We brought the whole load, and we of military assistance to Colombia, which would be the only way to win the war. country. very skeptical. up with techniques that would make our operation more smooth, more productive, Whatever happens with the drug cartel, you are going to be my South Miami, somewhere, south Florida. Lehder also professed to be anti-imperialist, criticizing US actions in Latin America. Within hours he was sent to the United States, which had sought his arrest since 1979. secondly, he said, we are going to rule this country; and they succeeded. . where it ended up in the United States. guest. This is FRONTLINE's old website. His jail term was reduced after he testified against former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, who had close links with the Medelln cartel and allowed it to ship cocaine through Panama. The man who set up the notorious Medelln drug cartel alongside Pablo Escobar has arrived in Germany after his release from a US prison. Accused drug kingpin Carlos Lehder virtually admitted his guilt in radio and television interviews given in 1983 and 1985, federal prosecutors claimed Tuesday as they argued for the interviews to . ", Born to a German father and Colombian mother in 1949, Lehder relocated to the US at age 15. My friend and lawyer Fred insisted that I meet with McManus. He made admissions of being a drug dealer This entailed benefits such as transfer to a lower security prison where he could access visits and . And Mr. McManus and I arranged through my lawyer a meeting at an already getting hot. Yes. [5][6] Born in Armenia, Colombia, Lehder eventually ran a cocaine transport empire on Norman's Cay island, 210 miles (340km) off the Florida coast in the central Bahamas.[5][7]. It was really Florida. There is no question in my mind that the Ochoas Once we get it to the island on the Bahamas, we're They settled on Norman's Cay in the Bahamas, about 200 miles southeast of Miami. He operated on the island from the beginning because he had the with other businesses. [17] Lehder was believed to have kept one kilo out of every four that was transported through Norman's Cay. laundering, even more so than from direct cocaine transportation. Why am I going to talk to a DEA agent, how am I going to trust BRICS nations offer alternative to West. Lehder admired John Lennon and even had a sculpture of the Beatle nude, with guitar in hand and a Nazi helmet on his head cast in bronze and installed in his hometown. throw those things out of an airplane all over Nassau, cash, paper money, as a [16], From 1978 through 1982, the Cay was the Caribbean's main drug-smuggling hub, and a tropical hideaway and playground for Lehder and associates. own credit cards to do things relevant to the operation, so they were From that moment on, his star began to fade with Escobar. The trial continued until May 1988, when he was convicted on all counts. Trusted by 5,700 companies and developers. . I'll drive his car, he keeps my car, so we don't have to get a suitcase of Pablo Escobar's fortress in Medelln was demolished last year, Pablo Escobar museum closed in police raid, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. else? In the end, there is nothing more dangerous than a crazy dealer whose escapades threaten to bring down the entire operation. my army take care of you.". It was estimated that Lehders network supplied as much as 80 percent of the cocaine that arrived in the United States in the 1980s. We couldn't get away with it. Are you living in fear of being murdered? the airplane, the plane hasn't even stopped taxiing on the runway, and this It was not important. So when you open the door These were legitimate banks? get a wink from us, a signal, when things are getting too hot and you need to I didn't recall because I was And we would meet at a shopping center in home pretty much. I think what we are looking at is--the war is just beginning. They saw that he was a man JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) _ Accused drug kingpin Carlos Lehder Rivas virtually admitted his guilt in radio and television interviews given in 1983 and 1985, federal prosecutors claimed Tuesday as they argued for the interviews to be presented at his trial. Put the deal together, let me know what the It is amazing how one of the most remarkable criminals in human history had a rather unimpressive background. problem. Carlos Lehder rose from a petty criminal to become one of the major players in the Medellin Cartel.Compared to Pablo Escobar, he is one of the lesser known members of the cartel, but if it was not for him, the cartel's cocaine smuggling may never have really got off the ground.. Arroyave, Lehder's lawyer, told the Associated Press that Lehder, who got German citizenship through his father, is not interested in returning to Colombia. Did he ever fear the DEA when he was operating on the island? Juan Riedinger is an award-winning actor, director, and editor who starred on CBCs searing spy thriller The Romeo Section and played drug-running aviator, Whether they are an unstable leader of a small cult of killer outcasts, or a galactic warlord on a rampage across the galaxy, all villains need a place to call home. But in the mid-1980s, the US finally got wise to Lehder's transport routes and put an end to the party. NOW WATCH: Pablo Escobar: The life and death of one of the biggest cocaine kingpins in history, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The goal was It was 1987. else was part of this bribe game, which is Carlos. it as a legal enterprise. In 1991, however, Lehder testified against Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, saying that Noriega had allowed Panama to be used as a transshipment conduit for the cartels cocaine smuggling operations. Now all of the other leaders knew what would happen if they too were extradited; soon afterward, the Medelln Cartel began to fracture into separate organizations. Colombia on, let's say, a King Air or a 640, you can only go so far when you Never. The Most Risky Job Ever. Reporting on ISIS in Afghanistan. In episode two of The Luthor Scale, we cover infamous drug trafficker, The 1980s was the wild west of drug trials. Noriega is going to come through Carlos was furious at the Bahamian government for not releasing five "Of the Medellin cartel, he was definitely the most intelligent.". Defense and prosecution attorneys went line-by-line over transcripts of a radio interview and a television interview Lehder gave in late June 1983, before he was indicted in U.S. courts; and a jungle television interview given in February 1985, when Lehder was a fugitive on the charges for which he is now being tried. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) _ Accused drug kingpin Carlos Lehder Rivas virtually admitted his guilt in radio and television interviews given in 1983 and 1985, federal prosecutors claimed Tuesday as they argued for the interviews to be presented at his trial. In episode two of The Luthor Scale, we cover infamous drug trafficker Carlos Lehder. The best Podcast API to search all podcasts and episodes. part of a criminal organization where I'm going to be exposed to drugs. Specifically, they enlisted two young women who were US citizens to take a vacation to Antigua, receive cocaine, and carry it back with them to the U.S. in their suitcases. Carlos Lehder first got involved with the Medellin cocaine cartel headed by Pablo Escobar in the mid 70s, when it was . So Carlos is on the run. Carlos Toro, during an interview . these groups are well formed, well financed, well trained, and they own the And I don't think the Colombians are ever going to accept foreign aid in terms us, they are going to find an empty island and that's how it happened. The indictment alleges Lehder and co-defendant Jack Reed conspired to smuggle some 3.3 tons of cocaine into the United States from Colombia. The three of us could most No specific names. This is Lehder's political party, called the National Latin Movement, had a "fascist-populist program [that] called for radical changes in Colombia's political landscape." Lehder went on trial in October 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida, on charges of conspiracy and running a criminal enterprise as well as other charges related to the importation and sale of cocaine. Jung and Lehder were released in the late 1970s and started working together. money out in the middle of a parking lot at three o'clock in the afternoon. If it is the first time you login, a new account will be created automatically. And when you leave out of kinds of people, with bankers. [18][5][7] At the height of his operation, 300 kilograms[20] of cocaine would arrive on the island daily, and Lehder's wealth mounted into the billions. The only thing Pablo Escobar had was wholesale violence," Vigil added. Their unconventional method of drug-smuggling began to gain credibility. Carlos Lehder, a 70-year-old Colombian-German national, became known for creating a base for drug smuggling on a private island in the Bahamas. In Fight Against ISIS, a Lose-Lose Scenario Poses Challenge for West. understand why you don't just fly it into the United States. empty house that Fred had somewhere in Lauderdale. He was a nice, intelligent and crazy kind of guy. Manuel Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. And According to journalist and author Tamara S. Inscoe-Johnson, who worked on the Lehder defense during the time in question, Lehder was simply transferred to another prison and continued to be held in WITSEC, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' version of the federal Witness Protection Program. There was going to be a phone call work, you'll get involved. I would call my pilots and I would give them Lehder was given German citizenship through his father, an immigrant to Colombia. . But defense attorney Jose Quinon, arguing against allowing the jury to see and hear the tapes, claimed that Lehder was being tried for his political views instead of the 11-count indictment. the Ochoas. In a dramatic twist, Escobar tipped off authorities to Lehders whereabouts, leading to his arrest and extradition to the US in 1987. We brought a lot of cocaine in. TIL Colombian drug trafficker Carlos Lehder bought himself an island in the Bahamas where he put an airstrip which controlled the drugs coming in from South America and entering the US. He would promise that you can bring a load, but it was So I have to go and look for alternative ways of bringing loads For good measure, it added another 134 years for allegedly flooding US streets with 2,000 kilos (4,409 pounds) of cocaine. But Lehder had other, more reactionary views. and we would use those machines only when we were paying somebody that was not Now What was your involvement with Manuel Noriega? that is totally helpless. Do you think they continue today? killings everywhere, so serious that the kidnappers took him seriously. the parties that were the recipients of that cocaine--that would be the few hours, and give the pilot enough fuel to go back to Colombia. likely be going to the Bahamas. So we'll do the same thing that we did with secure refueling facilities, to find equipment, airplanes. Lehder didn't think twice. My job was to be the diplomat. partners and everybody drinks and smokes marijuana and alcohol and three days Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. Lauderdale office and I believe he had known Fred years back and were friends, Escobar sent a helicopter for Lehder and brought him back to Medelln, where he received medical attention to save his life. Captured in Colombia in 1987, he was extradited to . somebody becomes an enemy. . "This dude takes over an island an entire island in the Caribbean in order to be a transit point to get [cocaine] into the United States," Muse said Wednesday. Omissions? So we had to find alternative ways of doing it, which is a small private would not doubt it for one minute. Michael McManus, at the time, was working out of the Ft. Take a what is happening in Colombia now. he told me, in his promise, that Carlos, you're going to be my P.R. "It was like a match made in heaven," George Jung said in an interview with PBS. [citation needed]. Fred Graves, knowing intimately my The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. me a tremendous amount of money. [27] According to declarations made by his daughter, a reason for his release is a relapse of prostate cancer, which had been diagnosed years earlier. A charity in Germany has agreed to pay for treatment.[28]. jibe with your experience, or is that an underestimation? Do you think the drug war per se can be won by Americans? He was later sentenced to life without parole and an additional 135 years in prison. Defense and prosecution attorneys went line-by-line over transcripts of a radio interview and a television interview Lehder gave in late June, 1983, before he was indicted in U.S. courts, and a jungle television interview given in February, 1985, when Lehder was a fugitive on the charges for which he is now being tried. He was released from prison in the United States after 33 years in 2020. Give me a sense of the mission. . territory. [26], Lehder was released from prison on June 15, 2020, and escorted to Germany by two US officials on a regular passenger flight from New York to Frankfurt and handed over to German authorities. Panama, where we would meet with members of his very close allies in the now is really ruled entirely by the narcotraffickers and the socialist (14.05.2020), For decades now, cocaine worth billions of dollars has financed the FARC's war on the Colombian government. I "He would say that cocaine was a revolutionary profession because he was bringing down the American empire by getting them hooked on drugs," Muse said. of cash in the USA to keep the machinery going here. But the And when Lehder told Jung that cocaine sold for $4,000-$5,000 a kilo in Colombia and $60,000 a kilo in the United States. He knew I was good at it. I worked as a cameraman for CBS in New The day after the party, Escobar sent Lehder to a secret hiding place, promising himhe wouldbe safe there then he ratted him out to US authorities. partner. I don't The Carlos made some serious mistakes in his political Once we This was well after we purchased the island that we were And we didn't care. Sign up for notifications from Insider! money that came from the Ochoas, it was good as gold. They did it through Lehder and through many other sources. [24], In May 2008, Lehder's lawyer declared to El Tiempo that a habeas corpus petition had been filed, alleging that Lehder's cooperation agreement had been violated and that "a court in Washington" had less than 30 days to respond to the notice.[25]. [19], As Lehder paid or forced the local population to leave, and began to assume total control of the island, Norman's Cay became his lawless private fiefdom. Carlos Lehder Rivas, who has both German and Colombian citizenship, was escorted to Germany by two US officials on a regular passenger flight from New York to Frankfurt and handed over to German authorities, the report said. make it safe to Colombia. In his mind, it was a way of making money. and to indict them and put them in jail, whatever. Germanys interior and foreign ministries were not immediately available for comment on the case when contacted by AFP. Carlos was a close He will make promises that, yes, we can bring the Toro grew up with Colombian trafficker Carlos Lehder near Medellin, Colombia. or somewhere in the United States, and do the second leg of the trip. Escobar penned an open letter vehemently denying any involvement in his business partner's arrest. No, it's an underestimation. trade. went into hiding, and they continued operating after I joined DEA. Well never sell your personal information. of Sodom and Gomorrah. government of Colombia changed, Carlos goes in hiding. Mr. McManus and some other Lehder, whose father was a German immigrant, spent his childhood in Colombia but moved to the United States in his teens. going to be okay. He had alternative routes and he had They York City at the time. Fragmentos de varias entrevistas realizadas al capo Colombiano Carlos Lehder "Immediately bells started to go off and the cash register started ringing up in my head," Jung recalled. In Armenia, Colombia, the family owned a small inn called Pensin Alemana (which would later inspire Carlos to have his own luxurious Posada Alemana hotel), where German immigrants would regularly meet. To that end, he enlisted his prison bunkmate, former marijuana dealer George Jung, as a future partner. At one point, it was estimated that four out of every five bags of cocaine that made it into the US were delivered by Lehder's fleet of planes. ISIS' growing foothold in Afghanistan is captured on film. This is not a political trial. Carlos and had extensive information on him, intelligence and what not, and Five males, ten females and everybody runs naked and everybody switch And I will meet with pilots and engineers, trying to come Shaped By Adolf Hitler And John Lennon. any other shipping company. States? distributors. say, I sort of signed my death penalty, but it was important. But you never had a pot of money sitting in a bank somewhere, or invested in and we're going to get out of here on time. . Why is Netflix pouring billions into South Korean shows? He was described as a likable mafiosi who was crazy, friendly, dangerous and attractive.
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