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(siren)
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BONNIE KLAPPER: There is a huge
percentage of people
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involved in the drug trade
that are never caught,
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00:00:09,113 --> 00:00:12,700
that are never identified,
that are never prosecuted.
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♪ ♪
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Everyone knew about
the Medellin Cartel,
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they knew about Pablo.
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But this person, he was not
on anybody's radar.
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He really was an invisible.
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CHRIS CASCIO: One of his
nicknames was the Gray Ghost.
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He did a really good job of not
giving anybody his real name.
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LUIS RENDON: The faces
were other people.
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Meanwhile, he was a puppet
master above all of them.
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RUBEN OLIVA: He was the world's
greatest drug dealer
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no one ever heard about.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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KLAPPER: If you combine what the
drug trafficking business earns,
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I'm sorry, Mr. Bezos, but
you're not even on the radar.
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Typically when drugs
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are produced in Colombia,
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they transit through
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Central America,
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ultimately through Mexico,
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and the drugs are sold
in the United States.
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Now the trafficker
has a big problem.
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It's very hard to get
the money back.
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The cheapest, most effective
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way, though it does generate
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a lot of bulk,
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is simply to send cash.
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Just find some containers,
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sometimes with the knowledge
of the shipping company,
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often without the knowledge,
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load the money up
into the containers,
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and then bulk ship to Colombia.
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And without a tip, you're
never going to discover that.
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(horns honking)
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RENDON: Working out of
the US Embassy in Colombia,
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we get 10 or 20 tips a day from
sources that have information
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on money laundering, narcotics
trafficking and so forth.
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KLAPPER: The agents,
they had been contacted
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by an informant in Spain,
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and honestly, for months,
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they had just blown off
the informant.
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They get so many tips,
so much information,
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but the informant
was persistent.
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(ship horn blares)
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RENDON: The information was
that millions of dollars
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was concealed within big bags
of ammonium sulfate.
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This is a fertilizer,
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legitimate companies were
transporting this fertilizer
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from Mexico to
Buenaventura, Colombia.
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I was skeptical.
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I was like, this is probably
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another one of those
phony allegations.
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But we went to the port
of Buenaventura,
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and sure enough...
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MAN: There it is.
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RENDON: There was millions
and millions of dollars
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in bulk cash.
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It was a magnificent way
for the organization
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to smuggle bulk cash,
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because the US Customs
can't detect it through x‐ray,
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and even when you probe it,
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it's so deep you wouldn't
be able to touch it.
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KLAPPER: $40 million in cash.
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RENDON: It was the largest
boat cash container seizure
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in US, Mexico and Colombian
history, probably in the world.
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KLAPPER: So, they knew
they were onto something big.
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Possibly one of the biggest
invisibles ever.
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And that's why they came to me.
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I had a reputation as the go‐to
person for money laundering.
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I sat down with the two
Homeland Security agents
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who said, "We've seized
over $40 million.
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Imagine the magnitude
of the organization
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and the volume of drugs
that it's producing.
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But where do we go from here?"
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(phone ringing)
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I receive a call from
a Colombian attorney
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with whom I'd worked previously.
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He said to me, "I have three
clients who need to come in.
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They just sustained the seizure
of enormous amounts of money
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and their lives are in danger."
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I said, "Did they just get
a big hit in Buenaventura?"
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And his response was,
"How did you know?"
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I said "Well, bring them in
and we'll all find out."
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They were sort of between
a rock and a hard place.
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Someone was going to come after
them for that lost $40 million.
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On the other hand,
they had US law enforcement
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breathing down their necks.
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They had to make a decision,
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which created
the greater risk to them,
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and ultimately,
they ended up with
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what I like to call
the "good guys."
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Once they were signed up,
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they went back to Colombia to
act as if nothing had happened.
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And you have to remember, they
themselves were not familiar
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with whose money
they were laundering.
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He was an invisible.
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So our instructions to them
were, number one, stay calm.
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Number two, gather as much
intelligence as you can
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about the group
you were working with.
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And most important,
try to get us real names.
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♪ ♪
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CASCIO: One of his nicknames
was the Gray Ghost.
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When we first started
hearing about him in 2004,
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I was a special agent
on behalf of the DEA
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assigned to
the Caribbean, Atlantic,
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and the drug transportation
organizations
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working in and
about those areas.
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We were getting a series
of fishing vessels
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that were loaded from 2,000
to 4,000 kilos of cocaine.
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As the crewmembers were
coming in from the boats,
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a certain name kept popping up
when we would speak to them.
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Don Luis.
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For them, he was a "Don"
meaning "respect,"
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and Luis, that was
his first name,
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so these guys referred
to him as Don Luis.
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At the time, other names were
more prominent in Colombia.
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Don Luis, as we knew him, wasn't
getting a lot of attention.
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But we knew if we were catching
11 different boats
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for the tune of 22 tons,
that we knew belonged to him,
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this was a pretty
significant target.
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Our primary goal was to try
to get him identified
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and trying to really
understand his organization
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and the depth
of his organization.
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My partners and I,
we turned every rock we could,
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traveled all over
Central and South America
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trying to track down leads.
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So we really were on a hunt.
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2006, 2007, I received some
information that he was the guy
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behind the scenes of
a Bogota soccer team
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who invested in the team
and who was paying the bills.
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He owned it, but not on paper.
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Some of the stuff
we weren't sure
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what was rumor
and what was fact,
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and it became, you know,
like a passion of ours.
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Like, we were going to get
this guy identified
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and we were going
to get him arrested.
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We received information that
his first last name was Caicedo.
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But we knew Luis Caicedo was
a very popular name in Colombia,
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so we had to really
do some digging
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to get his second last name.
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And ultimately, we got the phone
call from a well‐placed source
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that he used to be
a police officer
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and then we had to try to figure
out what agency he worked with
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and how many years ago.
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We had individuals in Colombia
looking through that paperwork,
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and that gave us
the second last name.
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Velandia was his
mother's last name,
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and that was the hard name
to come up with.
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Literally within hours
we were able to get a photo
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from a visa application
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with those two names together,
the Caicedo Velandia.
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We were getting information
from our intelligence sources
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in Colombia that
he was known as Don Lucho.
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KLAPPER: Chris Cascio,
he and his people
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had identified Lucho
before anyone else.
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They got a drug indictment
against Lucho.
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The problem was they had no idea
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where he was or
how to capture him.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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RENDON: They basically gave us
a tip on a person named Max.
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Max was a high‐ranking member
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of the narcotics
trafficking organization
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based out of Bogota.
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He was not the top
of the hierarchy.
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He took orders from the boss,
the cartel kingpin.
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We were working collaboratively
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with the Colombian
National Police
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in trying to identify Max.
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Because we didn't
have his identity.
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But after following him around,
doing tactical surveillance,
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we thought this was a high‐level
worker of the organization.
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KLAPPER:
This high‐ranking member,
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he decided to take his family to
the United States on vacation.
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We obtained his flight plan.
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RENDON: So once
he landed in Miami,
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we were able to greet him
at the airport
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and introduce ourselves
as federal agents
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and notified him that
he was under arrest.
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I don't think he had any idea
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that anybody was
looking for him.
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It was a big shock.
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(jet passing overhead)
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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RENDON: When Max told us
who his boss was,
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Luis Caicedo, AKA Don Lucho,
we were pleased.
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This guy was operating
for a long time
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without being discovered.
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CASCIO: I didn't want
to get too excited,
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00:12:00,741 --> 00:12:02,660
'cause it had been
a number of years
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00:12:02,660 --> 00:12:05,454
that we were looking for him.
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00:12:05,454 --> 00:12:08,249
DAVID MARWELL: He was a massive
target and worked for years
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00:12:08,249 --> 00:12:12,211
without anybody knowing
anything about him.
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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Upon soliciting
Max's cooperation,
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00:12:27,851 --> 00:12:33,399
he laid out for us
the entire enterprise.
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00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:35,401
The entire cartel.
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00:15:15,185 --> 00:15:19,273
KLAPPER: Once we arrested
this high‐ranking member,
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00:15:19,273 --> 00:15:21,441
we were able to obtain
a tremendous amount
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00:15:21,441 --> 00:15:23,735
of physical evidence
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00:15:23,735 --> 00:15:26,822
documentary evidence,
testimonial evidence.
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We actually discovered Lucho
was part of what has become
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00:15:34,079 --> 00:15:38,917
the new generation of how to run
drug businesses in Colombia.
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00:15:38,917 --> 00:15:41,795
Designed to limit his exposure
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00:15:41,795 --> 00:15:45,257
and to remain small
and tightly controlled.
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00:15:45,257 --> 00:15:50,637
Lucho decided, I'm the CEO,
I have high level partners,
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00:15:50,637 --> 00:15:52,931
everything else
will be outsourced.
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00:15:52,931 --> 00:15:55,392
I need drugs,
I'm not going to own the labs
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00:15:55,392 --> 00:15:57,227
like Pablo owned labs.
219
00:15:57,227 --> 00:16:00,105
I'll contract with people
to make the drugs.
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00:16:00,105 --> 00:16:03,317
I need transport, I'm gonna
contract with people
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00:16:03,317 --> 00:16:05,444
who have the planes
and the boats.
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00:16:05,444 --> 00:16:08,113
I need killing, I need murder.
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00:16:08,113 --> 00:16:10,282
I'll outsource to the hitmen.
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00:16:10,282 --> 00:16:11,742
(gunshot)
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00:16:15,412 --> 00:16:19,374
It was almost as if he had
sat down with accountants
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00:16:19,374 --> 00:16:22,169
and investment advisors
and decided,
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00:16:22,169 --> 00:16:27,424
"How can I make the most money
and incur the least risk?"
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00:16:27,424 --> 00:16:30,052
And that's really why he
was able to stay invisible
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00:16:30,052 --> 00:16:31,970
for so long.
230
00:16:31,970 --> 00:16:35,682
While Lucho was clearly the
brains behind the organization,
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00:16:35,682 --> 00:16:38,477
he had partners.
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00:16:38,477 --> 00:16:39,937
One of the most prominent ones
233
00:16:39,937 --> 00:16:42,522
was an individual
named Julio Lozano.
234
00:16:42,522 --> 00:16:46,610
Julio was extremely valuable
for his connections to the labs,
235
00:16:46,610 --> 00:16:49,571
to the product.
236
00:16:49,571 --> 00:16:52,282
He had a man named
Claudio Silva.
237
00:16:52,282 --> 00:16:54,701
Claudio had a big farm.
238
00:16:54,701 --> 00:16:59,122
Claudio was very happy to set up
a crematorium on his farm,
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00:16:59,122 --> 00:17:01,500
and when Lucho directed,
240
00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:04,878
the bodies would end up
in Claudio's crematorium.
241
00:17:08,465 --> 00:17:09,633
RENDON: These three gentlemen
were known as
242
00:17:09,633 --> 00:17:11,343
the Dons of the organization,
243
00:17:11,343 --> 00:17:16,598
hence the name Don Julio,
Don Claudio, and Don Lucho.
244
00:17:16,598 --> 00:17:18,558
KLAPPER: Lucho also
partnered with someone
245
00:17:18,558 --> 00:17:20,936
who was far from invisible:
246
00:17:20,936 --> 00:17:24,731
a very major trafficker
called Loco Barrera.
247
00:17:24,731 --> 00:17:27,567
Loco was part of
the organization,
248
00:17:27,567 --> 00:17:31,572
mainly for the deterrent value
of his name.
249
00:17:31,572 --> 00:17:35,158
People knew you did not want
Loco anywhere near you,
250
00:17:35,158 --> 00:17:36,910
because you were going
to end up dead,
251
00:17:36,910 --> 00:17:39,871
as would your entire family and
everyone else you ever spoke to,
252
00:17:39,871 --> 00:17:41,665
down to your dog.
253
00:17:41,665 --> 00:17:46,712
So Loco was more the threat that
was held over anyone's head.
254
00:17:46,712 --> 00:17:50,132
Don't mess with Lucho, or you're
going to have to deal with Loco.
255
00:18:19,828 --> 00:18:22,080
JEREMY MCDERMOTT: The
relationship between Don Lucho
256
00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:26,418
and Loco Barrera for me
is the prototype
257
00:18:26,418 --> 00:18:29,087
visible/invisible relationship.
258
00:18:29,087 --> 00:18:31,506
All eyes were on Loco Barrera,
259
00:18:31,506 --> 00:18:35,469
who's handling the operational
side of the business.
260
00:18:35,469 --> 00:18:38,430
Nobody knew that behind him,
pulling the strings,
261
00:18:38,430 --> 00:18:43,477
making the deals and
the big money was Don Lucho.
262
00:18:43,477 --> 00:18:45,979
RENDON: Don Lucho is
a very serious man,
263
00:18:45,979 --> 00:18:47,689
and with that amount
of money that you have
264
00:18:47,689 --> 00:18:51,943
and to leverage over
police, military,
265
00:18:51,943 --> 00:18:54,905
you're able to influence
a lot of people.
266
00:18:54,905 --> 00:18:56,365
KLAPPER: In a legal business,
267
00:18:56,365 --> 00:18:58,450
someone's trying to
steal your trademark,
268
00:18:58,450 --> 00:19:01,036
someone's engaging
in libel or slander,
269
00:19:01,036 --> 00:19:04,623
you can seek redress
through the legal system.
270
00:19:04,623 --> 00:19:07,834
Drug trafficking,
there is no redress.
271
00:19:07,834 --> 00:19:10,253
Someone steals your drugs
and steals your money,
272
00:19:10,253 --> 00:19:11,963
you can't go to court
to get it back.
273
00:19:11,963 --> 00:19:16,093
You have to take law enforcement
into your own hands.
274
00:19:16,093 --> 00:19:19,429
RENDON: If you crossed his path,
you basically got killed.
275
00:19:26,269 --> 00:19:28,397
KLAPPER: Lucho had
a head of security.
276
00:19:28,397 --> 00:19:31,733
An individual who went by
the alias Sillas,
277
00:19:31,733 --> 00:19:34,569
means "chairs" in Spanish.
278
00:19:34,569 --> 00:19:37,614
Sillas was an ex‐sicario,
a hitman.
279
00:19:37,614 --> 00:19:41,243
He had been shot in
a drug gun battle
280
00:19:41,243 --> 00:19:45,163
and he was paralyzed
from the waist down.
281
00:19:45,163 --> 00:19:48,125
Lucho installed him,
in his wheelchair,
282
00:19:48,125 --> 00:19:53,171
in a room with video cameras,
recording equipment;
283
00:19:53,171 --> 00:19:55,924
he was listening to everyone.
284
00:19:55,924 --> 00:19:57,342
You transported for him,
285
00:19:57,342 --> 00:19:59,636
your chats were going
to be intercepted.
286
00:19:59,636 --> 00:20:01,304
You sourced drugs for him?
287
00:20:01,304 --> 00:20:03,473
Your chats were going
to be intercepted.
288
00:20:03,473 --> 00:20:07,602
And Sillas oversaw
this whole operation.
289
00:20:07,602 --> 00:20:10,439
The most important part
of Sillas' job
290
00:20:10,439 --> 00:20:14,192
was to execute the executions.
291
00:20:14,192 --> 00:20:18,447
He would get word from Lucho,
"This person stole from me."
292
00:20:18,447 --> 00:20:21,783
He would get word from someone
else in the organization,
293
00:20:21,783 --> 00:20:24,494
"This person slept
with my wife."
294
00:20:24,494 --> 00:20:28,331
Whatever the reason,
Sillas would then subcontract
295
00:20:28,331 --> 00:20:32,878
to a closed group
of sicarios, hitmen.
296
00:20:32,878 --> 00:20:36,173
As the organization
became more powerful,
297
00:20:36,173 --> 00:20:39,509
Sillas would direct the hitmen,
298
00:20:39,509 --> 00:20:43,096
or the police, who were
also working for Lucho,
299
00:20:43,096 --> 00:20:45,432
to simply kidnap the targets
300
00:20:45,432 --> 00:20:50,479
and bring them to
Claudio Silva's farm.
301
00:20:50,479 --> 00:20:51,897
CASCIO: Sometimes
with the violence,
302
00:20:51,897 --> 00:20:53,565
it's part of their culture
303
00:20:53,565 --> 00:20:59,070
that if they don't enforce
violations of their code,
304
00:20:59,070 --> 00:21:01,656
then everyone's going
to take advantage of them.
305
00:21:01,656 --> 00:21:03,617
So they have to set examples,
306
00:21:03,617 --> 00:21:05,327
whether it's members
in the organization,
307
00:21:05,327 --> 00:21:08,246
people that they care about,
people that they're fond of,
308
00:21:08,246 --> 00:21:10,624
and when they get to that level,
like Lucho's level,
309
00:21:10,624 --> 00:21:13,752
and if he doesn't handle it,
then everybody's going to do it.
310
00:21:16,671 --> 00:21:19,466
RENDON: The organization had
a code that they used internally
311
00:21:19,466 --> 00:21:22,803
to document payments.
312
00:21:22,803 --> 00:21:25,847
So it might have been
yellow for payments,
313
00:21:25,847 --> 00:21:28,308
or it might have been blue
for cocaine shipments.
314
00:21:28,308 --> 00:21:33,146
But red always meant
the color of blood.
315
00:21:33,146 --> 00:21:35,899
Yeah, pretty much
you're taken out.
316
00:21:41,196 --> 00:21:42,823
(Max sighs)
317
00:21:50,497 --> 00:21:52,666
MARWELL: Ultimately,
we made a tactical decision
318
00:21:52,666 --> 00:21:54,668
to pursue Lucho.
319
00:21:54,668 --> 00:21:57,087
CASCIO: Our primary goal was
to try to get him extradited
320
00:21:57,087 --> 00:22:00,423
and brought to the United States
to face charges.
321
00:22:00,423 --> 00:22:04,177
MARWELL: This operation
was unprecedented.
322
00:22:04,177 --> 00:22:07,973
KLAPPER: Agents infiltrated
Lucho's organization.
323
00:22:07,973 --> 00:22:10,976
MARWELL: We, from
an undercover capacity,
324
00:22:10,976 --> 00:22:13,019
actually ran the cartel.
325
00:22:32,455 --> 00:22:34,249
RENDON: So Max was
very cooperative,
326
00:22:34,249 --> 00:22:38,545
and he was willing to work right
away with the US government.
327
00:22:40,672 --> 00:22:42,549
Nobody in Don Lucho's
organization
328
00:22:42,549 --> 00:22:45,302
knew that he was under arrest.
329
00:22:45,302 --> 00:22:50,640
KLAPPER: We decided to take
advantage of the situation.
330
00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,602
RENDON: We put him up in
a location in New York
331
00:22:53,602 --> 00:22:57,647
and set up
an undercover operation.
332
00:22:57,647 --> 00:22:59,482
KLAPPER: We set up a war room,
333
00:22:59,482 --> 00:23:04,070
and the agents infiltrated
Lucho's organization
334
00:23:04,070 --> 00:23:10,035
and ran it as if they were
this high‐ranking individual.
335
00:23:10,035 --> 00:23:13,371
How? The various high‐ranking
members of his group
336
00:23:13,371 --> 00:23:16,207
typically never met in person.
337
00:23:16,207 --> 00:23:21,338
Everyone shared an email address
and the password for the email.
338
00:23:21,338 --> 00:23:24,049
When they needed to communicate
with each other,
339
00:23:24,049 --> 00:23:28,094
they would draft an email
and leave it in the system.
340
00:23:28,094 --> 00:23:30,597
Undetectable to law enforcement.
341
00:23:30,597 --> 00:23:33,683
The others would check
the email in draft form,
342
00:23:33,683 --> 00:23:37,646
because it was never sent,
and receive their instructions.
343
00:23:37,646 --> 00:23:40,774
So by using this method
of communication,
344
00:23:40,774 --> 00:23:44,319
it enabled him to operate
undetected for so many years,
345
00:23:44,319 --> 00:23:47,280
but it also enabled us,
once we had the keys,
346
00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,449
to become part of
his organization.
347
00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,163
Once we had the key,
once we knew the emails,
348
00:23:55,163 --> 00:23:58,333
we were able to take over
as if we were that person.
349
00:24:02,879 --> 00:24:04,422
MARWELL: All the people
that worked it
350
00:24:04,422 --> 00:24:08,051
had never been in
a position similar to this
351
00:24:08,051 --> 00:24:10,553
where in an undercover capacity
352
00:24:10,553 --> 00:24:14,015
they are running
a cartel operation.
353
00:24:14,015 --> 00:24:17,686
They are in control
of the network.
354
00:24:17,686 --> 00:24:20,188
♪ ♪
355
00:24:20,188 --> 00:24:24,734
♪ ♪
356
00:24:24,734 --> 00:24:29,155
KLAPPER: So we infiltrated and
we began issuing the orders.
357
00:24:29,155 --> 00:24:32,325
"Oh, you have drugs in
Venezuela? Send them here."
358
00:24:32,325 --> 00:24:35,578
"Oh, you have money in the
Netherlands, send it there."
359
00:24:35,578 --> 00:24:37,497
We would issue the orders
to the transporters,
360
00:24:37,497 --> 00:24:39,207
to the money launderers,
361
00:24:39,207 --> 00:24:41,626
and then we would seize
the drugs and seize the money.
362
00:24:48,299 --> 00:24:52,429
MARWELL: This operation
was continually unnerving,
363
00:24:52,429 --> 00:24:57,017
unnerving for all those
that were involved in it.
364
00:24:57,017 --> 00:25:00,437
RENDON:
Running a drug trafficking
organization remotely,
365
00:25:00,437 --> 00:25:02,856
it's very stressful.
366
00:25:02,856 --> 00:25:05,984
KLAPPER: We had a very fine line
to walk, a balance.
367
00:25:05,984 --> 00:25:08,319
We didn't want to get greedy
and seize too much
368
00:25:08,319 --> 00:25:10,321
and lose the chance
to capture him.
369
00:25:10,321 --> 00:25:13,199
On the other hand, we wanted
to seize as much drugs
370
00:25:13,199 --> 00:25:15,785
and as much money as possible.
371
00:25:15,785 --> 00:25:18,705
MARWELL: We were literally
doing narcotic deals
372
00:25:18,705 --> 00:25:22,459
and/or money laundering deals
all over the world.
373
00:25:22,459 --> 00:25:26,129
We did it in Ecuador,
we did it in Argentina,
374
00:25:26,129 --> 00:25:28,048
we did it in Colombia,
375
00:25:28,048 --> 00:25:30,675
Morocco, Spain, Rotterdam.
376
00:25:30,675 --> 00:25:33,511
I mean, it was unprecedented.
377
00:25:33,511 --> 00:25:35,889
It took a lot of cocaine
off the streets
378
00:25:35,889 --> 00:25:38,558
in all these various countries.
379
00:25:38,558 --> 00:25:41,770
I believe the entire amount
of money that was seized
380
00:25:41,770 --> 00:25:46,232
was something to the tune
of $175 million.
381
00:25:49,903 --> 00:25:51,571
RENDON: Working with Max
proactively
382
00:25:51,571 --> 00:25:55,784
in an undercover capacity meant
dealing with him every day,
383
00:25:55,784 --> 00:25:58,953
20 hours a day,
working through weekends,
384
00:25:58,953 --> 00:26:03,124
working through holidays
non‐stop.
385
00:26:03,124 --> 00:26:06,419
So you start to understand
in a personal way what led him
386
00:26:06,419 --> 00:26:13,384
to be a worker for a major drug
trafficker like Luis Caicedo.
387
00:26:13,384 --> 00:26:15,428
I personally think
he got involved
388
00:26:15,428 --> 00:26:18,348
because he had no choice.
389
00:26:18,348 --> 00:26:21,101
Once you get in deep,
you can't get out,
390
00:26:21,101 --> 00:26:23,144
and that's what
most of these guys
391
00:26:23,144 --> 00:26:25,855
who are the underlings
of the kingpins say.
392
00:26:25,855 --> 00:26:27,107
You know, if you get out
of an organization,
393
00:26:27,107 --> 00:26:28,525
you're either gonna get killed
394
00:26:28,525 --> 00:26:30,110
or your family's
gonna get killed.
395
00:26:30,110 --> 00:26:33,530
You really have no options
but to work for them.
396
00:26:36,032 --> 00:26:38,368
We would go for walks,
397
00:26:38,368 --> 00:26:40,745
we'd take him out to drink
some pop, some shakes,
398
00:26:40,745 --> 00:26:45,500
to kind of decompress
from the investigation.
399
00:26:45,500 --> 00:26:47,585
When you're dealing with
a high‐level person,
400
00:26:47,585 --> 00:26:49,045
anything could happen.
401
00:26:49,045 --> 00:26:52,048
Ambushing, people trying
to break him out
402
00:26:52,048 --> 00:26:54,968
of the undercover location
we were at.
403
00:26:54,968 --> 00:26:59,055
So you're talking about me
with another 10 to 15 agents
404
00:26:59,055 --> 00:27:03,601
just to even take him
outside for a breath.
405
00:27:03,601 --> 00:27:06,938
KLAPPER: Every day was
filled with tension,
406
00:27:06,938 --> 00:27:10,900
because we never knew
when Lucho would say,
407
00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:12,443
"There's a mole,
we must shut it down,
408
00:27:12,443 --> 00:27:14,571
we must end communication."
409
00:27:18,783 --> 00:27:23,246
The chatter over the wires was
that Lucho was getting worried.
410
00:27:23,246 --> 00:27:26,332
He could not understand
how in an organization
411
00:27:26,332 --> 00:27:28,710
that had evaded seizures
412
00:27:28,710 --> 00:27:32,505
was getting hit one after
another after another.
413
00:27:32,505 --> 00:27:36,551
RENDON: Things were
running dry.
414
00:27:36,551 --> 00:27:40,138
There were no more cocaine
shipments to send anywhere,
415
00:27:40,138 --> 00:27:41,472
there were no money pickups,
416
00:27:41,472 --> 00:27:44,350
and some people
stopped responding,
417
00:27:44,350 --> 00:27:49,647
because everybody got scared
of what was happening.
418
00:27:49,647 --> 00:27:53,318
Don Lucho was like,
"What in the hell is going on?"
419
00:27:53,318 --> 00:27:55,778
MARWELL:
These narcotics cartels,
420
00:27:55,778 --> 00:27:58,740
they factor in
losing loads of dope.
421
00:27:58,740 --> 00:28:00,658
What they get really upset with
422
00:28:00,658 --> 00:28:02,911
is when their money
is confiscated.
423
00:28:02,911 --> 00:28:05,872
KLAPPER: Lucho had suffered
very few seizures
424
00:28:05,872 --> 00:28:08,833
before our investigation
started.
425
00:28:08,833 --> 00:28:11,461
We knew that with
a certain number of seizures
426
00:28:11,461 --> 00:28:17,216
someone was going to figure out
that there was a leak.
427
00:28:17,216 --> 00:28:20,553
Day in and day out,
"Is it time to shut it down?"
428
00:28:20,553 --> 00:28:22,263
"Is today the day?"
429
00:28:22,263 --> 00:28:25,934
"Ah, well, just one more load.
One more seizure."
430
00:28:25,934 --> 00:28:29,395
Until finally we decided,
it's too hot,
431
00:28:29,395 --> 00:28:31,147
there's been too many seizures,
432
00:28:31,147 --> 00:28:32,815
we have to go in
for the kill shot.
433
00:28:32,815 --> 00:28:34,609
We have to get Lucho.
434
00:28:34,609 --> 00:28:38,154
♪ ♪
435
00:28:38,154 --> 00:28:44,911
♪ ♪
436
00:28:44,911 --> 00:28:51,167
♪ ♪
437
00:29:48,891 --> 00:29:51,310
RENDON: The belief is
that arrest warrant
438
00:29:51,310 --> 00:29:53,563
went through
the Colombian government,
439
00:29:53,563 --> 00:29:55,440
and Don Lucho was able
to obtain that
440
00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,276
from the Colombian government
through corrupt means.
441
00:29:58,276 --> 00:30:00,111
And so he saw his name,
442
00:30:00,111 --> 00:30:04,741
and he absconded to a country
that would offer safe harbor.
443
00:30:06,492 --> 00:30:09,120
KLAPPER: Lucho felt
some heat in Colombia,
444
00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:13,332
so he had moved his family
to Argentina.
445
00:30:13,332 --> 00:30:16,127
MARWELL: But we didn't know
precisely where he was.
446
00:30:16,127 --> 00:30:19,630
So having some of our
cooperators contact him
447
00:30:19,630 --> 00:30:24,385
via email, we were able
to triangulate
448
00:30:24,385 --> 00:30:27,805
some of his coordinates.
449
00:30:27,805 --> 00:30:31,184
KLAPPER: So Lucho was
living in an enclave
450
00:30:31,184 --> 00:30:33,561
where a lot of Colombian narcos
build their houses.
451
00:30:33,561 --> 00:30:36,439
You can always tell
in Argentina.
452
00:30:36,439 --> 00:30:38,066
Gated communities,
453
00:30:38,066 --> 00:30:41,277
monstrous‐size houses,
lots of security,
454
00:30:41,277 --> 00:30:43,362
and that's where
he had relocated.
455
00:30:43,362 --> 00:30:45,907
♪ ♪
456
00:30:45,907 --> 00:30:52,663
♪ ♪
457
00:30:52,663 --> 00:30:54,332
RENDON: So the plan
to capture Don Lucho
458
00:30:54,332 --> 00:30:59,670
was having Max set up a meeting
with Don Lucho in Argentina.
459
00:30:59,670 --> 00:31:02,048
He wanted to meet because he
wanted to know what was going on
460
00:31:02,048 --> 00:31:07,011
with, you know, the organization
and all the recent seizures.
461
00:31:07,011 --> 00:31:08,763
KLAPPER:
"Guys, we've got to be careful.
462
00:31:08,763 --> 00:31:11,224
The gossip, the chatter is that
463
00:31:11,224 --> 00:31:13,017
he's beginning
to get suspicious."
464
00:31:13,017 --> 00:31:14,644
The tension was enormous.
465
00:31:14,644 --> 00:31:16,979
Are we really going to get him?
466
00:31:18,940 --> 00:31:21,776
RENDON: So when we got on
that plane, I was scared, man,
467
00:31:21,776 --> 00:31:24,570
I was like holy (bleep),
like, this is happening.
468
00:31:27,073 --> 00:31:30,118
We were going to go forward
with capturing
469
00:31:30,118 --> 00:31:32,078
the biggest drug trafficker
in the world.
470
00:31:34,872 --> 00:31:36,582
CASCIO:
There's so much corruption
471
00:31:36,582 --> 00:31:38,584
in different countries,
you have to be really careful
472
00:31:38,584 --> 00:31:42,880
when you actually let people
know that you have a target,
473
00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:44,632
you want to put
handcuffs on him,
474
00:31:44,632 --> 00:31:47,426
because if you do it too soon
and they get word of that,
475
00:31:47,426 --> 00:31:52,056
then the guy runs,
and you can't find him.
476
00:31:52,056 --> 00:31:53,057
RENDON: The meeting point
was going to be
477
00:31:53,057 --> 00:31:54,433
around a shopping center
478
00:31:54,433 --> 00:31:58,813
in a highly public
Argentine community.
479
00:31:58,813 --> 00:32:05,111
♪ ♪
480
00:32:05,111 --> 00:32:07,989
KLAPPER: Is he going to be‐‐
sorry, Lucho‐‐
481
00:32:07,989 --> 00:32:10,908
but is he going to be
dumb enough to show up
482
00:32:10,908 --> 00:32:14,495
more or less unaccompanied
at a meeting?
483
00:32:14,495 --> 00:32:17,540
RENDON: Don Lucho,
people were scared of him.
484
00:32:17,540 --> 00:32:20,334
Not just in Colombia
but all over the world.
485
00:32:20,334 --> 00:32:21,919
MARWELL: We were all
on pins and needles
486
00:32:21,919 --> 00:32:23,880
waiting to see
how this happened,
487
00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:28,467
and we were just hoping that
everything would go okay.
488
00:32:28,467 --> 00:32:33,514
RENDON: Our agency coordinated
with the Argentine authorities.
489
00:32:33,514 --> 00:32:35,308
CASCIO: Depending on
your relationship
490
00:32:35,308 --> 00:32:36,976
with local law enforcement,
491
00:32:36,976 --> 00:32:38,561
sometimes you get to go out
on the operation,
492
00:32:38,561 --> 00:32:41,439
sometimes you don't.
493
00:32:41,439 --> 00:32:44,150
RENDON: So the Argentines
set up surveillance
494
00:32:44,150 --> 00:32:46,027
around the meeting point.
495
00:32:46,027 --> 00:32:47,320
They basically did
everything in country,
496
00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:48,905
'cause as diplomats overseas,
497
00:32:48,905 --> 00:32:51,115
we have no
law enforcement authority.
498
00:32:51,115 --> 00:32:52,742
CASCIO: The safe place to
keep us is at the embassy
499
00:32:52,742 --> 00:32:54,744
so we can't get in any trouble
or do anything silly
500
00:32:54,744 --> 00:32:56,162
or screw up their operation.
501
00:32:56,162 --> 00:32:58,706
♪ ♪
502
00:32:58,706 --> 00:33:04,420
♪ ♪
503
00:33:04,420 --> 00:33:08,216
RENDON: All it is was
a very covert operation.
504
00:33:08,216 --> 00:33:11,719
There was no lights and sirens.
505
00:33:11,719 --> 00:33:18,351
Once they saw him, they went
ahead and apprehended him.
506
00:33:18,351 --> 00:33:20,311
He knew the gig was up.
507
00:33:23,689 --> 00:33:26,525
KLAPPER: The moment he was
in custody, we received word.
508
00:33:26,525 --> 00:33:29,987
And we all shouted
and we high‐fived.
509
00:33:29,987 --> 00:33:33,407
"We've got him. We've got him.
He's in custody. We've got him."
510
00:33:35,660 --> 00:33:38,537
CASCIO: When that went down,
it was about a five o'clock,
511
00:33:38,537 --> 00:33:40,957
five or six o'clock
on a Friday night.
512
00:33:40,957 --> 00:33:43,376
We were standing by
at the embassy
513
00:33:43,376 --> 00:33:48,256
and jumped in the car,
drove to the arrest location.
514
00:33:48,256 --> 00:33:51,759
There was an individual
in the back of a car in a suit,
515
00:33:51,759 --> 00:33:54,762
and I thought, that kind of
meets the criteria for this guy,
516
00:33:54,762 --> 00:33:58,641
because he wasn't just like
a low‐level crewmember.
517
00:33:58,641 --> 00:34:02,687
This was, you know,
this was the boss.
518
00:34:02,687 --> 00:34:05,940
RENDON: He looked at me
with a shock on his face
519
00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:06,983
I'd never seen.
520
00:34:06,983 --> 00:34:09,193
His eyes were wide open.
521
00:34:09,193 --> 00:34:11,028
He didn't know
what was going on.
522
00:34:11,028 --> 00:34:13,322
But when we
identified ourselves,
523
00:34:13,322 --> 00:34:17,660
he kind of nodded and said,
"Yeah, I basically got caught."
524
00:34:17,660 --> 00:34:20,329
CASCIO: In my ten seconds
of brief conversation
525
00:34:20,329 --> 00:34:23,791
in Spanish with him, we
explained it wasn't an accident
526
00:34:23,791 --> 00:34:25,501
why he was in handcuffs.
527
00:34:25,501 --> 00:34:28,129
We encouraged him that
in his particular case
528
00:34:28,129 --> 00:34:30,673
it was in his best interest
to waive extradition,
529
00:34:30,673 --> 00:34:33,676
and if he delayed the
extradition a year or two years,
530
00:34:33,676 --> 00:34:36,012
the information that he could
provide to us real time
531
00:34:36,012 --> 00:34:37,471
was going to be stale,
532
00:34:37,471 --> 00:34:39,724
and it'd be in his best interest
to get on a plane
533
00:34:39,724 --> 00:34:42,935
and get to the United States.
534
00:34:42,935 --> 00:34:44,979
RENDON: He knew someone
definitely betrayed him,
535
00:34:44,979 --> 00:34:49,817
because their organization was
so secret and so underworld.
536
00:34:49,817 --> 00:34:52,361
♪ ♪
537
00:34:52,361 --> 00:34:57,116
♪ ♪
538
00:34:57,116 --> 00:34:59,327
After he got caught, we were
listening to these calls
539
00:34:59,327 --> 00:35:02,872
of Loco Barrera making plans
540
00:35:02,872 --> 00:35:05,541
to send helicopters and trucks
541
00:35:05,541 --> 00:35:10,296
and armored vehicles trying
to break Don Lucho out of jail.
542
00:35:19,096 --> 00:35:23,851
RENDON: Loco Barrera is serious
about trying to break Lucho out.
543
00:35:23,851 --> 00:35:28,230
That's what kind of respect
Loco had for Don Lucho.
544
00:35:28,230 --> 00:35:30,524
So that's why we had to move
fast and get Lucho out of there,
545
00:35:30,524 --> 00:35:32,193
back to the US.
546
00:35:34,654 --> 00:35:36,113
CASCIO: Back in
the United States,
547
00:35:36,113 --> 00:35:39,742
Don Lucho, he was
looking at 20 to life.
548
00:35:39,742 --> 00:35:41,994
KLAPPER: The only way
in the United States
549
00:35:41,994 --> 00:35:46,582
for a drug trafficker to avoid
spending 10, 20, 30 years
550
00:35:46,582 --> 00:35:48,626
in jail is to cooperate.
551
00:35:48,626 --> 00:35:51,212
There is no other alternative.
552
00:35:51,212 --> 00:35:54,256
CASCIO: The first part of
this cooperation was just,
553
00:35:54,256 --> 00:35:59,053
"Can you turn over any money?
Can you turn over any drugs?"
554
00:35:59,053 --> 00:36:01,847
KLAPPER: The Homeland Security
agents wanted to seize
555
00:36:01,847 --> 00:36:04,016
as much money as possible.
556
00:36:04,016 --> 00:36:08,354
Their job was to convince
Lucho to turn over the money.
557
00:36:10,147 --> 00:36:11,816
CASCIO: Most of these guys will
tell you when you lock them up
558
00:36:11,816 --> 00:36:14,068
they don't have any money
and they spent all their money,
559
00:36:14,068 --> 00:36:16,696
or so‐and‐so owes them money,
and it was true,
560
00:36:16,696 --> 00:36:19,532
Lucho had a bunch of people
that owed him a lot more money.
561
00:36:19,532 --> 00:36:22,284
But we knew that he had moved
significant amounts of cocaine,
562
00:36:22,284 --> 00:36:24,954
which meant he'd made
significant amounts of money.
563
00:36:24,954 --> 00:36:26,914
And the conversation
that we had was,
564
00:36:26,914 --> 00:36:28,207
"You don't have
to give it all up,
565
00:36:28,207 --> 00:36:30,751
but you gotta give
a lot of it up."
566
00:36:30,751 --> 00:36:35,172
So he had a couple individuals
that were in Colombia still
567
00:36:35,172 --> 00:36:38,092
that we were
making phone calls to.
568
00:36:38,092 --> 00:36:41,637
And ultimately, we were notified
that there was a car
569
00:36:41,637 --> 00:36:43,723
at a certain location,
a certain color,
570
00:36:43,723 --> 00:36:45,141
and that in the trunk
of that car
571
00:36:45,141 --> 00:36:48,227
was, you know,
some of his drug proceeds.
572
00:36:50,980 --> 00:36:54,108
We'd roll out to these different
locations with the local cops.
573
00:36:54,108 --> 00:36:56,485
They'd run the dog on the car,
the dog would hit on it,
574
00:36:56,485 --> 00:36:58,904
and then, you know,
we would open up the trunk,
575
00:36:58,904 --> 00:37:02,575
and sure enough there'd be
a bag of money in there.
576
00:37:02,575 --> 00:37:05,077
Each of the drops,
a different car would show up
577
00:37:05,077 --> 00:37:08,414
at a different location,
never the same location,
578
00:37:08,414 --> 00:37:11,125
and bags of money in the trunk.
579
00:37:11,125 --> 00:37:13,919
The first amount was
right around $12 million.
580
00:37:13,919 --> 00:37:18,674
About a week later we collected
another $16 million, same way.
581
00:37:18,674 --> 00:37:22,136
But the fourth drop in Colombia
was the biggest.
582
00:37:22,136 --> 00:37:24,805
We received information
about an apartment,
583
00:37:24,805 --> 00:37:28,517
and they had boxes
and boxes of money,
584
00:37:28,517 --> 00:37:31,437
and to the tune of
close to $50 million
585
00:37:31,437 --> 00:37:32,980
inside the apartment.
586
00:37:32,980 --> 00:37:36,609
And it was in a pretty
raggedy neighborhood.
587
00:37:36,609 --> 00:37:41,655
$102 million was ultimately
seized in Colombia.
588
00:37:41,655 --> 00:37:44,408
But I explained to him that,
"Listen, we appreciate
589
00:37:44,408 --> 00:37:45,743
what you did in Colombia,
that's great,
590
00:37:45,743 --> 00:37:47,453
but that money
stays in Colombia.
591
00:37:47,453 --> 00:37:50,831
If you can get $10 million to
the US through another country,
592
00:37:50,831 --> 00:37:53,501
that's going to do
a little bit more for you."
593
00:37:55,503 --> 00:37:58,380
So a short time later,
he arranged for a series
594
00:37:58,380 --> 00:38:01,634
of four to five
different drops in Panama
595
00:38:01,634 --> 00:38:04,386
where we would fly to Panama,
we'd go to a location,
596
00:38:04,386 --> 00:38:06,430
and there would be
a person there.
597
00:38:06,430 --> 00:38:09,475
And the person would turn over
the suitcase to us,
598
00:38:09,475 --> 00:38:12,269
and we would seal it up
per our policies and procedures,
599
00:38:12,269 --> 00:38:14,939
throw it in our carry‐on
and fly home with it.
600
00:38:14,939 --> 00:38:18,484
♪ ♪
601
00:38:18,484 --> 00:38:24,532
♪ ♪
602
00:38:24,532 --> 00:38:27,284
Lucho, he pled guilty
to everything
603
00:38:27,284 --> 00:38:28,953
that we charged him with.
604
00:38:28,953 --> 00:38:33,165
He always seemed
very respectful, very sincere.
605
00:38:33,165 --> 00:38:34,583
"Hey, I just want to
get this behind me
606
00:38:34,583 --> 00:38:36,210
and move on with my life."
607
00:38:36,210 --> 00:38:39,129
You know, that was really
his attitude with us.
608
00:38:39,129 --> 00:38:41,674
♪ ♪
609
00:38:41,674 --> 00:38:47,221
♪ ♪
610
00:38:47,221 --> 00:38:53,644
♪ ♪
611
00:38:53,644 --> 00:38:55,479
For someone that moved
that amount of cocaine,
612
00:38:55,479 --> 00:38:57,565
did he do enough time in jail?
613
00:38:57,565 --> 00:39:01,026
Probably not. Probably not.
614
00:39:01,026 --> 00:39:03,445
Should he have done
a little bit more? Maybe.
615
00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:08,242
Everything lined up
just perfectly for him.
616
00:39:08,242 --> 00:39:11,078
From the judge that sentenced
him, to the timing of it,
617
00:39:11,078 --> 00:39:12,413
everything lined up for him
618
00:39:12,413 --> 00:39:16,083
where he got
a favorable sentence.
619
00:39:16,083 --> 00:39:18,544
RENDON: Don Lucho right now
is out of jail,
620
00:39:18,544 --> 00:39:22,631
and I think that he will
continue to operate
621
00:39:22,631 --> 00:39:25,009
the way he was before.
622
00:39:25,009 --> 00:39:27,803
I think that he still
has a lot of influence.
623
00:39:27,803 --> 00:39:30,723
I think he still
has a lot of debts
624
00:39:30,723 --> 00:39:33,851
that haven't been collected.
625
00:39:33,851 --> 00:39:37,521
So I think now he's still
a dangerous man.
626
00:39:39,148 --> 00:39:40,608
CASCIO: I would like to say
627
00:39:40,608 --> 00:39:42,484
he's not going to get
back into business,
628
00:39:42,484 --> 00:39:45,654
but we've had guys spend
the same amount of time,
629
00:39:45,654 --> 00:39:49,366
go back out there
and start up again.
630
00:39:49,366 --> 00:39:51,535
I hope that's not what he does.
631
00:39:51,535 --> 00:39:54,204
(siren)
632
00:39:54,204 --> 00:39:56,123
KLAPPER: His partners,
Julio Lozano,
633
00:39:56,123 --> 00:40:00,169
sentenced back in Colombia,
Claudio Silva as well,
634
00:40:00,169 --> 00:40:03,380
paid his sentence
back in Colombia.
635
00:40:03,380 --> 00:40:06,759
For the Colombians,
this is a way of life.
636
00:40:06,759 --> 00:40:08,469
They know that there's a shot
637
00:40:08,469 --> 00:40:10,304
that they're going
to get arrested,
638
00:40:10,304 --> 00:40:12,222
they're going to
have to cooperate,
639
00:40:12,222 --> 00:40:14,224
they'll get their
sentence reduced,
640
00:40:14,224 --> 00:40:16,060
they'll go back to Colombia,
641
00:40:16,060 --> 00:40:18,646
and some significant percentage,
642
00:40:18,646 --> 00:40:20,314
not having any
other career path
643
00:40:20,314 --> 00:40:24,568
will immediately return to
trafficking or money laundering.
644
00:40:24,568 --> 00:40:27,112
♪ ♪
645
00:40:27,112 --> 00:40:33,285
♪ ♪
646
00:40:33,285 --> 00:40:35,871
MCDERMOTT: The story of
Loco Barrera is perhaps
647
00:40:35,871 --> 00:40:40,167
an extreme case of what
happens to a visible.
648
00:40:40,167 --> 00:40:42,670
As the net began
to close around him,
649
00:40:42,670 --> 00:40:46,131
he became
increasingly desperate.
650
00:40:46,131 --> 00:40:51,011
He used a frying pan to burn his
fingerprints and grow a beard,
651
00:40:51,011 --> 00:40:57,476
hoping that that would help him
remain not arrested and hidden.
652
00:41:00,062 --> 00:41:01,981
It didn't.
653
00:41:01,981 --> 00:41:04,525
♪ ♪
654
00:41:04,525 --> 00:41:11,115
♪ ♪
655
00:41:11,115 --> 00:41:17,079
♪ ♪
656
00:41:40,436 --> 00:41:43,939
♪ ♪
657
00:41:43,939 --> 00:41:50,529
♪ ♪
658
00:41:50,529 --> 00:41:53,240
RENDON: Their street value
was over $24 billion
659
00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:55,951
of sales of narcotics worldwide.
660
00:41:55,951 --> 00:41:58,662
912 tons of cocaine.
661
00:41:58,662 --> 00:42:01,707
So the magnitude just shows
why they were probably
662
00:42:01,707 --> 00:42:03,000
the most successful cartel
663
00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:06,253
in the history of
that underground world.
664
00:42:06,253 --> 00:42:07,755
CASCIO: We asked him that, like,
"You made so much money.
665
00:42:07,755 --> 00:42:10,382
At what point didn't you
just want to check out
666
00:42:10,382 --> 00:42:14,094
and when's enough enough?"
667
00:42:14,094 --> 00:42:17,056
He says, "Yeah, you're right.
Yeah. I should have."
668
00:42:17,056 --> 00:42:18,557
In his instance,
669
00:42:18,557 --> 00:42:21,226
I think he enjoyed
the business aspect of it,
670
00:42:21,226 --> 00:42:23,353
and he was a really good
businessman.
671
00:42:25,773 --> 00:42:27,524
KLAPPER: When all was
said and done,
672
00:42:27,524 --> 00:42:31,653
we took down what, for his era,
was the largest invisible,
673
00:42:31,653 --> 00:42:33,363
Don Lucho.
674
00:42:33,363 --> 00:42:37,242
We took down his
entire hierarchy
675
00:42:37,242 --> 00:42:40,913
in terms of his partners,
his right‐hand men.
676
00:42:40,913 --> 00:42:44,917
And we took down well over 30
677
00:42:44,917 --> 00:42:47,294
of what I like to call
his subcontractors.
678
00:42:47,294 --> 00:42:48,712
The people who provided him
679
00:42:48,712 --> 00:42:51,298
with what he needed
to run his business.
680
00:42:51,298 --> 00:42:55,594
We accomplished our goal,
which was to dismantle.
681
00:42:55,594 --> 00:42:59,181
If you're going to ask me,
ultimately,
682
00:42:59,181 --> 00:43:04,103
did our work have any effect
on the drug trade itself?
683
00:43:04,103 --> 00:43:05,979
The answer is no.
684
00:43:07,314 --> 00:43:10,400
Not at least for a minute.
685
00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:12,027
With him out of the picture,
686
00:43:12,027 --> 00:43:15,572
younger, even more
violent traffickers
687
00:43:15,572 --> 00:43:17,825
have stepped into the space.
688
00:43:17,825 --> 00:43:20,577
So with every great success,
689
00:43:20,577 --> 00:43:24,373
all we do is create an opening
for the next generation.
690
00:43:24,373 --> 00:43:27,960
There are always other
invisibles waiting in the wings.
691
00:43:31,839 --> 00:43:33,715
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