Original subtitles

On this episode of Drug Wars, Panama's drug enforcement battles extreme

challenges on the Pacific coast.

It's a high -risk search for drugs inside a deadly cave.

And the victims of

Puerto Rico's drug trade struggle with their addiction and try to stay alive.

America's public enemy number one is drug abuse.

The decades -long war on drugs is a constant battle.

Drugs are menacing our society.

With the growing demand in the United States, cartels are moving an endless

supply of drugs.

Positive for cocaine.

Fusion is taking you inside the drug war, to the front lines of Operation

Martillo. a multinational counter -narcotics operation.

In just three months, we witnessed over 15 tons of drug seizures, totaling over

$800 million.

This is Drug Wars.

On the previous episode of Drug Wars... After

a hot pursuit during a night patrol in Panama, two smugglers are pressured to

reveal secret narco intel.

But a search in a dangerous area of mangrove... brings no luck until the

suspects finally confess about a cave in the Marieto district of Iragua that's

secretly used by the cartel.

The extreme and unpredictable waters make this the high -risk location.

Here on the Pacific coast, the tide rises considerably.

If they land in the wrong spot at this time of day, the helicopter could be

overrun by the high tide.

Upon landing, the team discovers that the officers on the scene

have already made some arrests.

These lookouts give up the location of the cave they've been hired to guard.

But with these rising waters, accessing the caves could quickly turn deadly.

They go to jail, and then when they get out, they kill them.

Because the drug trafficking truck is a domino effect.

For them to make you suffer, they kill your family.

They start killing your friends.

They start killing all your loved ones.

Because they have to find a group to make you suffer, right?

The drug trafficking truck doesn't want anyone.

Because it's death and destruction and blood.

It's total ignorance.

The Sinan team must abort the mission and return in the morning during low

to continue the search.

Some of the personnel stays behind to guard the cave's entrance in case the

traffickers return.

In Puerto Rico, there are many victims on the other side of the drug trade who

are often overlooked. Here, 60 ,000 plus addicts inject heroin, cocaine, and

even horse tranquilizers.

The lack of government funding for treatment programs has left community

to fight their own drug war.

Iniciativa Comunitaria is a team of pre -med students and everyday locals who

travel to the most dangerous, drug -infested neighborhoods on the island.

These volunteers risk their lives to save one addict at a time.

Dr. Vargas Vidal started the group and uses his medical expertise to train the

volunteers.

Vargas has dedicated his life to attending drug addicts on the streets.

He knows that a simple infection like this can kill an addict in days.

I started my medical career in Santo Domingo. I learned community medicine.

I learned how to deal with sickness and diseases.

But in the streets, I learned how to deal with the heart and not the muscle.

I was

a regular doctor.

working for the Department of Health in Puerto Rico, and I was so frustrated by

the system.

When I was in front of all the injustice that was part of the

way of dealing with the patient, I was so upset that I started thinking about

how to do something without the system.

Iniciativa Comunitaria is a community -based organization.

What we do is think about the city as a big hospital, and each one of

the persons that we encounter in the street behind a bridge is like a bed in

hospital for us.

So in the hospital we do rounds, in the streets we do street rounds.

Lisa Morales is in charge of the medical brigade and ensures all services are

provided to the drug addicts.

I've been working with Iniciativa Comunitaria for 10 years now. We give

week supply, vitamins, condoms, cookers, so that they can prepare their drugs,

and you have to do needle exchange.

We have been criticized a lot because of this, because many people think that if

you give them a needle, you're just promoting drug use, but you're not doing

that. They're going to inject anyway because they need it. It's part of their

illness.

Iniciativa's philosophy is not just to provide treatment or their detox

services. The ultimate goal is to get addicts clean while still on the street.

The amount of people living in the street, you know, when we first started,

usually maybe saw from 30 to 40 people each night.

But at this moment, we're seeing from 75 to 150 people.

Anyone can be in the street.

We started seeing people that lost their jobs. They had to then start using

either alcohol or drugs just to, like, forget about their reality.

And that's why I get emotional, because I know them, and I feel like they are my

family.

We believe we are creating a new generation of health professionals.

Warning,

and the tide has turned in Panama.

Investigators return to the area for a second attempt to enter the cave that

they were tipped on.

The conditions are on the team's side, but not for long.

They only have until about 6 p .m. before the tide comes up again and traps

inside.

It was cool, but I didn't feel much air to breathe because I felt wet.

You have to squat and drag.

Officers in Panama are searching a cave possibly used by the narcos to stash

their goods.

After digging around, they only find motor oil. But so far, no drugs.

Soon, they spot large bales in the sand, most likely full of drugs.

Now,

they rush to get the drugs out of the cave by sunset.

Otherwise, the rising water will make it impossible to carry the bales out.

The problem with this merchandise is that it's worthless to us.

For us, it represents millions of dollars.

And the problem is that they want to recover it. So when we find this

merchandise, what we do is try to get it out as soon as possible.

The officers noted that each bale is much heavier than usual.

This product most likely comes directly from a drug lab and has been tightly

packed for long -distance travel.

Back in Puerto Rico, volunteers must work fast to avoid the dangers of drug

violence nearby.

Candy, who frequently uses speedball, injecting heroin and cocaine at the same

time, initially resisted treatment like most addicts do.

Drug use by injection may cause abscesses when the needle doesn't reach

and the drug spills under the skin.

This can lead to a severe infection and in extreme cases can be fatal.

They have been trained to clean the place.

This is one of the most dangerous public residences, so I'll let you know when

you leave with the camera because it's very dangerous here.

I have it now.

Monte Jatillo is considered one of the most dangerous housing projects in

Rico.

The area is known for its drug -related gang violence, and most recently, an

increase in deadly drug overdoses.

With

so

many other addicts in the area, the crew splits.

The second group leader, Emmanuel, has worked the streets for almost five

He's developed a strong bond with the locals.

Jackie, originally from New Jersey, came to Puerto Rico to visit friends.

During her visit, she met Fernando and stayed.

They've been a couple ever since.

Fernando has used heroin for 30 years.

He introduced Jackie to the drug world.

Ironically, his drug use has decreased.

Jackie is now life -threatening.

With a large amount of drugs still buried deep inside a hidden cave on

Pacific coast, the team still faces danger from traffickers in the area, as

as the rising tide.

For Sinan, this reward comes with a price.

There are so many heavy sacks that the team must quickly devise a plan to carry

out the drugs with the handful of men available.

Chuzo, who said it was going to be easy?

These huge fuel canisters confirm this is the key refueling spot for Narcos.

Being just 300 miles away from Colombia makes this a prime location for

smugglers that pass through the area.

It's a race against the clock.

The heavy weight of 700 or so kilos of drugs found will take at least three

helicopter trips to transport back to the Sinan base.

It was well inspected, all the tanks were taken out, everything was taken

everything was taken out.

It was well inspected, everything was taken out, everything was taken out. It

was well inspected,

everything was taken out, everything was taken out.

It was well inspected, everything was taken out, everything was taken out.

With the drugs finally at Sanan headquarters, the district

attorney's office will confirm the weight and type of substance.

While unpacking, they also take note on various labeling on the kilos used by

drug labs to distinguish their products and recipients.

What began as a maritime drug bust of just 40 kilos has led the team to a

bigger than they imagined.

As the mission comes to an end, the results are positive for 786 kilos of

cocaine that will not make it to the U .S.

Had these kilos hit the streets, They would have been cut and diluted at least

three times, making this shipment potentially worth almost $120 million.

On the next episode of Drug War. I was in like pain for like an hour. I was

screaming and my legs were in these touches.

Puerto Rico now faces one of its worst drug abuse epidemics, and the island is

not prepared to handle it.

While the island border patrol receives intel about trafficking

from the Dominican Republic.

We're going to be inspecting a vessel that's being pulled out of the water.

They will hunt for the smugglers via land, air, and sea.

But as the info keeps on changing, units go on a wild chase. Have you seen

anything tonight?