(TMZ) George Jung -- the prolific cocaine smuggler portrayed by Johnny Depp in the movie "Blow" -- got a temporary get out of prison free card recently ... after doctors spotted a potentially cancerous growth on his face. For those unfamiliar, Jung -- who's currently serving a 15-year stretch in Texas federal prison -- is credited with sparking the '80s cocaine frenzy ... even netting him a cool $100 million at one point.
TMZ has learned ... Jung was allowed to leave the confines of the prison in December ... and was transported to a nearby facility so doctors could remove a suspicious mole on his nose.
One source tells us Jung believes the mole is a direct result of the long hours he spent lingering in the Mexican sun -- hobnobbing and negotiating with the country's top drug lords.
Prison officials are refusing to comment on Jung's current health status, but our sources say the surgery was a success ... even though Jung remained shackled during the entire hospital procedure.
Jung was tossed back into the pokey afterward and is scheduled for release on Thanksgiving Day, 2014. more on this story
