True Spies Classic: True Narcos | DEA
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Deep Dive
Why did the Medellin Cartel declare war on the Colombian government?
The Medellin Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, declared war on the Colombian government in retaliation for attempts to extradite drug traffickers to the United States.
How much profit did the Medellin Cartel make daily at its peak?
The Medellin Cartel, under Pablo Escobar, brought in approximately $60 million a day in profits from cocaine smuggling.
What was the daily homicide rate in Medellin during the height of the cartel's power?
During the peak of the Medellin Cartel's influence, Medellin experienced an average of 20 homicides per day.
What was the bounty on the heads of DEA agents in Colombia?
Pablo Escobar placed a bounty of $300,000 on each DEA agent's head in 1991, which would be equivalent to about a million dollars for two agents today.
What was the nickname given to Steve Murphy by the Colombian police?
Steve Murphy was nicknamed 'Stick' by the Colombian police because they struggled to pronounce his name correctly.
How did Javier Peña and Steve Murphy first intercept communications from Pablo Escobar?
Javier and Steve intercepted Escobar's communications after an assistant attorney general in Colombia memorized the frequency used by Escobar and his son during a conversation.
What was the significance of the 'Cathedral' prison where Pablo Escobar surrendered?
The 'Cathedral' was a luxurious, custom-built prison where Escobar negotiated to serve his sentence, complete with a pool, jacuzzi, and football field, which allowed him to continue running his drug empire from within.
How did the DEA agents refine their ability to locate Pablo Escobar?
The DEA used radio directional finding equipment, donated by France, to triangulate Escobar's location based on his radio signals, narrowing down his hiding spots within city blocks.
What was the final mistake that led to Pablo Escobar's capture?
Escobar's final mistake was being so engrossed in a conversation with his son that he failed to notice a Colombian police officer driving by with a radio antenna, which led to his location being pinpointed.
What was the impact of Pablo Escobar's death on drug trafficking in Colombia?
While Escobar's death symbolically ended the Medellin Cartel, drug trafficking continued almost immediately, with the Cali Cartel taking over the business.
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