After the passing of his mentor and employer, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas rises to prominence as the leading importer of heroin in Harlem, Manhattan. Determined to make his mark, Frank sources heroin directly from Southeast Asia, bypassing traditional channels and ensuring higher quality and profitability. He devises an innovative method for smuggling the drugs into the United States, setting himself apart in the dangerous world of narcotics. This story is inspired by real events.