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August 22, 2025 78 mins

We hope you enjoy this episode of Gold Shields, let us know how we did.

🎙️ NOW STREAMING: GOLD SHIELDS Episode 132 features an exclusive, edge-of-your-seat interview with Retired DEA Special Agent Chris Feistl, one of the elite agents who brought down the Cali Cartel — the most powerful and sophisticated drug trafficking organization in history.

🔥 If you’ve seen Netflix’s hit series NARCOS: Season 3, you’ve seen Chris Feistl's story. Now, hear the REAL TRUTH — straight from the source. Chris and his partner Dave Mitchell were handpicked for the most dangerous mission on Earth: infiltrate the Cali Cartel in the heart of Cali, Colombia, a city ruled by fear, corruption, and unimaginable violence.

💣 Kidnappings, car bombs, death threats, and deep undercover operations — this episode dives into the high-stakes world of international drug enforcement like never before.

📚 Chris also discusses his book, "After Escobar" giving rare insight into the psychological and emotional toll of hunting narco-terrorists while risking everything to dismantle a global empire built on blood and billions.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to the Show and Guest
00:56 The Dangerous Drug Trade in Colombia
02:57 Chris Feistl's Journey to the DEA
06:09 Miami: The Epicenter of Drug Trade in the 80s
09:01 Transitioning to Colombia and the Cali Cartel
12:08 Operating in a Hostile Environment
15:00 The Challenges of Corruption in Colombia
18:03 The Role of the Cali Cartel in Drug Trade
21:01 Navigating Dangerous Operations
24:08 The Impact of Corruption on Investigations
26:51 Developing Key Informants
30:07 The Story of Jorge Salcedo
34:22 The Mercenary Plan Against Escobar
36:20 Salcedo's Reluctant Involvement with the Cartel
37:00 The Sequel: Bombing Pablo's Prison
38:55 The Perfect Storm: Collaboration with Salcedo
41:15 The Risks of Meeting a Cartel Insider
43:27 Challenges of Arresting Cartel Leaders
46:18 The Scale of the Cali Cartel's Operations
49:33 The Arrests of the Cali Cartel Leaders
52:06 The Aftermath of Arrests and Extradition
54:14 The Real Heroes: Colombian Forces
55:38 The Book: After Escobar
01:01:15 The Unbelievable Stories Behind the Case

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