately collapsed after a sophisticated law enforcement sting operation. Years later, the case resulted in his arrest and imprisonment in the United States.
Although the mission failed, it became one of the most extraordinary chapters in a life already filled with remarkable stories.
FIVE DECADES OF GLOBAL ADVENTURE
A WORLD OF CONFLICT
Angola
Civil war, mercenary campaigns, and frontline combat operations.
Pakistan
Colombia
Middle East
Europe
MEDIA & DOCUMENTARY
DOGS OF WAR
David Tomkins’ life has recently been explored in the documentary Dogs of War, which examines his rise from criminal
safe-breaker to international mercenary and arms broker. The documentary combines personal interviews, archival footage, and historical analysis to explore the consequences of a life spent operating in the shadows of global conflict.
I'm a criminal and I make no bones about it.
David Tomkins reflected on his life with unusual honesty, acknowledging both the opportunities and the consequences that came with operating in a world defined by war, money, and power.
ENTER THE WORLD OF DIRTY COMBAT
A true story of crime, conflict, survival, and international intrigue. Discover the memoir that reads like a thriller, but happened in real life.
