What does it take to bring down the most powerful drug lord in modern history? In this gripping episode, DEA Special Agent Steve Murphy, one of the agents who helped take down Pablo Escobar, joins me to unpack the truth behind the manhunt that inspired Netflix’s Narcos. From gunfights in Miami and undercover stings gone sideways, to the 18-month chase through Colombia with a $300,000 bounty on his head, Murphy shares firsthand stories that the cameras never captured. We dive into his early years, the real DEA-CIA turf wars, Los Pepes, Escobar’s cocaine superlabs, and the moral cost of a decades-long drug war.
Guest bio: Steve Murphy is a former DEA Special Agent best known for helping track down Pablo Escobar. He’s the co-author of Manhunters: How We Took Down Pablo Escobar and co-host of the podcast Game of Crimes, where he unpacks real-life criminal investigations with raw insight and first-hand experience.
SUPPORT THE ZACH SHOW BY SUBSCRIBING TO THE ZACH SHOW 2.0 (BONUS EPISODES & EXCLUSIVE CONTENT): https://auxoro.supercast.com/
STEVE MURPHY LINKS:
Website: https://www.deanarcos.com/
Game Of Crimes (Podcast): https://bit.ly/3HEjA3e
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ @gameofcrimes3523
Manhunters (book): https://bit.ly/3SDLMWp
THE ZACH SHOW LINKS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoro
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CLjEqF
Newsletter: https://therealzachwrites.substack.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@auxoropod
To support the show, please leave a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This nudges the algorithm to show The Zach Show to more new listeners and is the best way to help the show grow. Thank you for your support:
Review us on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/458nbha
Review us on Spotify: https://bit.ly/43ZLrAt
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.