August 10, 2024 • 46 mins
What if one man's rise to power could plunge an entire nation into chaos? In this gripping episode, we unravel the enigmatic life of Pablo Escobar, charting his journey from petty criminal to one of the most powerful and feared drug lords the world has ever known. We explore the unstoppable growth of the Medellín and Cali cartels, driven by the global cocaine boom of the 1970s and 1980s, and the unimaginable wealth and brutal violence that followed. Discover how Escobar's empire infiltrated every level of Colombian society, spreading corruption, fear, and violence, creating a complex web that still has repercussions today.
Ever wondered how Colombian cartels managed to exert such massive influence both locally and internationally? We delve into the sophisticated logistics of the cocaine trade, revealing smuggling routes and methods that funneled drugs into the United States and Europe. Learn about the significant acts of violence orchestrated by the cartels, from the bombing of Avianca Flight 203 to the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán. This episode also sheds light on the challenges faced by law enforcement and the pivotal role of U.S. involvement, leading up to the dramatic capture and killing of Pablo Escobar.
Finally, we dive into the lasting legacy of the cartels and the ongoing struggle against drug-related violence and corruption. Meet Griselda Blanco, the "Black Widow," whose innovative smuggling techniques fueled Miami's cocaine epidemic. Understand the shifts in trafficking strategies following her arrest and the rise of smaller criminal groups like BACRIM after the fall of the major cartels. We also explore the collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Colombian governments to dismantle these organizations, the impact of U.S. anti-drug policies, and the significance of the 2016 peace agreement with FARC. Join us as we continue to unravel the complex narrative of the Colombian conflict and the ongoing quest for peace.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Double Helix Blueprint Nations, season
2, episode 1.4, the Cocaine Wars, cartels and Corruption.
If this is your first timelistening, keep in mind this
(00:27):
episode is part four of ourseries on the Colombian armed
conflict.
I also want to encourage thoseof you listening to please rate
our podcast.
Wherever you listen, it willtake you 30 seconds and it helps
us reach even more people withthe stories that shape our world
.
Okay, moving on, in our lastepisode we explored the rise of
(00:52):
guerrilla warfare in Colombia,the government's response and
the early stages of USinvolvement.
We also saw the rise ofparamilitary groups and their
brutal impact on the conflict.
We saw how these groups,initially formed to counter the
guerrillas, became powerfulactors in their own right, often
surpassing the guerrillas intheir ruthlessness and violence.
We also touched upon theinvolvement of corporate and
(01:14):
foreign interests, notably theUnited Fruit Company, and the
tacit support of the USgovernment.
As we turn the page to the nextchapter, we will explore a
force that would transform theColombian conflict and thrust it
onto the global stage in waysthat were both unexpected and
volatile.
The rise of the drug cartels,particularly that of cocaine,
(01:42):
fueled further violence andcorruption, and how it
intertwined with the existingconflict between guerrillas,
paramilitaries and thegovernment of Colombia.
The 1970s and 1980s marked theemergence of powerful drug
cartels in Colombia, with theMedellin and Cali cartels
becoming the most notorious bythe end of the 1980s.
(02:03):
The roots of these cartels canbe traced back to the growing
global demand for cocaine.
As drug use surged in theUnited States and Europe,
colombian traffickers seized theopportunity to dominate the
market, coming up with ever moreingenious methods of smuggling
industrial quantities of cocaineto the Western world, in the
(02:24):
process becoming some of therichest humans to have ever
existed.
They also became some of themost ruthless and bloodthirsty.
In fact, most of you listeningknow about Colombia because of
the drug trade, particularly oneman who we will talk about at
length.
The Medellin cartel, led by theinfamous Pablo Escobar, was the
(02:46):
first to rise to prominence.
Escobar, a former pettycriminal, built an empire on the
back of cocaine trafficking.
His organization controlled theproduction, transportation and
distribution of cocaine, makinghim one of the wealthiest and
most feared men in the world.
The Cali Cartel, led by theRodriguez-Orejuela brothers,
(03:08):
operated with a differentstrategy.
While the Medellín Cartel wasknown for its violent and
flamboyant tactics, the CaliCartel focused on a more
business-like approach,infiltrating legitimate
industries and corruptingofficials through bribery.
But to understand the rise ofthe drug cartels and their
impact on Colombia, we mustlearn about the life and deeds
(03:31):
of the most notorious drug lordof them all and likely the
person you've been waiting tohear about in this entire series
Pablo Escobar, or, in theanglicized version, pablo
Escobar.
Escobar's rise and career asthe most notorious drug lord in
all of history draws a parallelwith Colombia's torture conflict
during the 1980s and early 90s.
(03:53):
For about 15 years, pablo andhis cartel, as well as the
tentacles he spread overColombian society, wreaked havoc
on the country and once againthreatened to overturn the
entire state.
Escobar's transformation from apetty criminal to the most
powerful drug lord in history isa tale of ambition, of violence
(04:15):
and of immense wealth.
A measure of this immensewealth is the fact that if you
look at a map of the world andsearch for the places where
hippopotamus are found in thewild, you will see that there is
one landmass where they arefound which is well outside of
Africa.
That is Colombia.
And they are found therebecause Pablo liked to import
(04:37):
exotic animals to hisHaciendanapolis.
When he was alive, he importeda matched pair of male and
female hippos.
When he was alive, he importeda matched pair of male and
female hippos.
After his empire fell and hedied, the animals began to
spread onto the tropical junglesof Colombia.
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria wasborn on December 1, 1949, in
(04:59):
Rio Negro, a small town nearMedellín, colombia.
He was raised in a modestfamily and, if you follow the
timelines, this is right at thestart of La Violencia.
Escobar showed early signs ofambition and a nag for illicit
activities.
As a teenager, he started hiscriminal career by selling
contraband cigarettes, fakelottery tickets and stealing
(05:20):
cars.
His early ventures provided himwith the foundation to build a
vast criminal empire, teachinghim how the underworld of
Colombia worked.
In the 1960s, colombia was notyet seen as a major player in
the global cocaine trade, astereotype that would emerge in
later decades.
Instead, the country wasprimarily known for its booming
(05:42):
marijuana trade.
By the late 1960s, large-scalemarijuana production was
thriving in areas like theSierra Nevada de Santa Marta and
the Urabá Peninsula.
This marijuana was oftensmuggled northwards hidden in
shipments of bananas.
During this period, theinternational cocaine trade was
dominated by other SouthAmerican countries, notably
(06:05):
Argentina, brazil and Chile.
Major cities like Rio deJaneiro, buenos Aires and
Valparaíso served as the keystarting points for maritime
cocaine trafficking routes.
These shipments often passedthrough Havana, cuba, which
acted as a crucial intermediarytransshipment point.
From there, the cocaine willtypically be transported to
(06:28):
final destinations such asPanama City in Florida or
Barcelona in Spain.
Colombia, specificallyCartagena and Miami, florida,
played relatively modest rolesin the cocaine trade during the
1960s.
At the time, marijuanadominated the contraband
shipments passing through theseroutes.
(06:48):
Although cocaine use was on therise in the United States in the
1960s, it remained onlyslightly more prevalent than it
had been in the 1950s, when itsuse was considered to be at an
all-time low and largelyregarded as a problem of the
past.
Consequently, cocaine'spresence and impact remain under
(07:08):
the radar, overshadowed by themore visible marijuana trade.
In the mid to late 1970s,particularly around 1975 and
1976, the illegal cocaine tradebegan to pose a significant
challenge for American lawenforcement as the drug's
prevalence surged unexpectedly.
Cocaine's initial surge inpopularity started within
(07:31):
Hollywood's entertainmentindustry and rapidly spread to
other major areas, includingMiami, florida.
Cocaine's reputation as aprestigious and glamorous drug
associated with wealth and highsocial status contributed to its
allure among Americans in thelate 1970s, primarily due to his
high cost.
(07:52):
Colombian criminals, alreadyadept at smuggling various goods
through the black marketnetworks recognized the immense
profitability of cocaine.
Unlike bulkier drugs, cocaine'scompact nature made it easier
to transport across borders witha reduced risk of detection and
complications, enhancing itslogistical appeal.
By the way, I am not givingadvice on how to transport
(08:16):
illegal drugs.
So this high value-to-weightratio significantly increased
cocaine's profit potentialcompared to other contraband
like marijuana.
While marijuana could beproduced closer to North
American markets, cocaineproduction was almost
exclusively confined to SouthAmerica at the time.
This geographic exclusivityallowed Colombian criminal
(08:38):
groups to exercise greatercontrol and monopolize the
cocaine trade, furthermaximizing their profits and
influence in the global drugmarket.
Enter the stage a young PabloEscobar.
In the 1970s, escobar seizedupon the lucrative opportunity
presented by the booming cocainemarket.
Early in his criminal career,starting around 1970, escobar
(09:03):
began working with drug dealersand smugglers, often kidnapping
and holding people for ransom.
This is how he first came intocontact with the drug trade and
its possibilities.
It is also how he first came tothe attention of Colombian
authorities.
Seeing a fracture and dividedscene, he advocated for an
overhaul of the drug traffickingsystem in Colombia, one where
(09:25):
traffickers would unite, shareterritory and profits in
exchange for mutual protection.
He began by smuggling smallquantities of cocaine into the
US, but his operation quicklyexpanded as he forged
connections with producers inPeru and Bolivia who supplied
the raw coca paste.
In Peru and Bolivia, whosupplied the raw coca paste?
(09:48):
One of Escobar's preferredmethods for doing business in
Colombia was to bribe,intimidate or outright kill
policemen, judges, politiciansor anyone who stood in the way
of his illegal activities.
This approach came to be knownas plata o plomo silver or lead
the meaning being you eithertake the money or you take the
bullets.
Soon we will see what plata oplomo meant when practiced
(10:12):
against the entirety of theColombian state.
Escobar's keen business senseand ruthless tactics allowed him
to dominate the cocaine trade,and by the late 1970s he had
established the Medellín Cartel,which controlled the majority
of the cocaine being smuggledinto the United States.
At the height of his power, thecartel was reportedly earning
(10:35):
up to $60 million a day.
Escobar was a master of buildingalliances.
He forged partnerships withother drug traffickers,
producers and corrupt officialsto ensure the smooth operation
of his business.
He established a network oflabs in Colombia where coca
paste was processed into cocaine, and he set up sophisticated
(10:57):
smuggling routes to transportthe drugs to the United States.
His operations were protectedby a private army of hitmen and
enforcers, known as sicarios,pistoleros or bandidos, who
carried out his orders withruthless efficiency.
These sicarios were responsiblefor assassinating rivals, law
(11:19):
enforcement officials and anyonewho posed a threat to the
cartel's operation.
The Medellin cartel, under PabloEscobar, became infamous for
its ruthless enforcement tactics, using extreme violence to
maintain control over itsoperations and eliminate rivals.
As the drug trade boomed in thelate 1970s and 80s, the immense
(11:41):
profits generated by cocainetrafficking allowed the cartels
to amass significant power andinfluence.
This influx of wealthfundamentally changed the
dynamics of the conflict inColombia and indeed the dynamics
of Colombian society,intertwining the criminal and
political violence that hadalready plagued the nation for
decades.
(12:02):
Another one of the mostsignificant ways the cartel
influenced the conflict wasthrough their alliances with
paramilitary groups.
These alliances were formed outof a mutual interest, as both
the cartels and theparamilitaries sought to protect
their territories and businessinterests.
The cartels provided fundingand resources to the
paramilitaries sought to protecttheir territories and business
(12:22):
interests.
The cartels provided fundingand resources to the
paramilitaries and to theguerrillas as well, who, in turn
, offered protection and helpedsecure drug trafficking routes.
The collaboration between thecartels and paramilitaries
further blurred the linesbetween criminal activity and
political conflict.
Paramilitary groups like theAUC, the United Self-Defense
(12:42):
Forces of Colombia, becamedeeply involved in the drug
trade, using the proceeds tofund their anti-guerrilla
operations.
This relationship created avicious cycle of violence and
corruption that was difficult tobreak.
On the one hand, the cartelswould give money to the
paramilitaries.
On the other, they would givemoney to the paramilitaries.
On the other, they would givemoney to the left-wing
guerrillas, and they just foughteach other for control of the
(13:05):
same routes that the cartelultimately controlled.
The cartels' influence extendedbeyond the direct involvement in
the conflict.
Their vast wealth enabled themto corrupt officials at all
levels of the Colombiangovernment.
Bribery and intimidation becamecommonplace as the cartels
sought to secure theiroperations and avoid prosecution
(13:26):
.
Police officers, judges,politicians and even military
personnel were often on thepayroll of the cartels,
undermining the rule of law anderoding public trust in the
government.
In fact, in the early 1980s,escobar attempted to legitimize
his power by entering politics.
His primary goal was to staveoff the possibility of
(13:48):
extradition by gainingparliamentary immunity.
He was elected as an alternatemember of the Colombian Congress
in 1982, using his position togain political leverage and
protect his interests.
However, his political careerwas short-lived.
Escobar was expelled fromCongress in 1984 after his
(14:09):
criminal activities were exposed, leading to increased scrutiny
and pressure from the Colombiangovernment and from the
international community.
The cartel's campaign of terrorhad a profound impact on
Colombian society.
High-profile assassinations,bombings and kidnappings created
a climate of fear andinsecurity throughout the
country.
(14:29):
One of the most notorious actsof violence was the bombing of
Abianca Flight 203 in 1989.
The bombing was ordered byPablo Escobar.
The bombing was intended toeliminate a presidential
candidate who supportedextradition to the United States
and who later became presidentof Colombia, cesar Gaviria.
(14:51):
The bombing killed all 107passengers on board and shocked
the nation and the world.
The tentacles of power andgreed of the cartels had reached
untold levels at this point.
Another major attack was thebombing of the DAS, the
Administrative Department ofSecurity building in Bogota on
(15:12):
December 6, 1989.
This car bomb, which containedover 500 kilograms of dynamite,
killed 63 people and injuredmore than 2,000.
The attack aimed to intimidatethe government and demonstrate
the cartel's power, furtherinstilling fear among the
population.
Another significant attack wasthe assassination of Luis Carlos
(15:36):
Galan, a leading presidentialcandidate, in 1989.
Galán had vowed to fight thedrug cartels and their influence
on Colombian politics, makinghim a prime target for Escobar's
wrath.
His murder sent a chillingmessage to anyone who dared to
oppose the cartels.
The cocaine trade's influence onColombia was profound,
(15:58):
transforming the nation into amajor player in the global drug
market.
Central to this transformationwere the intricate logistics and
routes used to smuggle cocainefrom Colombia to the United
States and Europe.
Understanding these routes,known as the cocaine corridor,
is essential to grasping thescale and the impact of the drug
trade on the Colombian conflict.
(16:20):
The cocaine trade involved asophisticated network of
production, transportation anddistribution.
Cocaine production began in theAndean region, particularly in
Colombia, peru and Bolivia.
Once the coca leaves wereharvested and processed into
cocaine paste, they weretransported to clandestine
(16:40):
laboratories in Colombia, wherethey were further refined into
cocaine hydrochloride, the formin which the drug was typically
smuggled.
The logistics of drug smugglingwere highly organized.
Traffickers employed a varietyof methods to evade law
enforcement, utilizing hiddencompartments in vehicles,
maritime shipments and evensmall aircraft to transport the
(17:03):
drugs.
Major transshipment pointsincluded Mexico, the Caribbean
and Central America, where thedrugs were often repackaged and
rerouted to avoid detection.
One of the key maritime routesbegan in Colombia's coastal
cities, such as Cartagena andBarranquilla began in Colombia's
coastal cities such asCartagena and Barranquilla.
From these ports, cocaineshipments were transported via
(17:25):
boats and submarines tointermediary locations in the
Caribbean and Central America.
These regions served as acrucial transshipment point,
where the drugs were oftenoffloaded and transferred to
other vessels or aircraft.
The Caribbean played asignificant role in the cocaine
corridor, with countries likeJamaica, haiti and the Dominican
Republic acting as transit hubs.
(17:46):
From there, the cocaine wastransported to the United States
, often landing in Miami,florida, where Miami emerged as
a major entry point of the drugtrade.
The use of small, fast boats,known as go-fast boats, became a
common tactic for traffickers.
These vessels could quicklytransport significant quantities
(18:07):
of cocaine across the ocean,evading radar detection and law
enforcement patrols.
Additionally, traffickers beganemploying semi-submersible
vessels, which could carry largeloads of cocaine while
remaining mostly submerged,making them difficult to detect.
Aerial routes were also vitalto the cocaine trade.
Small planes, often referred toas narcojets, flew cocaine from
(18:31):
clandestine airstrips in thejungles of Colombia to remote
locations in Central America andMexico.
From there, the drugs weremoved overland to their final
destination in the United States.
These dense forests and vast,unmonitored landscapes of
Central America provided idealcover for these operations.
In addition to the routes tothe United States.
(18:52):
Traffickers also developedextensive networks to smuggle
cocaine into Europe.
Spain and Portugal were commonentry points, with cocaine being
transported by sea and air.
The ports of Barcelona andLisbon became key hubs for the
European cocaine trade.
Once in Europe, the cocaine wasdistributed across the
(19:12):
continent, fueling the demandand further entrenching the drug
trade's global reach.
The scale and complexity of thecocaine corridor underscore the
immense challenges faced by lawenforcement agencies.
The traffickers' ability toadapt and innovate their
smuggling techniques oftenoutpays the efforts to combat
them.
We are going to make a quickbut relevant detour from
(19:36):
Colombia to highlight a vividaspect of the cocaine trade and
a significant driver of UnitedStates involvement in the
Colombian conflict, directly andspecifically in the capture and
killing of Pablo Escobar.
As we've already seen, the late1970s and early 1980s saw a
significant increase in cocainesmuggling from Colombia to the
(19:59):
United States saw a significantincrease in cocaine smuggling
from Colombia to the UnitedStates.
Miami, with its strategiclocation and bustling ports,
became the focal point for thisillicit trade.
The city's proximity to theCaribbean and Latin America made
it an ideal entry point forcocaine shipments.
As historian Stephen Dudleynotes, miami was transformed
(20:22):
from a sleepy retiree town to acity gripped by the cocaine
trade, with its streets awash inmoney and blood.
One of the most notoriousfigures in this era was Griselda
Blanco.
You may have heard of her.
She was also known as the BlackWidow or La Madrina.
The Godmother Blanco was apioneering force in the cocaine
trade.
The Godmother Blanco was apioneering force in the cocaine
(20:43):
trade, orchestrating anextensive smuggling network that
brought enormous quantities ofcocaine from Colombia to Miami.
Her ruthless tactics andwillingness to use extreme
violence to eliminate rivals andenforce her will earned her a
fearsome reputation.
Blanco's operation wascharacterized by its efficiency
and brutality, setting a newstandard for the drug trade in
(21:03):
the United States and around theworld.
Blanco's rise to power began inthe 1970s, when she established
connections with key Colombiansuppliers.
She pioneered innovativesmuggling techniques, using
everything from lingerie tohollowed-out appliances to
transport cocaine.
Her influence extended into theUnited States, where she
(21:25):
established a stronghold inMiami.
With lethal brutality, blanco'sorganization was responsible
for countless murders, includingdrive-by shootings and contract
killings, as she sought tomaintain control over her empire
.
It is reputed that PabloEscobar said that the only
person he was afraid of wasGriselda Blanco.
(21:46):
The violence that erupted inMiami during this period was
staggering.
The city saw a dramaticincrease in homicides, with many
of them linked to the drugtrade.
The infamous cocaine cowboysera was marked by daily
headlines of shootouts,assassinations and drug busts.
Law enforcement struggled tokeep up with the influx of
(22:06):
cocaine and the correspondingwave of violence.
It was at this point that thefederal government responded by
ramping up its anti-drug efforts, leading to high-profile
operations and arrests.
Miami's transformation was alsocultural.
The influx of drug money led toa real estate boom, flashy
lifestyles and widespreadcorruption throughout the city.
(22:28):
Many of the iconic high-risesin Miami Beach and downtown
Miami were funded by thisnewfound drug wealth.
The city's economy becameincreasingly dependent on the
illicit drug trade, with moneylaundering becoming a common
practice.
Nightclubs, luxury cardealerships and real estate
ventures often served as frontsfor laundering the vast profits
(22:51):
generated by the cocaine trade.
As law enforcement effortsintensified, the dynamics of the
drug trade began to shift.
High-profile figures likeGriselda Blanco were eventually
apprehended.
Blanco was arrested in 1985 andwas later convicted of drug
trafficking charges, serving alengthy prison sentence before
(23:12):
returning back to Colombia where, finally, cartel justice caught
up with her.
Despite the arrest and thecrackdowns, the cocaine trade
continued to evolve the Medellinand the Cali cartels adapted
their strategies and they foundnew routes and methods to
smuggle cocaine into the UnitedStates.
The cartels' ability toinnovate and adapt kept the
(23:33):
trade alive, even as key figureswere taken down.
The cocaine war's impact onMiami serves as a stark reminder
of the far-reachingconsequences of the Colombian
conflict.
The violence and the corruptionthat engulfed the city were the
direct results of the cocainetrade's expansion and the
cartel's ruthless pursuit ofpower and profit back in
(23:53):
Colombia.
Miami's experience highlightsthe interconnectedness of the
global drug trade and thechallenges faced by law
enforcement in combating such apervasive and adaptable enemy.
Back in Colombia, throughoutthe 80s and early 90s, the
cartel and their war against theColombian state added another
brutal layer to the conflictthat we've been talking about
(24:15):
for three-plus episodes now,painting Colombia in blood and
cementing the country'sreputation for violence and
instability, a reputation itgrapples with to this day.
With to this day, the wealthand power generated by the
cocaine trade fuel unprecedentedlevels of violence, corruption
and instability, making theprospect of peace even more
(24:37):
elusive.
During this period, the late 80sand early 90s, the conflict
reached a particularly bloodyclimax, with Pablo Escobar's
Medellin cartel waging arelentless war against the
Colombian government, lawenforcement and rival cartels.
Escobar employed bombings,kidnappings and assassinations
as his primary tactics toterrorize and destabilize the
(25:00):
entire country, all in an effortto avoid extradition to the
United States.
The ruthless campaign led bythe Medellin cartel left a trail
of destruction and submergedColombia in even more cycles of
violence.
The Colombian government, withsignificant support from the
United States, launched anall-out offensive against
(25:20):
Escobar and the Medellin cartel.
This included the formation ofa special task force called
Search Block, dedicated tocapturing Escobar.
The campaign involved intensemilitary operations,
intelligence gatherings and thedismantling of Escobar's network
through arrests and targetedkillings.
Despite his violent tactics,escobar also cultivated a Robin
(25:41):
Hood-like image among the poorin Medellin.
He funded numerousphilanthropic projects buildings
, housing, school and sportsfacilities for impoverished
communities.
He also took a major stake inone of Colombia's most popular
football teams, atléticoNacional de Medellín.
He poured millions of dollarsinto the club, which
significantly impacted hisfortunes during the late 80s and
(26:04):
early 90s.
This earned him a degree oflocal support and loyalty, even
as his drug empire wreaked havocon the country.
To this day, escobar is reveredin many impoverished parts of
Medellín, where he has nearsainthood status.
His gravesite is a regular siteof pilgrimage for many in
Colombia and around the world.
(26:28):
In an attempt to avoidextradition, escobar negotiated
his surrender in 1991 aftersuccessfully pushing through a
constitutional amendment thatbanned extradition.
This victory was achievedthrough a combination of
widespread corruption,intimidation and bribery.
Escobar turned himself in onthe condition that he would be
(26:49):
imprisoned in a self-designedluxury prison known as La
Catedral.
This prison, located nearMedellín, was equipped with
amenities such as a soccer field, a bar, a jacuzzi and
comfortable living quarters,allowing Escobar to continue
running his cartel operationsfrom behind bars.
To continue running his carteloperations from behind bars,
(27:10):
however, escobar's impunitywithin La Catedral quickly
became a national embarrassmentfor Colombia.
He continued to wield power andinfluence, and his luxurious
accommodations allowed him tomaintain control over his empire
.
The situation escalated whenEscobar ordered the murder of
several cartel members who werebeing held at La Catedral with
(27:31):
him, demonstrated that hisimprisonment was only a farce.
In 1992, under mounting nationaland international pressure, the
Colombian government decided totransfer Escobar to a standard
prison facility, with thepossibility of a clandestine
extradition to the United States.
Foreseeing the imminent loss ofhis power and privileges and
(27:53):
the potential for extradition,escobar escaped La Catedral,
sparking a massive manhunt.
During this period, an alliancewas formed between rival drug
cartels, vigilantes and formerassociates of Escobar, known
collectively as Los Pepesperseguidos por Pablo Escobar,
(28:14):
or people persecuted by PabloEscobar.
Los Pepes were determined todestroy Escobar and dismantle
his cartel.
This group, allegedly supportedby elements within the
Colombian security forces andthe CIA, embarked on a ruthless
campaign of terror againstEscobar and his associates.
Los Pepes employed brutaltactics, including targeted
(28:37):
assassinations, kidnappings andthe destruction of properties
owned by Escobar and his allies.
Their campaign significantlyweakened the Medellin cartel,
causing many of Escobar'slieutenants to either flee or
turn against them.
The group's action also createdan environment of chaos and
fear throughout Colombia,further destabilizing Escobar's
(29:00):
operations but also the nation.
The manhunt for Escobarintensified, with the Colombian
National Police's elite searchblock unit, supported by US
intelligence and militaryadvisors, leading the efforts.
The pressure mounted as LosPepes and the search block
closed in on Escobar's network,systematically dismantling his
(29:20):
support structure.
On December 2, 1993, the menhunt reached its climax.
Acting on a tip-off, the searchblog located Escobar hiding in
a middle-class neighborhood inMedellín.
In a dramatic rooftop shootout,escobar was killed, marking the
end of his reign as the world'smost powerful drug lord.
(29:41):
His death was a significantvictory for the Colombian
government and to theinternational community, but it
also left a complex legacy.
Pablo Escobar's transformationinto the most powerful drug lord
in history was a story ofambition, ruthlessness and
strategic genius.
His legacy is one of immensewealth and power, built on the
(30:03):
foundation of violence andcorruption.
While his death did deal asignificant blow to the Medellin
cartel, it did not resolve theunderlying issues that fueled
the drug trade and the conflictin Colombia.
(30:31):
Analogies as I would have likedso far.
But the story of Colombia wouldnot be complete if I don't talk
about the national obsession ofColombia, and probably my
personal one as well, which issoccer, or football.
As I know it, the story of theColombian national team in the
1994 World Cup and the death ofone of his star players,
coincidentally named AndresEscobar, highlights the depths
of the violence that hasconsumed Colombian society by
(30:54):
this juncture.
Soccer, or football, holds aspecial place in the hearts of
Colombians.
It is more than just a sport.
It is a source of nationalpride, unity and identity.
By the early 1990s, theColombian national team had
emerged as a formidable force ininternational soccer.
Their performance leading up tothe 1994 World Cup in the
(31:17):
United States was particularlyimpressive, with a stunning 5-0
victory over Argentina in BuenosAires during the qualifiers, a
feat of unheard-of proportionsfor the team and the nation.
This win fueled hopes andexpectations for a strong World
Cup performance for Colombia.
However, beneath the surface,the team was under immense
(31:41):
pressure.
The influence of the drugcartels extended into the world
of soccer.
The cartels controlled many ofthe best teams in the National
League and many of the topnational players were somewhat
beholding to the powers of thecartels.
Powerful drug lords were usingtheir wealth and influence to
exert control over the sport.
(32:01):
Players and coaches were oftencoerced into complying with the
demands of these dangerousfigures.
The climate of fear waspervasive, as threats and
intimidation were commonplace.
As the team prepared for theWorld Cup, the players were
acutely aware of the stakes.
There were even reports thatcertain players received death
(32:21):
threats warning them againstplaying or making particular
decisions during matches.
The fear for their lives andthe lives of their families
created an atmosphere ofunbearable tension.
The fear for their lives andthe lives of their families
created an atmosphere ofunbearable tension.
The tournament itself was adisaster for Colombia.
After losing their openingmatch to Romania, the team faced
the United States in a must-wingame.
(32:42):
For the Americans it was justanother soccer game, but for the
Colombians it was truly life ordeath.
But for the Colombians it wastruly life or death, and the
pressure was palpable and thefear of retribution loomed large
all over the Colombian players'faces Prior to the match.
Coach Pacho Maturana says thathe was told that if two certain
(33:03):
players played in the game, twoof whom were his regular
starters, they would all bekilled.
During this crucial match,andres Escobar, a talented
defender known for hissportsmanship and integrity,
scored an own goal, contributingto Colombia's 2-1 defeat and
subsequent elimination from thetournament.
(33:23):
This own goal had devastatingconsequences for Colombia.
Upon returning to Colombia,andrés Escobar tried to move
past the loss and thedisappointment.
However, the climate ofviolence and retribution in the
country was unforgiving.
On July 2, 1994, just daysafter the team's return, escobar
(33:45):
was confronted by a group ofmen outside of a nightclub in
Medellín, by a group of menoutside of a nightclub in
Medellin.
In a senseless act of violence,he was shot six times and
killed.
His murder sent shockwavesthroughout Colombia and the
global soccer community.
The killing of Andres Escobarwas a stark reminder of the
(34:06):
deadly intersection betweensports and the violent world of
the drug cartels.
It also underscored how thepervasive influence of these
criminal organizations extendedbeyond politics and the violent
whirl of the drug cartels.
It also underscored how thepervasive influence of these
criminal organizations extendedbeyond politics and the economy,
infiltrating the very fabric ofColombian society.
The tragedy also highlightedthe intense pressure and the
fear faced by the players whowere caught in the crossfires of
(34:26):
a brutal and corrupt system.
Andres Escobar's death waswidely mourned and he is
remembered as a symbol ofintegrity and the tragic cost of
Colombia's violent conflict.
His murders sparked nationaland international outreach,
drawing further attention to theurgent need for peace and
reform in Colombia.
The aftermath of this tragedysaw renewed efforts to address
(34:50):
the root causes of violence andcorruption, though the journey
towards lasting change remainedfraught with challenges.
An important aspect of theColombian conflict during this
era was international and, inparticular, united States
involvement.
The United States took noticeof the escalating violence and
the flow of cocaine into itsborders.
(35:11):
This led to the increasedpressures on the Colombian
government to take decisiveaction against the cartel.
A significant turning point inthe US war on drugs, besides the
wars in Miami, was the death ofbasketball star Len Baez in
1986.
Baias, a promising youngathlete who had just been
(35:32):
drafted by the Boston Celtics,died of a cocaine overdose,
shocking the nation, bias'sdeath had a profound impact on
American public opinion and onpolicy.
It highlighted the dangers ofcocaine use and the reach of the
drug into the American society.
In response, the US governmentintensified its efforts to
(35:53):
combat drug trafficking, leadingto the passage of the Anti-Drug
Abuse Act of 1986.
This legislation increasedfunding for drug enforcement,
imposed harsher penalties fordrug offenses and expanded the
role of the military inanti-drug operations.
The act marked a significantescalation in the war on drugs,
(36:15):
reflecting the widespread publicand political demand for
decisive action.
The US war on drugs, which wasdeclared originally in the 1980s
, aimed to curve the flow ofnarcotics into the country and
combat the rising tide of drugabuse and addiction.
I will segue now to say thatthere is a significant segment
of academic literature out therewho blames the Reagan
(36:37):
administration, which was incharge during the 1980s, for the
influx of drugs into the innercity, in particular crack
cocaine.
That is a topic for anotherpodcast, but I thought it would
be worth mentioning it now sothat you know I am aware of it.
A cornerstone of the USanti-drug effort in Colombia,
though, was called the PlanColombia, and it was launched in
(37:00):
2000.
This ambitious initiativeprovided billions of dollars in
military and economic aid to theColombian government, with the
goal of reducing cocacultivation, of strengthening
security forces and ofsupporting social and economic
development.
Historian Paul Gutenbergexplains the strategic rationale
behind Plan Colombia.
(37:20):
He says that the US aimed todisrupt the supply chain of
cocaine at its source bytargeting the coca fields and
the trafficking networks.
The approach was multifaceted,involving direct military
intervention, economic aid andthe support for alternative
development projects.
Sounds a lot like plant lasso,which we know how well that went
(37:41):
.
The collaboration between the USand the Colombian governments
led to numerous joint operationsaimed at dismantling the drug
cartels, one of the mostsignificant operations, of
course, being the capture andkilling of Pablo Escobar.
The Colombian National Police,with substantial support from US
intelligence agencies, wasresponsible for launching the
(38:03):
all-out offensive and operationwhich culminated in his death in
1993.
In his death in 1993.
The US also played a crucialrole in the extradition of
cartel leaders to face justicein the United States.
Extradition became a highlycontentious issue in Colombia,
with cartels fiercely opposingit.
The prospect of facing trialand imprisonment in the United
(38:26):
States was a powerful deterrentand the cartels used extreme
violence to prevent extraditionpolicies from being enacted.
Despite all these challenges,several high-profile
extraditions did occur,significantly disrupting cartel
operations.
However, the impact of USanti-drug policies was not
(38:46):
without controversy.
Critics argue that the heavyreliance on military solutions,
again like during Plan Lasso,and the focus on eradication
often led to human right abusesand had adverse effects on rural
communities.
The aerial spraying ofherbicides to destroy coca crops
, for example, causedenvironmental damage and harmed
(39:07):
legitimate farmers, fuelingresentment and driving some into
the arms of other guerrillagroups.
Political scientist WinifredTate highlights the complexities
of US involvement.
While Plan Colombia and otherinitiatives achieved some
tactical successes, they alsoperpetuated cycles of violence
and displacement within Colombia.
(39:28):
The unintended consequences ofthese policies often undermine
broader efforts to achieve peaceand stability in the nation.
The war on drug also facedchallenges from the adaptability
and resilience of the drugtrade.
As major cartels like theMedellin and Cali cartel were
dismantled, smaller, morefragmented criminal groups
(39:50):
emerged to fill the void.
These new players, oftenreferred to as bandas,
criminales or BACRIM, continuedto engage in drug trafficking
and violence, demonstrating thepersistence and the evolving
nature of the problem.
Despite all of these setbacks,the collaboration between the US
and the Colombian governmentdid yield some important results
(40:11):
.
There was a significantreduction in coca cultivation
and the disruption of majortrafficking networks weakened
the overall structure of thedrug trade.
The immense profits generatedfrom these operations fueled the
violence and the corruptionthat plagued Colombia, making it
increasingly difficult for thegovernment to restore order and
(40:32):
achieve peace.
The cartels' vast wealth alsoled to widespread corruption.
Officials at all levels ofgovernment, from local police to
high-ranking politicians, werebribed or coerced into
cooperating with the cartels.
This corruption underminedefforts to combat the cartels
and exacerbated the conflict.
(40:52):
Historian Eduardo Sáenz-Robnermentions that the cartels'
ability to corrupt and coercestate institutions created a
parallel power structure thatchallenged the sovereignty of
the Colombian state, structurethat challenged the sovereignty
of the Colombian state.
The intertwining of drug moneywith politics and security
forces rendered the state'seffort to combat the cartels and
restore order exceedinglydifficult.
(41:14):
Finally, with the dismantlingof the major cartels in the
mid-1990s, the smaller and moreagile BACREM began to fill the
vacuum.
These groups lacked thecentralized command structures
of their predecessors, makingthem began to fill the vacuum.
These groups lacked thecentralized command structures
of their predecessors, makingthem harder to combat and
control.
Each faction sought to dominatedrug trafficking routes,
extortion rackets and otherillegal enterprises,
(41:37):
perpetuating cycles of violenceand instability across Colombia.
Once again, one of the notableconsequences of the cartel's
fragmentation was the shift indrug trafficking routes.
While traditional routesthrough the Caribbean and
Central America remained active,traffickers increasingly turned
to overland routes throughMexico.
(41:58):
This shift brought Mexican drugcartels into greater prominence
, transforming them intopowerful players in the global
drug trade and furthercomplicating efforts to curb
trafficking.
In Colombia, the continuingpresence of BACRIM and other
criminal organizations led towidespread violence,
particularly in rural areas.
(42:19):
These groups often engaged inbrutal tactics to maintain
control and eliminate rivals,resulting in significant
civilian casualties anddisplacement.
The pervasive atmosphere offear and uncertainty hinder
economic development and socialcohesion.
The Colombian government,recognizing the need for a
(42:39):
comprehensive approach toaddress these challenges,
implemented a range ofstrategies aimed at dismantling
criminal networks and promotingpeace.
Military operations, though,remained a key component, but
there was also a growingemphasis on social and economic
initiatives designed to addressthe root causes of violence and
drug trafficking.
(42:59):
Programs aimed at alternativedevelopment sought to provide
farmers with viable alternativesto coca cultivation.
Development sought to providefarmers with viable alternatives
to coca cultivation.
These initiatives includedpromoting legal crops, improving
infrastructure and providingaccess to markets.
While some successes wereachieved.
The persistence of cocacultivation underscored the
deep-seated economic challengesfaced by rural communities.
(43:21):
Economists maintain thatsustainable development requires
more than just eradicatingillicit crops.
It demands creating economicopportunities that can lift
communities out of poverty andinstability.
The peace process with theRevolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, the FARC, also playeda crucial role in shaping the
(43:42):
post-cartel landscape.
The signing of the peaceagreement in 2016 was a historic
milestone in Colombia's effortto end a decades of armed
conflict.
The agreement includedprovisions for disarmament,
reintegration of formercombatants and rural development
.
However, the implementation ofthe peace deal faced a
(44:02):
significant set of challenges,including ongoing violence and
other armed groups who refusedto lay their arms down.
Human rights organizationshighlighted the continued risk
to social leaders and activists,who often faced threats of
violence for their work inadvocating for more land rights,
environmental protection andsocial justice.
The persistence of suchviolence indicated that the
(44:26):
legacy of the cocaine wars andthe broader conflict continued
to impact Colombian societydeeply.
International cooperation alsoremained vital in supporting
Colombia's effort to combat drugtrafficking and promote
national stability.
Initiatives like Plan Colombia,despite their controversies,
demonstrated the importance ofsustained support and
(44:46):
collaboration.
The evolution of these effortsinto the current US-Colombia
Strategic Partnership reflecteda broader understanding of the
need for a holistic approachencompassing security,
development and human rights.
In our next episode, we will godeeper into the ongoing peace
process, the role of socialleaders and activists, and the
(45:08):
efforts to rebuild and healColombian society.
By now we are entering thefinal stages of our Colombian
journey.
While the faces of the conflicthave mutated over the years,
the power dynamics have remainedessentially the same Outside
forces seeking to influence anddisrupt the apparatus of the
Colombian state, a struggle forland, wealth and political power
(45:30):
that has played out for almost200 years across Colombia.
The rise of the drug cartelsbrought a new and devastating
dimension to the Colombianconflict.
Their wealth and powerexacerbated the violence,
corruption and instability thathad already plagued the country
for decades.
The cartel's involvement in theconflict blurred the lines
(45:52):
between criminal and politicalviolence, making it even more
challenging to achieve peace.
As we conclude this episode, itis evident that the entanglement
of the drug trade and theColombian conflict wove a
complex web of violence andcorruption, leaving a profound
impact on the nation.
Next time we will look into thepeace process, examining the
(46:13):
key agreements, theirimplementation and the
challenges that still persist.
We'll also take a closer lookat the current state of the
conflict, a reminder that thisstruggle is far from over.
Join us next time on DoubleHelix for part five of our
exploration into the Colombianconflict, the peace process and
beyond.
We'll see you next time.
(46:35):
Thank you for joining us.
Welcome to Double Helix Blueprint Nations, season
2, episode 1.4, the Cocaine Wars, cartels and Corruption.
If this is your first timelistening, keep in mind this
(00:27):
episode is part four of ourseries on the Colombian armed
conflict.
I also want to encourage thoseof you listening to please rate
our podcast.
Wherever you listen, it willtake you 30 seconds and it helps
us reach even more people withthe stories that shape our world
.
Okay, moving on, in our lastepisode we explored the rise of
(00:52):
guerrilla warfare in Colombia,the government's response and
the early stages of USinvolvement.
We also saw the rise ofparamilitary groups and their
brutal impact on the conflict.
We saw how these groups,initially formed to counter the
guerrillas, became powerfulactors in their own right, often
surpassing the guerrillas intheir ruthlessness and violence.
We also touched upon theinvolvement of corporate and
(01:14):
foreign interests, notably theUnited Fruit Company, and the
tacit support of the USgovernment.
As we turn the page to the nextchapter, we will explore a
force that would transform theColombian conflict and thrust it
onto the global stage in waysthat were both unexpected and
volatile.
The rise of the drug cartels,particularly that of cocaine,
(01:42):
fueled further violence andcorruption, and how it
intertwined with the existingconflict between guerrillas,
paramilitaries and thegovernment of Colombia.
The 1970s and 1980s marked theemergence of powerful drug
cartels in Colombia, with theMedellin and Cali cartels
becoming the most notorious bythe end of the 1980s.
(02:03):
The roots of these cartels canbe traced back to the growing
global demand for cocaine.
As drug use surged in theUnited States and Europe,
colombian traffickers seized theopportunity to dominate the
market, coming up with ever moreingenious methods of smuggling
industrial quantities of cocaineto the Western world, in the
(02:24):
process becoming some of therichest humans to have ever
existed.
They also became some of themost ruthless and bloodthirsty.
In fact, most of you listeningknow about Colombia because of
the drug trade, particularly oneman who we will talk about at
length.
The Medellin cartel, led by theinfamous Pablo Escobar, was the
(02:46):
first to rise to prominence.
Escobar, a former pettycriminal, built an empire on the
back of cocaine trafficking.
His organization controlled theproduction, transportation and
distribution of cocaine, makinghim one of the wealthiest and
most feared men in the world.
The Cali Cartel, led by theRodriguez-Orejuela brothers,
(03:08):
operated with a differentstrategy.
While the Medellín Cartel wasknown for its violent and
flamboyant tactics, the CaliCartel focused on a more
business-like approach,infiltrating legitimate
industries and corruptingofficials through bribery.
But to understand the rise ofthe drug cartels and their
impact on Colombia, we mustlearn about the life and deeds
(03:31):
of the most notorious drug lordof them all and likely the
person you've been waiting tohear about in this entire series
Pablo Escobar, or, in theanglicized version, pablo
Escobar.
Escobar's rise and career asthe most notorious drug lord in
all of history draws a parallelwith Colombia's torture conflict
during the 1980s and early 90s.
(03:53):
For about 15 years, pablo andhis cartel, as well as the
tentacles he spread overColombian society, wreaked havoc
on the country and once againthreatened to overturn the
entire state.
Escobar's transformation from apetty criminal to the most
powerful drug lord in history isa tale of ambition, of violence
(04:15):
and of immense wealth.
A measure of this immensewealth is the fact that if you
look at a map of the world andsearch for the places where
hippopotamus are found in thewild, you will see that there is
one landmass where they arefound which is well outside of
Africa.
That is Colombia.
And they are found therebecause Pablo liked to import
(04:37):
exotic animals to hisHaciendanapolis.
When he was alive, he importeda matched pair of male and
female hippos.
When he was alive, he importeda matched pair of male and
female hippos.
After his empire fell and hedied, the animals began to
spread onto the tropical junglesof Colombia.
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria wasborn on December 1, 1949, in
(04:59):
Rio Negro, a small town nearMedellín, colombia.
He was raised in a modestfamily and, if you follow the
timelines, this is right at thestart of La Violencia.
Escobar showed early signs ofambition and a nag for illicit
activities.
As a teenager, he started hiscriminal career by selling
contraband cigarettes, fakelottery tickets and stealing
(05:20):
cars.
His early ventures provided himwith the foundation to build a
vast criminal empire, teachinghim how the underworld of
Colombia worked.
In the 1960s, colombia was notyet seen as a major player in
the global cocaine trade, astereotype that would emerge in
later decades.
Instead, the country wasprimarily known for its booming
(05:42):
marijuana trade.
By the late 1960s, large-scalemarijuana production was
thriving in areas like theSierra Nevada de Santa Marta and
the Urabá Peninsula.
This marijuana was oftensmuggled northwards hidden in
shipments of bananas.
During this period, theinternational cocaine trade was
dominated by other SouthAmerican countries, notably
(06:05):
Argentina, brazil and Chile.
Major cities like Rio deJaneiro, buenos Aires and
Valparaíso served as the keystarting points for maritime
cocaine trafficking routes.
These shipments often passedthrough Havana, cuba, which
acted as a crucial intermediarytransshipment point.
From there, the cocaine willtypically be transported to
(06:28):
final destinations such asPanama City in Florida or
Barcelona in Spain.
Colombia, specificallyCartagena and Miami, florida,
played relatively modest rolesin the cocaine trade during the
1960s.
At the time, marijuanadominated the contraband
shipments passing through theseroutes.
(06:48):
Although cocaine use was on therise in the United States in the
1960s, it remained onlyslightly more prevalent than it
had been in the 1950s, when itsuse was considered to be at an
all-time low and largelyregarded as a problem of the
past.
Consequently, cocaine'spresence and impact remain under
(07:08):
the radar, overshadowed by themore visible marijuana trade.
In the mid to late 1970s,particularly around 1975 and
1976, the illegal cocaine tradebegan to pose a significant
challenge for American lawenforcement as the drug's
prevalence surged unexpectedly.
Cocaine's initial surge inpopularity started within
(07:31):
Hollywood's entertainmentindustry and rapidly spread to
other major areas, includingMiami, florida.
Cocaine's reputation as aprestigious and glamorous drug
associated with wealth and highsocial status contributed to its
allure among Americans in thelate 1970s, primarily due to his
high cost.
(07:52):
Colombian criminals, alreadyadept at smuggling various goods
through the black marketnetworks recognized the immense
profitability of cocaine.
Unlike bulkier drugs, cocaine'scompact nature made it easier
to transport across borders witha reduced risk of detection and
complications, enhancing itslogistical appeal.
By the way, I am not givingadvice on how to transport
(08:16):
illegal drugs.
So this high value-to-weightratio significantly increased
cocaine's profit potentialcompared to other contraband
like marijuana.
While marijuana could beproduced closer to North
American markets, cocaineproduction was almost
exclusively confined to SouthAmerica at the time.
This geographic exclusivityallowed Colombian criminal
(08:38):
groups to exercise greatercontrol and monopolize the
cocaine trade, furthermaximizing their profits and
influence in the global drugmarket.
Enter the stage a young PabloEscobar.
In the 1970s, escobar seizedupon the lucrative opportunity
presented by the booming cocainemarket.
Early in his criminal career,starting around 1970, escobar
(09:03):
began working with drug dealersand smugglers, often kidnapping
and holding people for ransom.
This is how he first came intocontact with the drug trade and
its possibilities.
It is also how he first came tothe attention of Colombian
authorities.
Seeing a fracture and dividedscene, he advocated for an
overhaul of the drug traffickingsystem in Colombia, one where
(09:25):
traffickers would unite, shareterritory and profits in
exchange for mutual protection.
He began by smuggling smallquantities of cocaine into the
US, but his operation quicklyexpanded as he forged
connections with producers inPeru and Bolivia who supplied
the raw coca paste.
In Peru and Bolivia, whosupplied the raw coca paste?
(09:48):
One of Escobar's preferredmethods for doing business in
Colombia was to bribe,intimidate or outright kill
policemen, judges, politiciansor anyone who stood in the way
of his illegal activities.
This approach came to be knownas plata o plomo silver or lead
the meaning being you eithertake the money or you take the
bullets.
Soon we will see what plata oplomo meant when practiced
(10:12):
against the entirety of theColombian state.
Escobar's keen business senseand ruthless tactics allowed him
to dominate the cocaine trade,and by the late 1970s he had
established the Medellín Cartel,which controlled the majority
of the cocaine being smuggledinto the United States.
At the height of his power, thecartel was reportedly earning
(10:35):
up to $60 million a day.
Escobar was a master of buildingalliances.
He forged partnerships withother drug traffickers,
producers and corrupt officialsto ensure the smooth operation
of his business.
He established a network oflabs in Colombia where coca
paste was processed into cocaine, and he set up sophisticated
(10:57):
smuggling routes to transportthe drugs to the United States.
His operations were protectedby a private army of hitmen and
enforcers, known as sicarios,pistoleros or bandidos, who
carried out his orders withruthless efficiency.
These sicarios were responsiblefor assassinating rivals, law
(11:19):
enforcement officials and anyonewho posed a threat to the
cartel's operation.
The Medellin cartel, under PabloEscobar, became infamous for
its ruthless enforcement tactics, using extreme violence to
maintain control over itsoperations and eliminate rivals.
As the drug trade boomed in thelate 1970s and 80s, the immense
(11:41):
profits generated by cocainetrafficking allowed the cartels
to amass significant power andinfluence.
This influx of wealthfundamentally changed the
dynamics of the conflict inColombia and indeed the dynamics
of Colombian society,intertwining the criminal and
political violence that hadalready plagued the nation for
decades.
(12:02):
Another one of the mostsignificant ways the cartel
influenced the conflict wasthrough their alliances with
paramilitary groups.
These alliances were formed outof a mutual interest, as both
the cartels and theparamilitaries sought to protect
their territories and businessinterests.
The cartels provided fundingand resources to the
paramilitaries sought to protecttheir territories and business
(12:22):
interests.
The cartels provided fundingand resources to the
paramilitaries and to theguerrillas as well, who, in turn
, offered protection and helpedsecure drug trafficking routes.
The collaboration between thecartels and paramilitaries
further blurred the linesbetween criminal activity and
political conflict.
Paramilitary groups like theAUC, the United Self-Defense
(12:42):
Forces of Colombia, becamedeeply involved in the drug
trade, using the proceeds tofund their anti-guerrilla
operations.
This relationship created avicious cycle of violence and
corruption that was difficult tobreak.
On the one hand, the cartelswould give money to the
paramilitaries.
On the other, they would givemoney to the paramilitaries.
On the other, they would givemoney to the left-wing
guerrillas, and they just foughteach other for control of the
(13:05):
same routes that the cartelultimately controlled.
The cartels' influence extendedbeyond the direct involvement in
the conflict.
Their vast wealth enabled themto corrupt officials at all
levels of the Colombiangovernment.
Bribery and intimidation becamecommonplace as the cartels
sought to secure theiroperations and avoid prosecution
(13:26):
.
Police officers, judges,politicians and even military
personnel were often on thepayroll of the cartels,
undermining the rule of law anderoding public trust in the
government.
In fact, in the early 1980s,escobar attempted to legitimize
his power by entering politics.
His primary goal was to staveoff the possibility of
(13:48):
extradition by gainingparliamentary immunity.
He was elected as an alternatemember of the Colombian Congress
in 1982, using his position togain political leverage and
protect his interests.
However, his political careerwas short-lived.
Escobar was expelled fromCongress in 1984 after his
(14:09):
criminal activities were exposed, leading to increased scrutiny
and pressure from the Colombiangovernment and from the
international community.
The cartel's campaign of terrorhad a profound impact on
Colombian society.
High-profile assassinations,bombings and kidnappings created
a climate of fear andinsecurity throughout the
country.
(14:29):
One of the most notorious actsof violence was the bombing of
Abianca Flight 203 in 1989.
The bombing was ordered byPablo Escobar.
The bombing was intended toeliminate a presidential
candidate who supportedextradition to the United States
and who later became presidentof Colombia, cesar Gaviria.
(14:51):
The bombing killed all 107passengers on board and shocked
the nation and the world.
The tentacles of power andgreed of the cartels had reached
untold levels at this point.
Another major attack was thebombing of the DAS, the
Administrative Department ofSecurity building in Bogota on
(15:12):
December 6, 1989.
This car bomb, which containedover 500 kilograms of dynamite,
killed 63 people and injuredmore than 2,000.
The attack aimed to intimidatethe government and demonstrate
the cartel's power, furtherinstilling fear among the
population.
Another significant attack wasthe assassination of Luis Carlos
(15:36):
Galan, a leading presidentialcandidate, in 1989.
Galán had vowed to fight thedrug cartels and their influence
on Colombian politics, makinghim a prime target for Escobar's
wrath.
His murder sent a chillingmessage to anyone who dared to
oppose the cartels.
The cocaine trade's influence onColombia was profound,
(15:58):
transforming the nation into amajor player in the global drug
market.
Central to this transformationwere the intricate logistics and
routes used to smuggle cocainefrom Colombia to the United
States and Europe.
Understanding these routes,known as the cocaine corridor,
is essential to grasping thescale and the impact of the drug
trade on the Colombian conflict.
(16:20):
The cocaine trade involved asophisticated network of
production, transportation anddistribution.
Cocaine production began in theAndean region, particularly in
Colombia, peru and Bolivia.
Once the coca leaves wereharvested and processed into
cocaine paste, they weretransported to clandestine
(16:40):
laboratories in Colombia, wherethey were further refined into
cocaine hydrochloride, the formin which the drug was typically
smuggled.
The logistics of drug smugglingwere highly organized.
Traffickers employed a varietyof methods to evade law
enforcement, utilizing hiddencompartments in vehicles,
maritime shipments and evensmall aircraft to transport the
(17:03):
drugs.
Major transshipment pointsincluded Mexico, the Caribbean
and Central America, where thedrugs were often repackaged and
rerouted to avoid detection.
One of the key maritime routesbegan in Colombia's coastal
cities, such as Cartagena andBarranquilla began in Colombia's
coastal cities such asCartagena and Barranquilla.
From these ports, cocaineshipments were transported via
(17:25):
boats and submarines tointermediary locations in the
Caribbean and Central America.
These regions served as acrucial transshipment point,
where the drugs were oftenoffloaded and transferred to
other vessels or aircraft.
The Caribbean played asignificant role in the cocaine
corridor, with countries likeJamaica, haiti and the Dominican
Republic acting as transit hubs.
(17:46):
From there, the cocaine wastransported to the United States
, often landing in Miami,florida, where Miami emerged as
a major entry point of the drugtrade.
The use of small, fast boats,known as go-fast boats, became a
common tactic for traffickers.
These vessels could quicklytransport significant quantities
(18:07):
of cocaine across the ocean,evading radar detection and law
enforcement patrols.
Additionally, traffickers beganemploying semi-submersible
vessels, which could carry largeloads of cocaine while
remaining mostly submerged,making them difficult to detect.
Aerial routes were also vitalto the cocaine trade.
Small planes, often referred toas narcojets, flew cocaine from
(18:31):
clandestine airstrips in thejungles of Colombia to remote
locations in Central America andMexico.
From there, the drugs weremoved overland to their final
destination in the United States.
These dense forests and vast,unmonitored landscapes of
Central America provided idealcover for these operations.
In addition to the routes tothe United States.
(18:52):
Traffickers also developedextensive networks to smuggle
cocaine into Europe.
Spain and Portugal were commonentry points, with cocaine being
transported by sea and air.
The ports of Barcelona andLisbon became key hubs for the
European cocaine trade.
Once in Europe, the cocaine wasdistributed across the
(19:12):
continent, fueling the demandand further entrenching the drug
trade's global reach.
The scale and complexity of thecocaine corridor underscore the
immense challenges faced by lawenforcement agencies.
The traffickers' ability toadapt and innovate their
smuggling techniques oftenoutpays the efforts to combat
them.
We are going to make a quickbut relevant detour from
(19:36):
Colombia to highlight a vividaspect of the cocaine trade and
a significant driver of UnitedStates involvement in the
Colombian conflict, directly andspecifically in the capture and
killing of Pablo Escobar.
As we've already seen, the late1970s and early 1980s saw a
significant increase in cocainesmuggling from Colombia to the
(19:59):
United States saw a significantincrease in cocaine smuggling
from Colombia to the UnitedStates.
Miami, with its strategiclocation and bustling ports,
became the focal point for thisillicit trade.
The city's proximity to theCaribbean and Latin America made
it an ideal entry point forcocaine shipments.
As historian Stephen Dudleynotes, miami was transformed
(20:22):
from a sleepy retiree town to acity gripped by the cocaine
trade, with its streets awash inmoney and blood.
One of the most notoriousfigures in this era was Griselda
Blanco.
You may have heard of her.
She was also known as the BlackWidow or La Madrina.
The Godmother Blanco was apioneering force in the cocaine
trade.
The Godmother Blanco was apioneering force in the cocaine
(20:43):
trade, orchestrating anextensive smuggling network that
brought enormous quantities ofcocaine from Colombia to Miami.
Her ruthless tactics andwillingness to use extreme
violence to eliminate rivals andenforce her will earned her a
fearsome reputation.
Blanco's operation wascharacterized by its efficiency
and brutality, setting a newstandard for the drug trade in
(21:03):
the United States and around theworld.
Blanco's rise to power began inthe 1970s, when she established
connections with key Colombiansuppliers.
She pioneered innovativesmuggling techniques, using
everything from lingerie tohollowed-out appliances to
transport cocaine.
Her influence extended into theUnited States, where she
(21:25):
established a stronghold inMiami.
With lethal brutality, blanco'sorganization was responsible
for countless murders, includingdrive-by shootings and contract
killings, as she sought tomaintain control over her empire
.
It is reputed that PabloEscobar said that the only
person he was afraid of wasGriselda Blanco.
(21:46):
The violence that erupted inMiami during this period was
staggering.
The city saw a dramaticincrease in homicides, with many
of them linked to the drugtrade.
The infamous cocaine cowboysera was marked by daily
headlines of shootouts,assassinations and drug busts.
Law enforcement struggled tokeep up with the influx of
(22:06):
cocaine and the correspondingwave of violence.
It was at this point that thefederal government responded by
ramping up its anti-drug efforts, leading to high-profile
operations and arrests.
Miami's transformation was alsocultural.
The influx of drug money led toa real estate boom, flashy
lifestyles and widespreadcorruption throughout the city.
(22:28):
Many of the iconic high-risesin Miami Beach and downtown
Miami were funded by thisnewfound drug wealth.
The city's economy becameincreasingly dependent on the
illicit drug trade, with moneylaundering becoming a common
practice.
Nightclubs, luxury cardealerships and real estate
ventures often served as frontsfor laundering the vast profits
(22:51):
generated by the cocaine trade.
As law enforcement effortsintensified, the dynamics of the
drug trade began to shift.
High-profile figures likeGriselda Blanco were eventually
apprehended.
Blanco was arrested in 1985 andwas later convicted of drug
trafficking charges, serving alengthy prison sentence before
(23:12):
returning back to Colombia where, finally, cartel justice caught
up with her.
Despite the arrest and thecrackdowns, the cocaine trade
continued to evolve the Medellinand the Cali cartels adapted
their strategies and they foundnew routes and methods to
smuggle cocaine into the UnitedStates.
The cartels' ability toinnovate and adapt kept the
(23:33):
trade alive, even as key figureswere taken down.
The cocaine war's impact onMiami serves as a stark reminder
of the far-reachingconsequences of the Colombian
conflict.
The violence and the corruptionthat engulfed the city were the
direct results of the cocainetrade's expansion and the
cartel's ruthless pursuit ofpower and profit back in
(23:53):
Colombia.
Miami's experience highlightsthe interconnectedness of the
global drug trade and thechallenges faced by law
enforcement in combating such apervasive and adaptable enemy.
Back in Colombia, throughoutthe 80s and early 90s, the
cartel and their war against theColombian state added another
brutal layer to the conflictthat we've been talking about
(24:15):
for three-plus episodes now,painting Colombia in blood and
cementing the country'sreputation for violence and
instability, a reputation itgrapples with to this day.
With to this day, the wealthand power generated by the
cocaine trade fuel unprecedentedlevels of violence, corruption
and instability, making theprospect of peace even more
(24:37):
elusive.
During this period, the late 80sand early 90s, the conflict
reached a particularly bloodyclimax, with Pablo Escobar's
Medellin cartel waging arelentless war against the
Colombian government, lawenforcement and rival cartels.
Escobar employed bombings,kidnappings and assassinations
as his primary tactics toterrorize and destabilize the
(25:00):
entire country, all in an effortto avoid extradition to the
United States.
The ruthless campaign led bythe Medellin cartel left a trail
of destruction and submergedColombia in even more cycles of
violence.
The Colombian government, withsignificant support from the
United States, launched anall-out offensive against
(25:20):
Escobar and the Medellin cartel.
This included the formation ofa special task force called
Search Block, dedicated tocapturing Escobar.
The campaign involved intensemilitary operations,
intelligence gatherings and thedismantling of Escobar's network
through arrests and targetedkillings.
Despite his violent tactics,escobar also cultivated a Robin
(25:41):
Hood-like image among the poorin Medellin.
He funded numerousphilanthropic projects buildings
, housing, school and sportsfacilities for impoverished
communities.
He also took a major stake inone of Colombia's most popular
football teams, atléticoNacional de Medellín.
He poured millions of dollarsinto the club, which
significantly impacted hisfortunes during the late 80s and
(26:04):
early 90s.
This earned him a degree oflocal support and loyalty, even
as his drug empire wreaked havocon the country.
To this day, escobar is reveredin many impoverished parts of
Medellín, where he has nearsainthood status.
His gravesite is a regular siteof pilgrimage for many in
Colombia and around the world.
(26:28):
In an attempt to avoidextradition, escobar negotiated
his surrender in 1991 aftersuccessfully pushing through a
constitutional amendment thatbanned extradition.
This victory was achievedthrough a combination of
widespread corruption,intimidation and bribery.
Escobar turned himself in onthe condition that he would be
(26:49):
imprisoned in a self-designedluxury prison known as La
Catedral.
This prison, located nearMedellín, was equipped with
amenities such as a soccer field, a bar, a jacuzzi and
comfortable living quarters,allowing Escobar to continue
running his cartel operationsfrom behind bars.
To continue running his carteloperations from behind bars,
(27:10):
however, escobar's impunitywithin La Catedral quickly
became a national embarrassmentfor Colombia.
He continued to wield power andinfluence, and his luxurious
accommodations allowed him tomaintain control over his empire
.
The situation escalated whenEscobar ordered the murder of
several cartel members who werebeing held at La Catedral with
(27:31):
him, demonstrated that hisimprisonment was only a farce.
In 1992, under mounting nationaland international pressure, the
Colombian government decided totransfer Escobar to a standard
prison facility, with thepossibility of a clandestine
extradition to the United States.
Foreseeing the imminent loss ofhis power and privileges and
(27:53):
the potential for extradition,escobar escaped La Catedral,
sparking a massive manhunt.
During this period, an alliancewas formed between rival drug
cartels, vigilantes and formerassociates of Escobar, known
collectively as Los Pepesperseguidos por Pablo Escobar,
(28:14):
or people persecuted by PabloEscobar.
Los Pepes were determined todestroy Escobar and dismantle
his cartel.
This group, allegedly supportedby elements within the
Colombian security forces andthe CIA, embarked on a ruthless
campaign of terror againstEscobar and his associates.
Los Pepes employed brutaltactics, including targeted
(28:37):
assassinations, kidnappings andthe destruction of properties
owned by Escobar and his allies.
Their campaign significantlyweakened the Medellin cartel,
causing many of Escobar'slieutenants to either flee or
turn against them.
The group's action also createdan environment of chaos and
fear throughout Colombia,further destabilizing Escobar's
(29:00):
operations but also the nation.
The manhunt for Escobarintensified, with the Colombian
National Police's elite searchblock unit, supported by US
intelligence and militaryadvisors, leading the efforts.
The pressure mounted as LosPepes and the search block
closed in on Escobar's network,systematically dismantling his
(29:20):
support structure.
On December 2, 1993, the menhunt reached its climax.
Acting on a tip-off, the searchblog located Escobar hiding in
a middle-class neighborhood inMedellín.
In a dramatic rooftop shootout,escobar was killed, marking the
end of his reign as the world'smost powerful drug lord.
(29:41):
His death was a significantvictory for the Colombian
government and to theinternational community, but it
also left a complex legacy.
Pablo Escobar's transformationinto the most powerful drug lord
in history was a story ofambition, ruthlessness and
strategic genius.
His legacy is one of immensewealth and power, built on the
(30:03):
foundation of violence andcorruption.
While his death did deal asignificant blow to the Medellin
cartel, it did not resolve theunderlying issues that fueled
the drug trade and the conflictin Colombia.
(30:31):
Analogies as I would have likedso far.
But the story of Colombia wouldnot be complete if I don't talk
about the national obsession ofColombia, and probably my
personal one as well, which issoccer, or football.
As I know it, the story of theColombian national team in the
1994 World Cup and the death ofone of his star players,
coincidentally named AndresEscobar, highlights the depths
of the violence that hasconsumed Colombian society by
(30:54):
this juncture.
Soccer, or football, holds aspecial place in the hearts of
Colombians.
It is more than just a sport.
It is a source of nationalpride, unity and identity.
By the early 1990s, theColombian national team had
emerged as a formidable force ininternational soccer.
Their performance leading up tothe 1994 World Cup in the
(31:17):
United States was particularlyimpressive, with a stunning 5-0
victory over Argentina in BuenosAires during the qualifiers, a
feat of unheard-of proportionsfor the team and the nation.
This win fueled hopes andexpectations for a strong World
Cup performance for Colombia.
However, beneath the surface,the team was under immense
(31:41):
pressure.
The influence of the drugcartels extended into the world
of soccer.
The cartels controlled many ofthe best teams in the National
League and many of the topnational players were somewhat
beholding to the powers of thecartels.
Powerful drug lords were usingtheir wealth and influence to
exert control over the sport.
(32:01):
Players and coaches were oftencoerced into complying with the
demands of these dangerousfigures.
The climate of fear waspervasive, as threats and
intimidation were commonplace.
As the team prepared for theWorld Cup, the players were
acutely aware of the stakes.
There were even reports thatcertain players received death
(32:21):
threats warning them againstplaying or making particular
decisions during matches.
The fear for their lives andthe lives of their families
created an atmosphere ofunbearable tension.
The fear for their lives andthe lives of their families
created an atmosphere ofunbearable tension.
The tournament itself was adisaster for Colombia.
After losing their openingmatch to Romania, the team faced
the United States in a must-wingame.
(32:42):
For the Americans it was justanother soccer game, but for the
Colombians it was truly life ordeath.
But for the Colombians it wastruly life or death, and the
pressure was palpable and thefear of retribution loomed large
all over the Colombian players'faces Prior to the match.
Coach Pacho Maturana says thathe was told that if two certain
(33:03):
players played in the game, twoof whom were his regular
starters, they would all bekilled.
During this crucial match,andres Escobar, a talented
defender known for hissportsmanship and integrity,
scored an own goal, contributingto Colombia's 2-1 defeat and
subsequent elimination from thetournament.
(33:23):
This own goal had devastatingconsequences for Colombia.
Upon returning to Colombia,andrés Escobar tried to move
past the loss and thedisappointment.
However, the climate ofviolence and retribution in the
country was unforgiving.
On July 2, 1994, just daysafter the team's return, escobar
(33:45):
was confronted by a group ofmen outside of a nightclub in
Medellín, by a group of menoutside of a nightclub in
Medellin.
In a senseless act of violence,he was shot six times and
killed.
His murder sent shockwavesthroughout Colombia and the
global soccer community.
The killing of Andres Escobarwas a stark reminder of the
(34:06):
deadly intersection betweensports and the violent world of
the drug cartels.
It also underscored how thepervasive influence of these
criminal organizations extendedbeyond politics and the violent
whirl of the drug cartels.
It also underscored how thepervasive influence of these
criminal organizations extendedbeyond politics and the economy,
infiltrating the very fabric ofColombian society.
The tragedy also highlightedthe intense pressure and the
fear faced by the players whowere caught in the crossfires of
(34:26):
a brutal and corrupt system.
Andres Escobar's death waswidely mourned and he is
remembered as a symbol ofintegrity and the tragic cost of
Colombia's violent conflict.
His murders sparked nationaland international outreach,
drawing further attention to theurgent need for peace and
reform in Colombia.
The aftermath of this tragedysaw renewed efforts to address
(34:50):
the root causes of violence andcorruption, though the journey
towards lasting change remainedfraught with challenges.
An important aspect of theColombian conflict during this
era was international and, inparticular, united States
involvement.
The United States took noticeof the escalating violence and
the flow of cocaine into itsborders.
(35:11):
This led to the increasedpressures on the Colombian
government to take decisiveaction against the cartel.
A significant turning point inthe US war on drugs, besides the
wars in Miami, was the death ofbasketball star Len Baez in
1986.
Baias, a promising youngathlete who had just been
(35:32):
drafted by the Boston Celtics,died of a cocaine overdose,
shocking the nation, bias'sdeath had a profound impact on
American public opinion and onpolicy.
It highlighted the dangers ofcocaine use and the reach of the
drug into the American society.
In response, the US governmentintensified its efforts to
(35:53):
combat drug trafficking, leadingto the passage of the Anti-Drug
Abuse Act of 1986.
This legislation increasedfunding for drug enforcement,
imposed harsher penalties fordrug offenses and expanded the
role of the military inanti-drug operations.
The act marked a significantescalation in the war on drugs,
(36:15):
reflecting the widespread publicand political demand for
decisive action.
The US war on drugs, which wasdeclared originally in the 1980s
, aimed to curve the flow ofnarcotics into the country and
combat the rising tide of drugabuse and addiction.
I will segue now to say thatthere is a significant segment
of academic literature out therewho blames the Reagan
(36:37):
administration, which was incharge during the 1980s, for the
influx of drugs into the innercity, in particular crack
cocaine.
That is a topic for anotherpodcast, but I thought it would
be worth mentioning it now sothat you know I am aware of it.
A cornerstone of the USanti-drug effort in Colombia,
though, was called the PlanColombia, and it was launched in
(37:00):
2000.
This ambitious initiativeprovided billions of dollars in
military and economic aid to theColombian government, with the
goal of reducing cocacultivation, of strengthening
security forces and ofsupporting social and economic
development.
Historian Paul Gutenbergexplains the strategic rationale
behind Plan Colombia.
(37:20):
He says that the US aimed todisrupt the supply chain of
cocaine at its source bytargeting the coca fields and
the trafficking networks.
The approach was multifaceted,involving direct military
intervention, economic aid andthe support for alternative
development projects.
Sounds a lot like plant lasso,which we know how well that went
(37:41):
.
The collaboration between the USand the Colombian governments
led to numerous joint operationsaimed at dismantling the drug
cartels, one of the mostsignificant operations, of
course, being the capture andkilling of Pablo Escobar.
The Colombian National Police,with substantial support from US
intelligence agencies, wasresponsible for launching the
(38:03):
all-out offensive and operationwhich culminated in his death in
1993.
In his death in 1993.
The US also played a crucialrole in the extradition of
cartel leaders to face justicein the United States.
Extradition became a highlycontentious issue in Colombia,
with cartels fiercely opposingit.
The prospect of facing trialand imprisonment in the United
(38:26):
States was a powerful deterrentand the cartels used extreme
violence to prevent extraditionpolicies from being enacted.
Despite all these challenges,several high-profile
extraditions did occur,significantly disrupting cartel
operations.
However, the impact of USanti-drug policies was not
(38:46):
without controversy.
Critics argue that the heavyreliance on military solutions,
again like during Plan Lasso,and the focus on eradication
often led to human right abusesand had adverse effects on rural
communities.
The aerial spraying ofherbicides to destroy coca crops
, for example, causedenvironmental damage and harmed
(39:07):
legitimate farmers, fuelingresentment and driving some into
the arms of other guerrillagroups.
Political scientist WinifredTate highlights the complexities
of US involvement.
While Plan Colombia and otherinitiatives achieved some
tactical successes, they alsoperpetuated cycles of violence
and displacement within Colombia.
(39:28):
The unintended consequences ofthese policies often undermine
broader efforts to achieve peaceand stability in the nation.
The war on drug also facedchallenges from the adaptability
and resilience of the drugtrade.
As major cartels like theMedellin and Cali cartel were
dismantled, smaller, morefragmented criminal groups
(39:50):
emerged to fill the void.
These new players, oftenreferred to as bandas,
criminales or BACRIM, continuedto engage in drug trafficking
and violence, demonstrating thepersistence and the evolving
nature of the problem.
Despite all of these setbacks,the collaboration between the US
and the Colombian governmentdid yield some important results
(40:11):
.
There was a significantreduction in coca cultivation
and the disruption of majortrafficking networks weakened
the overall structure of thedrug trade.
The immense profits generatedfrom these operations fueled the
violence and the corruptionthat plagued Colombia, making it
increasingly difficult for thegovernment to restore order and
(40:32):
achieve peace.
The cartels' vast wealth alsoled to widespread corruption.
Officials at all levels ofgovernment, from local police to
high-ranking politicians, werebribed or coerced into
cooperating with the cartels.
This corruption underminedefforts to combat the cartels
and exacerbated the conflict.
(40:52):
Historian Eduardo Sáenz-Robnermentions that the cartels'
ability to corrupt and coercestate institutions created a
parallel power structure thatchallenged the sovereignty of
the Colombian state, structurethat challenged the sovereignty
of the Colombian state.
The intertwining of drug moneywith politics and security
forces rendered the state'seffort to combat the cartels and
restore order exceedinglydifficult.
(41:14):
Finally, with the dismantlingof the major cartels in the
mid-1990s, the smaller and moreagile BACREM began to fill the
vacuum.
These groups lacked thecentralized command structures
of their predecessors, makingthem began to fill the vacuum.
These groups lacked thecentralized command structures
of their predecessors, makingthem harder to combat and
control.
Each faction sought to dominatedrug trafficking routes,
extortion rackets and otherillegal enterprises,
(41:37):
perpetuating cycles of violenceand instability across Colombia.
Once again, one of the notableconsequences of the cartel's
fragmentation was the shift indrug trafficking routes.
While traditional routesthrough the Caribbean and
Central America remained active,traffickers increasingly turned
to overland routes throughMexico.
(41:58):
This shift brought Mexican drugcartels into greater prominence
, transforming them intopowerful players in the global
drug trade and furthercomplicating efforts to curb
trafficking.
In Colombia, the continuingpresence of BACRIM and other
criminal organizations led towidespread violence,
particularly in rural areas.
(42:19):
These groups often engaged inbrutal tactics to maintain
control and eliminate rivals,resulting in significant
civilian casualties anddisplacement.
The pervasive atmosphere offear and uncertainty hinder
economic development and socialcohesion.
The Colombian government,recognizing the need for a
(42:39):
comprehensive approach toaddress these challenges,
implemented a range ofstrategies aimed at dismantling
criminal networks and promotingpeace.
Military operations, though,remained a key component, but
there was also a growingemphasis on social and economic
initiatives designed to addressthe root causes of violence and
drug trafficking.
(42:59):
Programs aimed at alternativedevelopment sought to provide
farmers with viable alternativesto coca cultivation.
Development sought to providefarmers with viable alternatives
to coca cultivation.
These initiatives includedpromoting legal crops, improving
infrastructure and providingaccess to markets.
While some successes wereachieved.
The persistence of cocacultivation underscored the
deep-seated economic challengesfaced by rural communities.
(43:21):
Economists maintain thatsustainable development requires
more than just eradicatingillicit crops.
It demands creating economicopportunities that can lift
communities out of poverty andinstability.
The peace process with theRevolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, the FARC, also playeda crucial role in shaping the
(43:42):
post-cartel landscape.
The signing of the peaceagreement in 2016 was a historic
milestone in Colombia's effortto end a decades of armed
conflict.
The agreement includedprovisions for disarmament,
reintegration of formercombatants and rural development
.
However, the implementation ofthe peace deal faced a
(44:02):
significant set of challenges,including ongoing violence and
other armed groups who refusedto lay their arms down.
Human rights organizationshighlighted the continued risk
to social leaders and activists,who often faced threats of
violence for their work inadvocating for more land rights,
environmental protection andsocial justice.
The persistence of suchviolence indicated that the
(44:26):
legacy of the cocaine wars andthe broader conflict continued
to impact Colombian societydeeply.
International cooperation alsoremained vital in supporting
Colombia's effort to combat drugtrafficking and promote
national stability.
Initiatives like Plan Colombia,despite their controversies,
demonstrated the importance ofsustained support and
(44:46):
collaboration.
The evolution of these effortsinto the current US-Colombia
Strategic Partnership reflecteda broader understanding of the
need for a holistic approachencompassing security,
development and human rights.
In our next episode, we will godeeper into the ongoing peace
process, the role of socialleaders and activists, and the
(45:08):
efforts to rebuild and healColombian society.
By now we are entering thefinal stages of our Colombian
journey.
While the faces of the conflicthave mutated over the years,
the power dynamics have remainedessentially the same Outside
forces seeking to influence anddisrupt the apparatus of the
Colombian state, a struggle forland, wealth and political power
(45:30):
that has played out for almost200 years across Colombia.
The rise of the drug cartelsbrought a new and devastating
dimension to the Colombianconflict.
Their wealth and powerexacerbated the violence,
corruption and instability thathad already plagued the country
for decades.
The cartel's involvement in theconflict blurred the lines
(45:52):
between criminal and politicalviolence, making it even more
challenging to achieve peace.
As we conclude this episode, itis evident that the entanglement
of the drug trade and theColombian conflict wove a
complex web of violence andcorruption, leaving a profound
impact on the nation.
Next time we will look into thepeace process, examining the
(46:13):
key agreements, theirimplementation and the
challenges that still persist.
We'll also take a closer lookat the current state of the
conflict, a reminder that thisstruggle is far from over.
Join us next time on DoubleHelix for part five of our
exploration into the Colombianconflict, the peace process and
beyond.
We'll see you next time.
(46:35):
Thank you for joining us.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.