COLOMBIA
Killing Pablo
Jan 2001 – 42’
OPEN
REPORTER TRACK:
Murder….
Assassination…
A billion dollar drug empire….
One of the most wanted outlaws of the 20th century ….
Was a bullet the only way to stop him?
“Pablo Escobar, in my opinion, is the biggest criminal the world has ever seen or will ever see.” (magee)
Tonight, the untold story of america’s role in the hunt for Pablo Escobar and what the united states knew about a vigilante justice group that helped bring him down.
“I don’t know what the moral of the story is. I hope the ends don’t justify the means.” (toft)
--------------------------
SEGMENT 1
(super=February, 2000)
((nat burst, music up, ruins of La Catedral))
This is La Catedral where…nearly a decade ago… the richest man in Colombia became the richest inmate in Colombia and then the most wanted man in Colombia. His name was Pablo Escobar and he was one of the world’s most powerful and dangerous men. His assassins murdered hundreds of judges, journalists, politicians and innocent bystanders who got in their way.
From this hilltop, you can look out on what used to be Pablo’s kingdom- where one of the century’s greatest outlaws was known as “the Robin Hood of Medellin.” VIDEO 1
“We sincerely cared a lot for him and his death hurt us. He was a person who would help poor communities on a daily basis. He didn’t take notice of rich people, only of poverty.” ((peasant man)) ((TAPE X19 @17:12:29-42 r:13)) SOT 1
The neighborhood is called “Barrio Pablo Escobar” – Pabloville. Peasants remember a generous man who spent lavishly on his hometown. VIDEO 2
“We lived in moravia, the town’s dumpsite. We had a hut, but then there was a fire. He was moved by the whole thing// Then several families were chosen and we were given homes.“ ((Peasant woman)) ((TAPE # 18 16:57:44-00//cut to 16:58:07-18 r:27) SOT 2
Son of a farmer and a schoolteacher, VIDEO 3 Pablo Escobar grew up in Colombia’s second largest city during a period called “La Violencia” – the violence- a time when murder became common place. VIDEO 4
He started with petty crimes such as stealing gravestones and cars but soon graduated to the booming drug trade. VIDEO 5 By the time he reached his 30’s, the poor kid from Medellin had become the richest and most powerful cocaine trafficker in the world. VIDEO 6
“Eighty percent of the criminality in Medellin, around that time, was mobilized by Pablo Escobar or his organization, // They were people who subjected to no law, no order. They only responded to their master and the money he could give them.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 R:45)) SOT 3
Escobar enjoyed a life of luxury and extravagance. This is one of his estates where giant fiberglass dinosaurs shared the land with exotic animals and exotic cars like the one reputedly driven by Bonnie & Clyde … and the cars Pablo VIDEO 7 gave away to nude women competing in footraces. VIDEO 8
But Pablo wanted something money couldn’t buy: respect. In the early 1980’s, he ran for congress and got elected as an alternate. VIDEO 9
“the judicial system and the political system were the areas in which mafia people got into because they thought it was going to be useful. We protect them. It brought a kind of immunity that was important” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #1 @ 8:41)) R:15 SOT 4
But when Escobar tried to take his seat in congress, he was denounced on the floor of the house. VIDEO 10
He retaliated by declaring war on anyone who opposed him or his cartel. VIDEO 11 When the Justice Minister called Pablo a narcotics trafficker, Pablo had him killed. When a judge indicted Pablo for the crime, the judge was shot and killed as well. VIDEO 12
((nat burst George Bush inauguration))
In Washington, the election of George Bush in 1988 put America on a collision course with Escobar. VIDEO 13 The Reagan-era’s “just say no” campaign was escalating as the U.S. began demanding the extradition of drug producers overseas. VIDEO 14 Escobar responded with a carrot and stick: massive payoffs to the authorities coupled with assassination of those who couldn’t be bought. VIDEO 15.
“Their reputation was that if you did not cave into their demands to buy you off that you were a dead man.” (Joe Toft) (X 23 14:54:00)) R:11 SOT 5
Joe Toft led the DEA effort in Bogota. Working out of the U-S embassy, the agency collected intelligence and trained Colombian authorities in enforcement tactics. VIDEO 16
“I had no idea that the corruption would reach the levels that had taken place,// even though I figured it would be a difficult task to go after Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel it turned out to be many times more difficult than I had expected.” (Joe Toft) (X23 15:01:05-11//cut to//32-44) R:18] SOT 6
“Pablo Escobar, in my opinion, is the largest and biggest criminal the world has ever seen or will ever see.” (Ken Magee) (X 27 3:50:08) R:08 SOT 7
Ken Magee was also in the DEA’s Bogota office and, like his boss, was in awe of Escobar’s power and influence. VIDEO 17
“Al Capone could be a body guard or driver for Pablo Escobar.” (Ken Magee) (X27 3:52:00) R:05 SOT 8
Escobar and his cronies began calling themselves “The Extraditables.” Under the slogan, “we prefer a grave in Colombia than a prison in the United States,” the group used bribes and tactics of violence VIDEO 18 to convince the Colombian Supreme Court to ban extradition of Colombian citizens. VIDEO 19 Safe from US justice, the Medellin Cartel members ratcheted-up their domestic campaign of terror, killing presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan VIDEO 20 and blowing up an Avianca airliner in an attempt to kill Galan’s successor, Cesar Gaviria VIDEO 21
“they didn’t kill me because they couldn’t but they kill other two candidates.//I knew we were taking high risks. I knew my family was taking high risks. You never knew when they were going to come.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #1 @18:53-57//CUT TO GAVIRIA #4 @1:35:50-55)) R:09 SOT 9
It is how Pablo Escobar and his Medellin Cartel ruled --through terror and intimidation. They were even allegedly behind a plot to assassinate George Bush.VIDEO 22 In 1990, Colombian police seized 10 French made missiles that police security forces say were to be used to attack the president when he landed in Cartagena for an anti-drug summit. VIDEO 23
At the time, Colombia was producing about 80-percent of the world’s supply of cocaine. 9A VIDEO 24 That made Pablo Escobar atarget for the Bush administration’s push against drugs.VIDEO 25Despite popular opposition, Colombian leaders accepted technical assistance from the Americans.VIDEO 26
“ I mean, this is not only a problem of colombia. This is a problem of everyone who is involved in this business.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #4 @1:39:50-:57//1:40:08—14)) r:13 SOT 10
And so began what became known as “the first war”. Encouraged and funded by the U.S., Colombian police pursued Pablo and in the process killed some of his top men. VIDEO 27
Escobar fought back. VIDEO 28
“I remember that in Medellin, in one year, he killed 500 policemen. In
other words, as policemen we lived, like they say here, with our hair standing on end. It was a very hard life, because a bomb could explode any moment.” (Gen. Serrano) ((TAPE #12 @31:12 R:21)) SOT 11
“Each time you left your house, you didn't know if you were going to be back. You would say, "Okay dear, I am leaving, I might return, I might not." (Col. Correa) ((TAPE #18 @32:44 R:09)) SOT 12
Many of the killings were born of corruption. VIDEO 29
“Mister Pablo Escobar paid two, three million pesos for each agent's head. So, many of the policemen working in the commando sold the addresses of their own partners, and they would go and kill you right there. ” (Col. Correa) ((TAPE #18 @36:40 R:29)) SOT 13
In 1990, Colombian President Cesar Gaviria, made the drug dealers an offer…surrender and confess to at least one crime and you will be given a reduced sentence. VIDEO 30
Pablo Escobar and 17 of his colleagues decided to accept the deal.
The world’s biggest drug dealer…the worst mass murderer in Colombian history…would plead guilty to a single count of arranging an overseas drug deal. VIDEO 31
(super=CIA footage {july 30, 1992 date already in lower right corner} )
As part of the plea bargain, authorities would prepare a prison designed especially for Pablo so he could maintain his luxurious lifestyle and Pablo would be guarded by his own handpicked men to protect him from his rivals.
Boettcher: “Tell me…you went through there. What was it like?”
“it’s a beautiful place…a beautiful place looking right out over Medellin and over Envigado. .” (Morris Busby) (BUSBY # 2 @ 43:30-35) r:05 SOT 14
This video taken by the CIA shows that his ‘prison’ was more like a country club. Perched on the top of an Andes mountain, VIDEO 32 it was a virtual 5-star resort.VIDEO 33
“I was furious. I really was furious to think that this man had been able to pull this off./ And I think everybody was and it was a jaw dropper to see what it was really like.” ((Ambassador Morris Busby)) ((busby #3 @1:00:49-02)) R:13 SOT
“We significantly failed. We were wrong./ We so underestimated the capacity of escobar to bribe and to intimidate people.” (Cesar Gaviria) ((GAVIRIA #4 @1:38:52-02-08)) r:16 SOT 15
Not only was he living in luxury, it was business as usual for his drug business. And for Pablo Escobar, murder was just another way of doing business. VIDEO 34 And so, in July 1992, he executed two of his cronies, William and Gerardo Moncada.
The brothers were murdered inside Pablo’s prison home because Pablo suspected they were skimming profits from his cocaine empire. The wife of William Moncada said the two were “hung upside down and burned.” It was, she said, “Escobar’s favorite way of killing someone.” VIDEO 35
Boettcher: “that changed everything?”
Gaviria: “oh yes, that changed everything because it was a very clear and established truth that he was committing crimes in jail/ and it was at that moment that we took the decision to take him to a jail in bogota” (GAVIRIA #2 @ 40:51-41:03//41:20-27) r:19 SOT 16
(super=July, 1992)
Gaviria decided he’d had enough. He sent an entire army brigade to storm the prison and he asked his Vice-Minister of Justice, Eduardo Mendoza to go there to quote-legalize the transfer.
But, when Mendoza arrived, he discovered the army had not attacked.
They were still waiting outside and the General on site decided to send Mendoza -along with his military director VIDEO 36 of prisons-up the long driveway. Alone, unarmed and terrified, they were to inform the world’s most infamous inmate that he was being moved to a real prison. VIDEO 37
“It was the most stupid thing that general could have done. / Instead of entering himself with the armed people, sending two officials who were unarmed to talk to escobar.” (Cesar Gaviria) (GAVIRIA # 2 @ 43:19-29) r:10 SOT 17
Escobar promptly took both men hostage.VIDEO 38
A unit of special forces arrived the next morning.VIDEO 39
(Super=CIA footage)
There was a shootout. Mendoza says he tried to hide behind the toilet but feared he would be killed by shattering glass. He tried crawling under Pablo’s mattress, but it was too heavy. In the end, he sat on the bed in a room filled with Pablo’s gunmen and waited for death to come.VIDEO 40
8 Years later, Mendoza agreed to share his amazing story, but not on camera.
“I just sort of lied there in the middle of the living room with all of these people around me and I thought this is how I’m going to die.” R:05 SOT 18
The prison where he was held hostage is now in ruins.
Mendoza was saved by a special forces sergeant who threw him against the wall and sat on him through the shootings and explosions. When Pablo’s men surrendered, the sergeant led Mendoza out of the prison…first crawling furiously on his hands and knees and then running so hard that he broke two ribs.
“because I was running so fast. I just couldn’t stop. I just crashed into everything, jumped down stairs. It’s like having superhuman powers.” R:09 SOT 19
When Mendoza escaped to the outside, he learned Pablo Escobar had too. VIDEO 41“he escaped in an incredible way. He just walked out.// People were so intimidated because of him that he was able to go to a military line of people that were really well armed and he was unarmed and he was able to walk out.” ((Cesar Gaviria))SOT 20
This time, Pablo had pushed the Colombian President too far. Humiliated and insulted, Gaviria-in defiance of Colombia’s constitution-invited the Americans to send in ground troops.VIDEO 42 “When he left the prison and made the govt. lose face once again. I think that became a turning point VIDEO 43 / that was the beginning of the end for PE.” (Joe Toft) (X24 15:10:23-35//15:10:44-45)) SOT 21
“In Colombia, at that time, he was considered Public Enemy #1 and that is why every effort was made to capture him at any cost.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 @16:12 R:32)) SOT 22 VIDEO 4423
The worlds biggest manhunt had begun.
SEGMENT 2
Go to almost any airport, anywhere in the world, and you’ll see lots of airplanes like this: Beechcraft 300’s. VIDEO 45
(super=DEA footage/Colombia, 1992(3?))
In Colombia’s war against drugs, they were used by the national police and by U.S. DEA agents. And because they are so ordinary, so easy to ignore, they were just what the American Army’s secret unit…code named Centra Spike… needed to track down Pablo Escobar. VIDEO 46
A U-S official who worked in the American embassy at the time and was familiar with Centra Spike’s operations agreed to talk to us, but asked that his face be obscured and his voice replaced with someone elses.
“Boettcher: What was so special about Centra Spike?”
“to be able to in a clandestine manner fly reconnaissance missions that would be able to pinpoint with extreme accuracy the location of Pablo Escobar himself.”
He says they crammed the basic Beechcraft with hi-tech gear that tracks mobile phone transmissions.VIDEO 47 The theory: find Pablo Escobar by finding his phone. VIDEO 48 That phone along with other Pablo paraphernalia is now on display at the police museum in Bogota. VIDEO 49
((nat burst WW2))
The US Army’s interest in high-tech surveillance dates to World War II when the allies figured out how to determine the location of Nazi radio transmissions within a few hundred miles. VIDEO 50
In the 1980s, the invention of the desktop PC enabled the Army –and its secret Centra Spike unit– to take so called radio telemetry to a new level. VIDEO 51
The Beechcrafts went to battle in the so-called “First War” against Escobar in 1989, VIDEO 52 when he was pursued and, eventually, turned himself in.VIDEO 53 By 1992, the technology was so advanced, that a plane flying over an entire city could determine the exact house…and if they worked with a team on the ground…even the exact room that the transmission was emanating from. VIDEO
“It’s the difference between looking for a needle in a haystack and being able to walk into somebody’s front door.”
Boettcher: That extensive?
Interviewee: “Absolutely”
Together with the CIA’s high flying glider planes like this one that specialized in visual surveillance, the aircraft were a formidable force. VIDEO 54
But they would be only part of the plan. Once you’d figured out where Pablo Escobar was, you still had to get to him. VIDEO 55
The U-S had secret units operating in Colombia since the first war with Pablo in 1989. The Pentagon dispatched additional Delta Force operatives within days of Escobar’s escape. VIDEO 56
But who would they train?
(SUPER-FARC Guerillas)
The Colombian Army was busy fighting leftist guerillas and besides, many American officials considered the army corrupt. The Army had relied on Escobar’s cartel to provide guns, money and training to paramilitary groups fighting the rebels. VIDEO 57 And when Pablo walked out of prison, he walked right through the 4th brigade of the Colombian Army.15A VIDEO
The Colombian National Police, on the other hand, had sealed its hatred for Escobar in the blood of hundreds of murdered policemen, a commitment memorialized at their Bogota HQ. VIDEO 58
(super=Police Training Exercise/ February, 2000)
((c-u door exploding…soldiers charging into building)) ((X5 @ 4:33:21 R:02))
So the “bloque de busquada “ – the “Search Block”- was formed with the Colombian National Policemen in its ranks, seen training earlier this year. They would become Colombia’s version of the Delta Force. Their sole job would be to hunt for Pablo.
((gunfire nats shot from camera inside building)) (XA @2:19:26 R:04)
This Delta Operator, whom we’ll call ‘Santos’, supervised the instruction. He also asked that his face not be shown and that his voice be replaced with someone elses.
“they were very receptive to the training because they were getting a lot of new tactical skills that they didn’t have and they were getting a lot of supplies that they didn’t have the money to get.” (“Santos”) (X19 @ 17:29:31-51—LOTS OF PAUSES THAT CAN BE CUT TO LOSE @ :08) R:12 SOT 24 VIDEO 59
(super=Police Training Exercise/Colombia, 1992)
Because Colombian law does not allow any American military presence, the U.S. Delta operators were not supposed to go on raids or even leave the confines of the Police Academy. VIDEO 60
“qui polisto…tres, dos, uno!” (training nats X4 @ 4:24:02 R:04)
Their mission: to teach the Colombian police all of the skills they would need to track down one of the world’s most dangerous criminals.
(nats of guy running toward the camera with gun) (X4 @ 4:21:31 R:02)
While Delta force was training and advising officers for the Search Block, Centra Spike was supplying intelligence. The conversations they picked up through an in-flight radio telemetry were then passed on to the CIA station chief and the station chief would pass on only the information he thought the Colombians needed in their hunt for Pablo Escobar. VIDEO 61
On the Colombian side, their commander would be this man, Colonel – now General – Hugo Martinez. He’d chased Pablo to jail before, but felt all he’d accomplished had been undone by Pablo’s deal with the government. VIDEO 62
“when I learned that he escaped, it was, for like another chance…/we were being given one more chance and with our experience would surely be successful because we already had a lot of experience.” (general martinez)SOT
But, Things got off to a bad start. Within hours of his escape, Centra Spike pinpointed Pablo Escobar’s location…VIDEO 63 but the Colombian Police were too slow. And over the course of many months and hundreds of raids, VIDEO 64it was soon apparent to American operatives that the chase was being hampered by incompetence and corruption in the Search Block.
The Colombian Police would take 300 officers on a raid when any more than 5 was sure to alert the entire countryside that the VIDEO 65 cavalry was coming.
And then there was Escobar’s network of informants, a virtual early warning system, VIDEO 66
“In Medellin, he counted on the taxi companies, he counted on the newspaper boys, he counted on the homeless. All that network of information was very vigilant of the movements the police would make regarding him.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 @21:57 R:17)) SOT 25
There were even spies at base camp, including a mild-mannered teenager. VIDEO 67
“they contact him, they offer him some money, they tell him, "tell me what you hear around there, tell us when you see any movement going on, if they are putting on the bullet proof vests, or preparing something, all you have to do is let us know and we'll pay you (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @3:41 R:48)) SOT
Escobar also exploited limitations of Centra Spike’s tracking equipment. VIDEO 68
“When he was talking, he demanded of the person he was talking to, not to call him from only one place, to keep moving, to get into a car and keep moving, and he did likewise. Because of that, when we finally made it to the precise location, all we found were traces that he had really been there.” (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @1:48 R:24)) SOT 26
Pablo, it seemed, held all the cards.VIDEO 69
((quick Captain Martinez SOT burst in Spanish))
General Martinez’ son, also named Hugo, was a Colombian Police officer, working with equipment supplied by the CIA to track down Escobar’s phone calls. Hugo Junior is still an active duty officer and asked that his face not be shown.VIDEO 70
“He didn’t know specifically that I was listening, but he knew my
father was. So, once Pablo said, Colonel, if you are listening, I will even do away with your family’s third generation. If your grandmother is dead, I will dig her up, kill her and bury her again.” (Capt. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #14 @ 11:12 R:39)) SOT 27
“The struggle against Pablo Escobar in particular, as it developed, became something personal, not a policeman against crime but it turned into Colonel Martinez against Pablo Escobar.” (Gen. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #6 @11:37 R:17)) SOT 28
As Weeks became months and Pablo was still on the run, rumors began circulating that the Search Block was on the take.VIDEO 71
It happened to us because it took us too long to find Pablo Escobar. //Pablo Escobar would not fall, would not fall, and meanwhile, people told us we were Pablo's accomplices, that we had received money from him.(Gen. Hugo Martinez)
(Super=Police Training Exercise/Colombia, 1992)
Over time, they did get faster, more efficient and their tactics improved.
Assaults by smaller units replaced the caravan-style tactics of the early days.
Still Escobar always managed to escape. Something new was needed. VIDEO 72
SEGMENT 3
By December 1992, after hundreds of raids, Pablo Escobar had been at large for 6 months.VIDEO 73
Convicted drug kingpin Carlos Lehder, a longtime Escobar associate, wrote a letter to the U-S recommending that authorities form a “civilian militia” to apprehend Escobar. Lehder hoped his cooperation with the Americans would lessen his life sentence in a U-S jail. VIDEO 74
The US got more suggestions from the wife of one of the drug-dealing Moncada brothers whose murder in July 1992 touched off Pablo’s escape. She told the DEA what it would take “to bring Escobar out of hiding” She said “he must be provoked or angered and made desperate so that he wants to strike back.” The extensive memo lists a half dozen “key organization members who should be arrested or killed”, a handful of lawyers for the cartel “whose deaths would create chaos for escobar” and “properties and important assets” which should be destroyed”. VIDEO 75
Their recommendations came as Pablo Escobar declared war on his government. VIDEO 76
“Everyday there was a bomb blowing off somewhere./ / at time the bombs were meant to cause mass mass destruction and claim lives and other times it was meant to cause damage to property.” (Ken Magee, DEA) (X 27 3:48:48-51-56-07) R:14 SOT
Around the same time, the table began to turn on Pablo Escobar. In January 1993, after another Escobar terror attack, there was a counter- attack. An apartment building where Pablo’s family members lived was destroyed by a double car bombing VIDEO 77 and a hacienda owned by his mother was decimated by dynamite.
Two days later, a group of self-described patriotic Colombians – a “civilian militia’, just as Lehder had recommended – took responsibility. VIDEO 78They called themselves Los Pepes--a Spanish acronym for People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar and they announced through the media that “each time Escobar carries out a terrorist action against defenseless people” the Pepes “will reply in the same form.” In their statement, the Pepes said they were dedicated to the “total annihilation of Pablo Escobar, his underlings, collaborators and property.”
VIDEO 79
Throughout the year, Los Pepes took credit for killings, kidnappings and destruction of Escobar property worth millions of dollars. In the first two weeks of their existence, they slaughtered 37 of Escobars associates and sympathizers. They dynamited apartment buildings owned by his family. And they burned Pablo’s collection of classic cars and his private art gallery. Their strategy, the Pepes said, was quote “to make Escobar feel the methods of his brand of terrorism in his own flesh.” One by one Escobar’s associates were either killed or turned themselves in for fear of assassination.
At the same time, Pablo was watching his assets dwindle. VIDEO 80
“Unofficially, when I first heard of Los Pepes, I felt it was about time that this would happen and I actually applauded this effort.” (Joe Toft) (X 24 15:34:03) R:12 SOT 29
There were all kinds of rumors and speculation about just who Los Pepes were. Many, including Joe Toft, thought they were former members of Pablo’s own gang who’d joined the rival Cali cartel and were unofficially working with the Colombian government to bring Pablo down. VIDEO 81
“You know, officially this relationship between the Government and Los Pepes did not exist. But in reality, it did exist.” (Joe Toft) (x25 15:54:31) R:07 SOT 30
But Pablo Escobar believed it was more than that. He believed Los Pepes actually was the government VIDEO 82 and accused the Colombian Police- US allies – of being behind the violent attacks. After all, they were benefiting from the groups’ vigilante justice. VIDEO 83
And with so many Colombian police officers killed by Pablo’s hit men they certainly had an ax to grind. VIDEO 84
(super=Colombia/February, 2000)
If Pablo was right, the Americans had a problem. The U-S helped fund and train the Colombian officers searching for Escobar. They supplied them with daily intelligence. If the search block was working with a vigilante group set on assassinating Pablo Escobar, it would be a clear violation of American law.VIDEO 85
“if that had been the case, than we would have immediately cut off all aid to Colombia and would have had nothing further to do with the hunt for Escobar.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #1 @ 17:22-35) r:13 SOT 31
And President Gaviria, it now turns out, feared that was the case and suspected there was some connection between his own police commanders and los pepes. VIDEO 86
“I was fearful that the connection could exist. I was fearful, yes…very fearful. ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #4 1:40:35)) SOT 32
But, 7 years ago, Gaviria appeared to be much more than fearful. The full extent of his suspicions are documented in a secret 8 page memo authored by US Ambassador Morris Busby.
In it, Busby says Colombia’s attorney general has “new, very good evidence linking key members of the police task force…to criminal activities and human rights abuses committed by los pepes…”
And Busby says “our own reporting since early February also suggested that the police were cooperating with the group at some level, including sharing information.”
Busby’s memo also refers to an April 16, 1993 meeting between President Gaviria and his top advisers and says Gaviria told them --quote -- “whatever was going on was to cease…” -- and that he – quote -- “reportedly called (a Colombian official) and ordered him to ‘pass the word’ that Los Pepes must be dissolved immediately…(the next day) Los Pepes … announced a unilateral cease fire in the press, and a week later stated publicly that the group was disbanding due to (Colombian governmental) opposition to their activities…”
Boettcher: “what do you recall about that meeting?”
“Well, I don’t recall well about that meeting, but I try to talk to every high ranking official in government to tell them that we could not be behind the pepes. / It was quite clear public opinion in antiocha and in colombia that the things that were happening against escobar properties and escobar friends had to have some kind of complicity from government officials” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA # 3 @ 1:03:19-26/27-43-47)) R:28 SOT 33
President Gaviria recognized that any connection between VIDEO 87 his government and the terrorist group would cause a public scandal and he worried that such a scandal would make it impossible VIDEO 88 for the Colombian police officers assigned to the search block to do their jobs effectively. The hunt would end with Escobar having, in Busby’s words, “won the game.” VIDEO 89
And despite the Pepes cease fire pledge, the killings continued.
“the phenomenon of the pepes heightened the tension enormously…for everybody. Because what they were doing or what was happening and being blamed on the pepes was so brutal and vicious and so public” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #1 @ 18:41:54) R:13 SOT 34In Washington, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reviewed the allegations that the U-S was indirectly assisting Los Pepes and, as a result, ordered all secret American military units out of Colombia.
But Ambassador Busby successfully appealed to have the order overturned. Busby felt pulling the plug at that point would have both betrayed U-S national interests and broken America’s promise to Colombia.
As for the alleged government connection with the pepes, Busby says he “wasn’t convinced that it was true.”
“It complicated things for us because it was a show stopper. If ANY involvement on the part of the colombia government our effort would have been finished.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #2 @ 54:58)) R:10 SOT 35
So a year into the hunt, the crusade against Pablo Escobar was succeeding -- but only after some shadowy group had begun to engage in Escobar-style tactics – and the United States continued to support the search block with money, manpower and technology.
In the end, nobody was ever prosecuted for the crimes committed by Los Pepes and, to this day, Martinez, denies any connection to the group. VIDEO 90
“Los Pepes and our group did not share any links at all. We never received any information directly from them. We always received it through the prosecutor's office, and we denounced any element related to them, that we had managed to identify.” (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @18:25 R:21)) SOT 36
Press the General on the matter and he’ll stand his ground, insisting he had nothing to do with the Pepes…even arguing that the Pepes played only a minor role.
But the General’s U-S partners say the Pepes role was huge. VIDEO 91
“they were very effective because they were playing without any rules, they were killing Escobar's people left and right.” (Joe Toft) (X24 15:35:15-24) r:09 SOT 37
“The way that PE was going to be captured was by him making a mistake, whether it be moving or by making phone calls, or getting out into an environment where someone might recognize him. The Pepes caused PE to move.” (Ken Magee)) (X27 4:00:22) R:15 SOT 38
“They basically had a license to go after him without any repercussions.” (Joe Toft) (X25 15:42:57) R:07 SOT 39
And soon, the man with little love for his fellow man would be undone by his love of family. VIDEO 92
SEGMENT 4
It’s just another house on just another street in this well-kept neighborhood in Medellin. Today, it’s a lawyer’s office. VIDEO 93 In December 1993, it was where the Search Block finally cornered its prey.
The final chapter began VIDEO 94 in October, when Los Pepes fired grenades at the apartment complex where Escobar’s family was living.
By November, Escobar was so concerned for their safety, he arranged for them to fly to Frankfurt, Germany and, he hoped, asylum.
This set off alarms in Washington. VIDEO 95
“In the hunt for this fugitive we realized one of the keys to catching Pablo Escobar is his family.” (Ken Magee/DEA) (X27 4:08:54) R:08 SOT 40
If his family left Colombia, authorities would have fewer opportunities to trace his phone calls to them. VIDEO 96
Kenny Magee booked a seat on the Escobar’s flight to Germany to keep tabs on them and see whom they came in contact with. He snapped these pictures with a hidden camera.VIDEO 97
“I could tell that they were scared obviously. And it was kind of ironic and they were the hunted instead of the hunter. And they were fearful for their lives -- and rightfully so.” (Ken Magee, DEA) (X27 4:13:54-59//4:14:06-14) r:13 SOT 41
German authorities refused their application for asylum, and Magee was also on the return flight.
“Not only were they tired, disappointed and scared -- but they were probably also dumbfounded because normally they would have gotten what ever they wanted, whenever they wanted, in their own country. And here you have a situation where they could not pay for whatever they wanted.” (Ken Magee) (X 28 4:17:01-20) r:19 SOT 42
At that point, The Escobars were out of options. Ironically, they had to turn to the Colombian government for protection from the pepes.
They were put up at the Tequendama hotel in Bogota…a hotel owned by the Colombian Armed Forces.
(super=December, 1993)
{nats of family talking to colombian media}
These interviews were done with Colombian television at that time.
While the family was holed up in their suite, police waited… hoping Pablo would try to contact them.
Pablo didn’t disappoint.
He was so incensed that his family
VIDEO 98 had been turned away from Germany that he started to call them immediately. VIDEO 99
“He must have known that he was making himself very vulnerable and yet he did it anyway.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #2 @53:50)) R:07 SOT 43
But Pablo knew police were listening in so at first he kept the calls short and talked from the backseat of a moving taxi VIDEO 100 so the phone calls couldn’t be traced.VIDEO 101
He also wrote letters like this one. Addressed to a number of Colombian officials – including Col. Martinez – it is dated November 30 and begins, “Senores Pepes…”
In it, Pablo complains bitterly about his treatment from authorities and the Pepes which he contends are one in the same.
“I have been raided 10,000 times. You haven't been at all. Everything has been confiscated from me. Nothing from you.
The government will never offer a reward for you all.
The government will never apply faceless justice to criminal and terrorist policemen. SOT 44 VIDEO 102
December 2, 1993: somewhere in Medellin. As Colombian Police listen in, Pablo begins to talk too much and too long. It is the day after his 44th birthday and just three days after his family was kicked out of Germany. VIDEO 103 He calls a radio station to complain about his family’s treatment and he calls his family at the Tequendama hotel.VIDEO 104
“I had direct communication with the person in charge of the switch board and of transferring calls to the rooms.. When Pablo Escobar called, the person in charge, a fellow police officer, called me immediately and said: "I've got him." (Capt. Martinez) ((TAPE #14 @26:10 R:27)) SOT 45
Pablo keeps the first phone call short, but hangs up promising to call his son back later that same day. It was the second call to his family that would prove to be his last.
And the family of General Martinez – whom Pablo Escobar had threatened on countless occasions – would bring the drama to a climax. VIDEO 105
“When the communication started, we began looking for him and, in about 5 minutes, it was done. We knew exactly where he was.” (Capt. Martinez) (x14 29:12) R:12 SOT 46
Or at least they thought they did. The search block raided a hotel in a shopping center, but Pablo wasn’t inside. Then Captain Martinez saw something on his signal analyzer he hadn’t noticed…a slight squiggle.
“I saw that there was a storm drain nearby and power lines. THAT made me look to see if my readings were inaccurate. I established rather quickly that it was the wrong place because of those influences.” (Capt. Martinez) (X14 30:12) R:30 SOT 47
Pablo was still talking as Martinez crossed over the creek and followed the signal to its strongest point…a simple two-story row home. And when Martinez looked up, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“At that moment, when I was signaling them, Pablo peered through the window, between the curtains, there he was, he got closer and saw me. I had the headphones on and I was pointing, "here," I also had the equipment and the radio with me.” (Capt. Martinez) (X14 32:19) R:13 SOT 48
Pablo hung up. And Captain Martinez, expecting an army of armed opposition inside, scrambled to redirect his forces who were still searching the shopping center. But in the end, Pablo Escobar had only his bodyguard, Limon to protect him. And as raiders burst through the door, Limon ran onto the roof.VIDEO 106 Riddled with bullets, he dropped to the grass below. Then came Pablo. VIDEO 107
“Pablo appeared by the window, with two guns, one in each hand…and he began to fire toward the house and outside, yelling ‘Police sons of bitches!’” (Capt. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #14 @33:53 R:04//CUT TO//34:03 R:06)) SOT 49
Pablo made a run for it. He was dropped by gunfire in the middle of the roof. A Colombian police commander assigned to the case says the wounded drug lord was then executed…with a bullet to the ear…as this autopsy photo reveals. VIDEO 108
(super=December 2, 1993)
And an officer yelled into the radio “Viva Colombia! We have just killed Pablo Escobar!” VIDEO 109
As word spread, Pablo’s mother arrived at the scene but all she saw was her son’s dead bodyguard viDEO 110
“The mother began to laugh and say he was not her son, that he was not Pablo Escobar, "you are wrong," she told us. So the rumor spread that it was another failed operation, that somebody else had died. She had not seen her son's corpse on the roof.” (Gen. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #8 @13:57 R:21)) SOT 50
After Pablo died, members of the Search Block clipped off the corners of his mustache as a souvenir VIDEO 111 …giving Escobar a bizarre Hitler-like look VIDEO 112 that was noted throughout the world. It was a private prank, a final indignity to the man who had evaded them so long.VIDEO 113
“I felt that it had been a victory for the people of colombia, the colombian national police and the united states federal law enforcement.” (X 28 Ken Magee @ 4:26:57-08) R:11 SOT 51
“everybody was happy. All of us understood he had been taken down.” (general martinez )) ((tape #8 @ 8:11:33 r:07)) SOT 52
The Search Block and its US patrons threw a “Pablo is dead” party. But the DEA’s Joe Toft was uneasy. Not only VIDEO 114 was the field cleared for Pablo Escobar’s drug dealing rivals to move in, the US and Colombian team had succeeded only after assistance from Los Pepes, which engaged in the same sort of Escobar-style terror tactics that had sparked the chase to begin with. VIDEO 115
And Toft would ask whether the U-S had traded one set of enemies for another. VIDEO 116
“Once it sunk in that he was finally gone, it was a bittersweet feeling because Pablo was history, but the real winners were the Cali cartel.” (Joe Toft) (X25 15:52:40-58…can cut :08 if cut pauses and cover) R:10 SOT 53
SEGMENT 5
Pablo Escobar had become so rich, so powerful and so vicious that he had threatened to bring down the very nation of Colombia by undermining its judicial constitution and influencing elections.
Killing Pablo was almost a symbolic act. VIDEO 117
“To tell colombian people that nobody out of the law would be…would be able to defy the state.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #3 1:21:03-14-20-27)) R:07 SOT 54
But the newly empowered cali cartel - - pablo’s rivals- would try. VIDEO 118
“they got rid of their #1 opponent, their #1 competitor, Escobar and his organization and they became the monopoly in the country.” (toft @ 43:30)
In time, the Cali cartel was also brought down by Colombian police officers trained and financed, in part, by the Americans. And the struggle with the Cali cartel only led to an even more sophisticated criminal. VIDEO 119
“We are facing a new generation of drug traffickers, that has learned its lessons from the past, and knows that terrorism and corruption are weapons that the State defeats at the end of the day. This new generation is using their intelligence, sophistication and basically a clandestine world to ensure drug trafficking.” (Col. Naranjo) ((TAPE #22 @38:00 R:27)) SOT 55
((nat burst guerillas))
The fact that the drug traffickers are allied with the leftist guerillas who’ve been fighting a 36 year civil war has made them even more formidable. VIDEO 120
“that drug production base is fueling enormously violent, corrupting influences in their society. That’s the heart and soul of it.” ((dir. Barry mccaffrey/u.s. office of national drug control policy))@20:34-42 r:08 SOT 56
Which brings us to the multi-billion dollar plan to fund the fight against this new force. VIDEO 121
((nat burst training))
Much is made in Washington about the distinction between battling an insurgency (a la Vietnam) VIDEO 122 and the war against drugs (a la Pablo Escobar). But when the drugs are controlled by the insurgents, authorities admit the two goals can become one. VIDEO 123
“If one eliminates the possibility of the FARC rebels participating in this business, it would be possible to overcome the problem of drugs.” (Col. Naranjo) ((tape #22 18:39:13 r:09)) SOT
“they're fighting over drug money and that's where we have to support colombian police and their prosecutors and their judges and their armed forces in regaining control of all of their own nation.” (Barry McCaffrey)
((nat bu rst – some sort of relevant US military imagery))
For the US military, the Pablo Escobar experience provided invaluable training in what has emerged as a post-Cold War way of handling conflict.VIDEO 124
Not threatened by countries, The United States is threatened by drugs and thugs and small bands of terrorists.
“you’re dealing with a much smaller group of people…people who are mobile.The chain of command, the leadership is much more murky/so it becomes a different type of intelligence target.” (jeff richelson/author of 9 books on u.s. intelligence post cold war) (richelson & mccaffrey tape @ 3:34-3:42//cut to 3:37-3:50) r:11 SOT 57
In such cases, the strategy of US technology (such as Centra Spike) working with a small, well-targeted force has become the preferred course of action. VIDEO 125 The United States126 tried it in Somalia, where Centra Spike tracked down associates of warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid and Delta operators were dispatched to grab them. VIDEO 127
The U-S 128did it in Afghanistan, where Osama Bin Laden’s phones assisted in the targeting of cruise missiles, launched in August 1998.VIDEO 129 And American forces are doing it right now in the Balkans, where the successor to Centra Spike has provided targeting information that has enabled NATO-led peacekeepers to arrest alleged war criminals. VIDEO 130
In each case, U-S adversaries live in parts of the world where cell phones are a must – and the messages they send are vulnerable to intercept. VIDEO 131
Going forward, the DEA’s joe toft says the u-s must be ready to help bring down criminal drug lords like Pablo Escobar. But he also believes america must be vigilant about the risk of moral compromise as notions of right and wrong vary from place to place.VIDEO 132
“I think most Americans, including government officials, politicians, are very naïve when it comes to… knowing what it takes. //jc// to operate in a place such as Colombia. (Joe Toft, DEA) (X26 16:16:02-14//16;16:20-24) R:16 SOT 58
“I don’t know what the moral of the story is. I hope the ends don’t justify the means.” (DEA Chief Joe Toft)
Killing Pablo
Jan 2001 – 42’
OPEN
REPORTER TRACK:
Murder….
Assassination…
A billion dollar drug empire….
One of the most wanted outlaws of the 20th century ….
Was a bullet the only way to stop him?
“Pablo Escobar, in my opinion, is the biggest criminal the world has ever seen or will ever see.” (magee)
Tonight, the untold story of america’s role in the hunt for Pablo Escobar and what the united states knew about a vigilante justice group that helped bring him down.
“I don’t know what the moral of the story is. I hope the ends don’t justify the means.” (toft)
--------------------------
SEGMENT 1
(super=February, 2000)
((nat burst, music up, ruins of La Catedral))
This is La Catedral where…nearly a decade ago… the richest man in Colombia became the richest inmate in Colombia and then the most wanted man in Colombia. His name was Pablo Escobar and he was one of the world’s most powerful and dangerous men. His assassins murdered hundreds of judges, journalists, politicians and innocent bystanders who got in their way.
From this hilltop, you can look out on what used to be Pablo’s kingdom- where one of the century’s greatest outlaws was known as “the Robin Hood of Medellin.” VIDEO 1
“We sincerely cared a lot for him and his death hurt us. He was a person who would help poor communities on a daily basis. He didn’t take notice of rich people, only of poverty.” ((peasant man)) ((TAPE X19 @17:12:29-42 r:13)) SOT 1
The neighborhood is called “Barrio Pablo Escobar” – Pabloville. Peasants remember a generous man who spent lavishly on his hometown. VIDEO 2
“We lived in moravia, the town’s dumpsite. We had a hut, but then there was a fire. He was moved by the whole thing// Then several families were chosen and we were given homes.“ ((Peasant woman)) ((TAPE # 18 16:57:44-00//cut to 16:58:07-18 r:27) SOT 2
Son of a farmer and a schoolteacher, VIDEO 3 Pablo Escobar grew up in Colombia’s second largest city during a period called “La Violencia” – the violence- a time when murder became common place. VIDEO 4
He started with petty crimes such as stealing gravestones and cars but soon graduated to the booming drug trade. VIDEO 5 By the time he reached his 30’s, the poor kid from Medellin had become the richest and most powerful cocaine trafficker in the world. VIDEO 6
“Eighty percent of the criminality in Medellin, around that time, was mobilized by Pablo Escobar or his organization, // They were people who subjected to no law, no order. They only responded to their master and the money he could give them.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 R:45)) SOT 3
Escobar enjoyed a life of luxury and extravagance. This is one of his estates where giant fiberglass dinosaurs shared the land with exotic animals and exotic cars like the one reputedly driven by Bonnie & Clyde … and the cars Pablo VIDEO 7 gave away to nude women competing in footraces. VIDEO 8
But Pablo wanted something money couldn’t buy: respect. In the early 1980’s, he ran for congress and got elected as an alternate. VIDEO 9
“the judicial system and the political system were the areas in which mafia people got into because they thought it was going to be useful. We protect them. It brought a kind of immunity that was important” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #1 @ 8:41)) R:15 SOT 4
But when Escobar tried to take his seat in congress, he was denounced on the floor of the house. VIDEO 10
He retaliated by declaring war on anyone who opposed him or his cartel. VIDEO 11 When the Justice Minister called Pablo a narcotics trafficker, Pablo had him killed. When a judge indicted Pablo for the crime, the judge was shot and killed as well. VIDEO 12
((nat burst George Bush inauguration))
In Washington, the election of George Bush in 1988 put America on a collision course with Escobar. VIDEO 13 The Reagan-era’s “just say no” campaign was escalating as the U.S. began demanding the extradition of drug producers overseas. VIDEO 14 Escobar responded with a carrot and stick: massive payoffs to the authorities coupled with assassination of those who couldn’t be bought. VIDEO 15.
“Their reputation was that if you did not cave into their demands to buy you off that you were a dead man.” (Joe Toft) (X 23 14:54:00)) R:11 SOT 5
Joe Toft led the DEA effort in Bogota. Working out of the U-S embassy, the agency collected intelligence and trained Colombian authorities in enforcement tactics. VIDEO 16
“I had no idea that the corruption would reach the levels that had taken place,// even though I figured it would be a difficult task to go after Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel it turned out to be many times more difficult than I had expected.” (Joe Toft) (X23 15:01:05-11//cut to//32-44) R:18] SOT 6
“Pablo Escobar, in my opinion, is the largest and biggest criminal the world has ever seen or will ever see.” (Ken Magee) (X 27 3:50:08) R:08 SOT 7
Ken Magee was also in the DEA’s Bogota office and, like his boss, was in awe of Escobar’s power and influence. VIDEO 17
“Al Capone could be a body guard or driver for Pablo Escobar.” (Ken Magee) (X27 3:52:00) R:05 SOT 8
Escobar and his cronies began calling themselves “The Extraditables.” Under the slogan, “we prefer a grave in Colombia than a prison in the United States,” the group used bribes and tactics of violence VIDEO 18 to convince the Colombian Supreme Court to ban extradition of Colombian citizens. VIDEO 19 Safe from US justice, the Medellin Cartel members ratcheted-up their domestic campaign of terror, killing presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan VIDEO 20 and blowing up an Avianca airliner in an attempt to kill Galan’s successor, Cesar Gaviria VIDEO 21
“they didn’t kill me because they couldn’t but they kill other two candidates.//I knew we were taking high risks. I knew my family was taking high risks. You never knew when they were going to come.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #1 @18:53-57//CUT TO GAVIRIA #4 @1:35:50-55)) R:09 SOT 9
It is how Pablo Escobar and his Medellin Cartel ruled --through terror and intimidation. They were even allegedly behind a plot to assassinate George Bush.VIDEO 22 In 1990, Colombian police seized 10 French made missiles that police security forces say were to be used to attack the president when he landed in Cartagena for an anti-drug summit. VIDEO 23
At the time, Colombia was producing about 80-percent of the world’s supply of cocaine. 9A VIDEO 24 That made Pablo Escobar atarget for the Bush administration’s push against drugs.VIDEO 25Despite popular opposition, Colombian leaders accepted technical assistance from the Americans.VIDEO 26
“ I mean, this is not only a problem of colombia. This is a problem of everyone who is involved in this business.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #4 @1:39:50-:57//1:40:08—14)) r:13 SOT 10
And so began what became known as “the first war”. Encouraged and funded by the U.S., Colombian police pursued Pablo and in the process killed some of his top men. VIDEO 27
Escobar fought back. VIDEO 28
“I remember that in Medellin, in one year, he killed 500 policemen. In
other words, as policemen we lived, like they say here, with our hair standing on end. It was a very hard life, because a bomb could explode any moment.” (Gen. Serrano) ((TAPE #12 @31:12 R:21)) SOT 11
“Each time you left your house, you didn't know if you were going to be back. You would say, "Okay dear, I am leaving, I might return, I might not." (Col. Correa) ((TAPE #18 @32:44 R:09)) SOT 12
Many of the killings were born of corruption. VIDEO 29
“Mister Pablo Escobar paid two, three million pesos for each agent's head. So, many of the policemen working in the commando sold the addresses of their own partners, and they would go and kill you right there. ” (Col. Correa) ((TAPE #18 @36:40 R:29)) SOT 13
In 1990, Colombian President Cesar Gaviria, made the drug dealers an offer…surrender and confess to at least one crime and you will be given a reduced sentence. VIDEO 30
Pablo Escobar and 17 of his colleagues decided to accept the deal.
The world’s biggest drug dealer…the worst mass murderer in Colombian history…would plead guilty to a single count of arranging an overseas drug deal. VIDEO 31
(super=CIA footage {july 30, 1992 date already in lower right corner} )
As part of the plea bargain, authorities would prepare a prison designed especially for Pablo so he could maintain his luxurious lifestyle and Pablo would be guarded by his own handpicked men to protect him from his rivals.
Boettcher: “Tell me…you went through there. What was it like?”
“it’s a beautiful place…a beautiful place looking right out over Medellin and over Envigado. .” (Morris Busby) (BUSBY # 2 @ 43:30-35) r:05 SOT 14
This video taken by the CIA shows that his ‘prison’ was more like a country club. Perched on the top of an Andes mountain, VIDEO 32 it was a virtual 5-star resort.VIDEO 33
“I was furious. I really was furious to think that this man had been able to pull this off./ And I think everybody was and it was a jaw dropper to see what it was really like.” ((Ambassador Morris Busby)) ((busby #3 @1:00:49-02)) R:13 SOT
“We significantly failed. We were wrong./ We so underestimated the capacity of escobar to bribe and to intimidate people.” (Cesar Gaviria) ((GAVIRIA #4 @1:38:52-02-08)) r:16 SOT 15
Not only was he living in luxury, it was business as usual for his drug business. And for Pablo Escobar, murder was just another way of doing business. VIDEO 34 And so, in July 1992, he executed two of his cronies, William and Gerardo Moncada.
The brothers were murdered inside Pablo’s prison home because Pablo suspected they were skimming profits from his cocaine empire. The wife of William Moncada said the two were “hung upside down and burned.” It was, she said, “Escobar’s favorite way of killing someone.” VIDEO 35
Boettcher: “that changed everything?”
Gaviria: “oh yes, that changed everything because it was a very clear and established truth that he was committing crimes in jail/ and it was at that moment that we took the decision to take him to a jail in bogota” (GAVIRIA #2 @ 40:51-41:03//41:20-27) r:19 SOT 16
(super=July, 1992)
Gaviria decided he’d had enough. He sent an entire army brigade to storm the prison and he asked his Vice-Minister of Justice, Eduardo Mendoza to go there to quote-legalize the transfer.
But, when Mendoza arrived, he discovered the army had not attacked.
They were still waiting outside and the General on site decided to send Mendoza -along with his military director VIDEO 36 of prisons-up the long driveway. Alone, unarmed and terrified, they were to inform the world’s most infamous inmate that he was being moved to a real prison. VIDEO 37
“It was the most stupid thing that general could have done. / Instead of entering himself with the armed people, sending two officials who were unarmed to talk to escobar.” (Cesar Gaviria) (GAVIRIA # 2 @ 43:19-29) r:10 SOT 17
Escobar promptly took both men hostage.VIDEO 38
A unit of special forces arrived the next morning.VIDEO 39
(Super=CIA footage)
There was a shootout. Mendoza says he tried to hide behind the toilet but feared he would be killed by shattering glass. He tried crawling under Pablo’s mattress, but it was too heavy. In the end, he sat on the bed in a room filled with Pablo’s gunmen and waited for death to come.VIDEO 40
8 Years later, Mendoza agreed to share his amazing story, but not on camera.
“I just sort of lied there in the middle of the living room with all of these people around me and I thought this is how I’m going to die.” R:05 SOT 18
The prison where he was held hostage is now in ruins.
Mendoza was saved by a special forces sergeant who threw him against the wall and sat on him through the shootings and explosions. When Pablo’s men surrendered, the sergeant led Mendoza out of the prison…first crawling furiously on his hands and knees and then running so hard that he broke two ribs.
“because I was running so fast. I just couldn’t stop. I just crashed into everything, jumped down stairs. It’s like having superhuman powers.” R:09 SOT 19
When Mendoza escaped to the outside, he learned Pablo Escobar had too. VIDEO 41“he escaped in an incredible way. He just walked out.// People were so intimidated because of him that he was able to go to a military line of people that were really well armed and he was unarmed and he was able to walk out.” ((Cesar Gaviria))SOT 20
This time, Pablo had pushed the Colombian President too far. Humiliated and insulted, Gaviria-in defiance of Colombia’s constitution-invited the Americans to send in ground troops.VIDEO 42 “When he left the prison and made the govt. lose face once again. I think that became a turning point VIDEO 43 / that was the beginning of the end for PE.” (Joe Toft) (X24 15:10:23-35//15:10:44-45)) SOT 21
“In Colombia, at that time, he was considered Public Enemy #1 and that is why every effort was made to capture him at any cost.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 @16:12 R:32)) SOT 22 VIDEO 4423
The worlds biggest manhunt had begun.
SEGMENT 2
Go to almost any airport, anywhere in the world, and you’ll see lots of airplanes like this: Beechcraft 300’s. VIDEO 45
(super=DEA footage/Colombia, 1992(3?))
In Colombia’s war against drugs, they were used by the national police and by U.S. DEA agents. And because they are so ordinary, so easy to ignore, they were just what the American Army’s secret unit…code named Centra Spike… needed to track down Pablo Escobar. VIDEO 46
A U-S official who worked in the American embassy at the time and was familiar with Centra Spike’s operations agreed to talk to us, but asked that his face be obscured and his voice replaced with someone elses.
“Boettcher: What was so special about Centra Spike?”
“to be able to in a clandestine manner fly reconnaissance missions that would be able to pinpoint with extreme accuracy the location of Pablo Escobar himself.”
He says they crammed the basic Beechcraft with hi-tech gear that tracks mobile phone transmissions.VIDEO 47 The theory: find Pablo Escobar by finding his phone. VIDEO 48 That phone along with other Pablo paraphernalia is now on display at the police museum in Bogota. VIDEO 49
((nat burst WW2))
The US Army’s interest in high-tech surveillance dates to World War II when the allies figured out how to determine the location of Nazi radio transmissions within a few hundred miles. VIDEO 50
In the 1980s, the invention of the desktop PC enabled the Army –and its secret Centra Spike unit– to take so called radio telemetry to a new level. VIDEO 51
The Beechcrafts went to battle in the so-called “First War” against Escobar in 1989, VIDEO 52 when he was pursued and, eventually, turned himself in.VIDEO 53 By 1992, the technology was so advanced, that a plane flying over an entire city could determine the exact house…and if they worked with a team on the ground…even the exact room that the transmission was emanating from. VIDEO
“It’s the difference between looking for a needle in a haystack and being able to walk into somebody’s front door.”
Boettcher: That extensive?
Interviewee: “Absolutely”
Together with the CIA’s high flying glider planes like this one that specialized in visual surveillance, the aircraft were a formidable force. VIDEO 54
But they would be only part of the plan. Once you’d figured out where Pablo Escobar was, you still had to get to him. VIDEO 55
The U-S had secret units operating in Colombia since the first war with Pablo in 1989. The Pentagon dispatched additional Delta Force operatives within days of Escobar’s escape. VIDEO 56
But who would they train?
(SUPER-FARC Guerillas)
The Colombian Army was busy fighting leftist guerillas and besides, many American officials considered the army corrupt. The Army had relied on Escobar’s cartel to provide guns, money and training to paramilitary groups fighting the rebels. VIDEO 57 And when Pablo walked out of prison, he walked right through the 4th brigade of the Colombian Army.15A VIDEO
The Colombian National Police, on the other hand, had sealed its hatred for Escobar in the blood of hundreds of murdered policemen, a commitment memorialized at their Bogota HQ. VIDEO 58
(super=Police Training Exercise/ February, 2000)
((c-u door exploding…soldiers charging into building)) ((X5 @ 4:33:21 R:02))
So the “bloque de busquada “ – the “Search Block”- was formed with the Colombian National Policemen in its ranks, seen training earlier this year. They would become Colombia’s version of the Delta Force. Their sole job would be to hunt for Pablo.
((gunfire nats shot from camera inside building)) (XA @2:19:26 R:04)
This Delta Operator, whom we’ll call ‘Santos’, supervised the instruction. He also asked that his face not be shown and that his voice be replaced with someone elses.
“they were very receptive to the training because they were getting a lot of new tactical skills that they didn’t have and they were getting a lot of supplies that they didn’t have the money to get.” (“Santos”) (X19 @ 17:29:31-51—LOTS OF PAUSES THAT CAN BE CUT TO LOSE @ :08) R:12 SOT 24 VIDEO 59
(super=Police Training Exercise/Colombia, 1992)
Because Colombian law does not allow any American military presence, the U.S. Delta operators were not supposed to go on raids or even leave the confines of the Police Academy. VIDEO 60
“qui polisto…tres, dos, uno!” (training nats X4 @ 4:24:02 R:04)
Their mission: to teach the Colombian police all of the skills they would need to track down one of the world’s most dangerous criminals.
(nats of guy running toward the camera with gun) (X4 @ 4:21:31 R:02)
While Delta force was training and advising officers for the Search Block, Centra Spike was supplying intelligence. The conversations they picked up through an in-flight radio telemetry were then passed on to the CIA station chief and the station chief would pass on only the information he thought the Colombians needed in their hunt for Pablo Escobar. VIDEO 61
On the Colombian side, their commander would be this man, Colonel – now General – Hugo Martinez. He’d chased Pablo to jail before, but felt all he’d accomplished had been undone by Pablo’s deal with the government. VIDEO 62
“when I learned that he escaped, it was, for like another chance…/we were being given one more chance and with our experience would surely be successful because we already had a lot of experience.” (general martinez)SOT
But, Things got off to a bad start. Within hours of his escape, Centra Spike pinpointed Pablo Escobar’s location…VIDEO 63 but the Colombian Police were too slow. And over the course of many months and hundreds of raids, VIDEO 64it was soon apparent to American operatives that the chase was being hampered by incompetence and corruption in the Search Block.
The Colombian Police would take 300 officers on a raid when any more than 5 was sure to alert the entire countryside that the VIDEO 65 cavalry was coming.
And then there was Escobar’s network of informants, a virtual early warning system, VIDEO 66
“In Medellin, he counted on the taxi companies, he counted on the newspaper boys, he counted on the homeless. All that network of information was very vigilant of the movements the police would make regarding him.” (Col. Estupian) ((TAPE #3 @21:57 R:17)) SOT 25
There were even spies at base camp, including a mild-mannered teenager. VIDEO 67
“they contact him, they offer him some money, they tell him, "tell me what you hear around there, tell us when you see any movement going on, if they are putting on the bullet proof vests, or preparing something, all you have to do is let us know and we'll pay you (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @3:41 R:48)) SOT
Escobar also exploited limitations of Centra Spike’s tracking equipment. VIDEO 68
“When he was talking, he demanded of the person he was talking to, not to call him from only one place, to keep moving, to get into a car and keep moving, and he did likewise. Because of that, when we finally made it to the precise location, all we found were traces that he had really been there.” (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @1:48 R:24)) SOT 26
Pablo, it seemed, held all the cards.VIDEO 69
((quick Captain Martinez SOT burst in Spanish))
General Martinez’ son, also named Hugo, was a Colombian Police officer, working with equipment supplied by the CIA to track down Escobar’s phone calls. Hugo Junior is still an active duty officer and asked that his face not be shown.VIDEO 70
“He didn’t know specifically that I was listening, but he knew my
father was. So, once Pablo said, Colonel, if you are listening, I will even do away with your family’s third generation. If your grandmother is dead, I will dig her up, kill her and bury her again.” (Capt. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #14 @ 11:12 R:39)) SOT 27
“The struggle against Pablo Escobar in particular, as it developed, became something personal, not a policeman against crime but it turned into Colonel Martinez against Pablo Escobar.” (Gen. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #6 @11:37 R:17)) SOT 28
As Weeks became months and Pablo was still on the run, rumors began circulating that the Search Block was on the take.VIDEO 71
It happened to us because it took us too long to find Pablo Escobar. //Pablo Escobar would not fall, would not fall, and meanwhile, people told us we were Pablo's accomplices, that we had received money from him.(Gen. Hugo Martinez)
(Super=Police Training Exercise/Colombia, 1992)
Over time, they did get faster, more efficient and their tactics improved.
Assaults by smaller units replaced the caravan-style tactics of the early days.
Still Escobar always managed to escape. Something new was needed. VIDEO 72
SEGMENT 3
By December 1992, after hundreds of raids, Pablo Escobar had been at large for 6 months.VIDEO 73
Convicted drug kingpin Carlos Lehder, a longtime Escobar associate, wrote a letter to the U-S recommending that authorities form a “civilian militia” to apprehend Escobar. Lehder hoped his cooperation with the Americans would lessen his life sentence in a U-S jail. VIDEO 74
The US got more suggestions from the wife of one of the drug-dealing Moncada brothers whose murder in July 1992 touched off Pablo’s escape. She told the DEA what it would take “to bring Escobar out of hiding” She said “he must be provoked or angered and made desperate so that he wants to strike back.” The extensive memo lists a half dozen “key organization members who should be arrested or killed”, a handful of lawyers for the cartel “whose deaths would create chaos for escobar” and “properties and important assets” which should be destroyed”. VIDEO 75
Their recommendations came as Pablo Escobar declared war on his government. VIDEO 76
“Everyday there was a bomb blowing off somewhere./ / at time the bombs were meant to cause mass mass destruction and claim lives and other times it was meant to cause damage to property.” (Ken Magee, DEA) (X 27 3:48:48-51-56-07) R:14 SOT
Around the same time, the table began to turn on Pablo Escobar. In January 1993, after another Escobar terror attack, there was a counter- attack. An apartment building where Pablo’s family members lived was destroyed by a double car bombing VIDEO 77 and a hacienda owned by his mother was decimated by dynamite.
Two days later, a group of self-described patriotic Colombians – a “civilian militia’, just as Lehder had recommended – took responsibility. VIDEO 78They called themselves Los Pepes--a Spanish acronym for People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar and they announced through the media that “each time Escobar carries out a terrorist action against defenseless people” the Pepes “will reply in the same form.” In their statement, the Pepes said they were dedicated to the “total annihilation of Pablo Escobar, his underlings, collaborators and property.”
VIDEO 79
Throughout the year, Los Pepes took credit for killings, kidnappings and destruction of Escobar property worth millions of dollars. In the first two weeks of their existence, they slaughtered 37 of Escobars associates and sympathizers. They dynamited apartment buildings owned by his family. And they burned Pablo’s collection of classic cars and his private art gallery. Their strategy, the Pepes said, was quote “to make Escobar feel the methods of his brand of terrorism in his own flesh.” One by one Escobar’s associates were either killed or turned themselves in for fear of assassination.
At the same time, Pablo was watching his assets dwindle. VIDEO 80
“Unofficially, when I first heard of Los Pepes, I felt it was about time that this would happen and I actually applauded this effort.” (Joe Toft) (X 24 15:34:03) R:12 SOT 29
There were all kinds of rumors and speculation about just who Los Pepes were. Many, including Joe Toft, thought they were former members of Pablo’s own gang who’d joined the rival Cali cartel and were unofficially working with the Colombian government to bring Pablo down. VIDEO 81
“You know, officially this relationship between the Government and Los Pepes did not exist. But in reality, it did exist.” (Joe Toft) (x25 15:54:31) R:07 SOT 30
But Pablo Escobar believed it was more than that. He believed Los Pepes actually was the government VIDEO 82 and accused the Colombian Police- US allies – of being behind the violent attacks. After all, they were benefiting from the groups’ vigilante justice. VIDEO 83
And with so many Colombian police officers killed by Pablo’s hit men they certainly had an ax to grind. VIDEO 84
(super=Colombia/February, 2000)
If Pablo was right, the Americans had a problem. The U-S helped fund and train the Colombian officers searching for Escobar. They supplied them with daily intelligence. If the search block was working with a vigilante group set on assassinating Pablo Escobar, it would be a clear violation of American law.VIDEO 85
“if that had been the case, than we would have immediately cut off all aid to Colombia and would have had nothing further to do with the hunt for Escobar.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #1 @ 17:22-35) r:13 SOT 31
And President Gaviria, it now turns out, feared that was the case and suspected there was some connection between his own police commanders and los pepes. VIDEO 86
“I was fearful that the connection could exist. I was fearful, yes…very fearful. ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #4 1:40:35)) SOT 32
But, 7 years ago, Gaviria appeared to be much more than fearful. The full extent of his suspicions are documented in a secret 8 page memo authored by US Ambassador Morris Busby.
In it, Busby says Colombia’s attorney general has “new, very good evidence linking key members of the police task force…to criminal activities and human rights abuses committed by los pepes…”
And Busby says “our own reporting since early February also suggested that the police were cooperating with the group at some level, including sharing information.”
Busby’s memo also refers to an April 16, 1993 meeting between President Gaviria and his top advisers and says Gaviria told them --quote -- “whatever was going on was to cease…” -- and that he – quote -- “reportedly called (a Colombian official) and ordered him to ‘pass the word’ that Los Pepes must be dissolved immediately…(the next day) Los Pepes … announced a unilateral cease fire in the press, and a week later stated publicly that the group was disbanding due to (Colombian governmental) opposition to their activities…”
Boettcher: “what do you recall about that meeting?”
“Well, I don’t recall well about that meeting, but I try to talk to every high ranking official in government to tell them that we could not be behind the pepes. / It was quite clear public opinion in antiocha and in colombia that the things that were happening against escobar properties and escobar friends had to have some kind of complicity from government officials” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA # 3 @ 1:03:19-26/27-43-47)) R:28 SOT 33
President Gaviria recognized that any connection between VIDEO 87 his government and the terrorist group would cause a public scandal and he worried that such a scandal would make it impossible VIDEO 88 for the Colombian police officers assigned to the search block to do their jobs effectively. The hunt would end with Escobar having, in Busby’s words, “won the game.” VIDEO 89
And despite the Pepes cease fire pledge, the killings continued.
“the phenomenon of the pepes heightened the tension enormously…for everybody. Because what they were doing or what was happening and being blamed on the pepes was so brutal and vicious and so public” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #1 @ 18:41:54) R:13 SOT 34In Washington, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reviewed the allegations that the U-S was indirectly assisting Los Pepes and, as a result, ordered all secret American military units out of Colombia.
But Ambassador Busby successfully appealed to have the order overturned. Busby felt pulling the plug at that point would have both betrayed U-S national interests and broken America’s promise to Colombia.
As for the alleged government connection with the pepes, Busby says he “wasn’t convinced that it was true.”
“It complicated things for us because it was a show stopper. If ANY involvement on the part of the colombia government our effort would have been finished.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #2 @ 54:58)) R:10 SOT 35
So a year into the hunt, the crusade against Pablo Escobar was succeeding -- but only after some shadowy group had begun to engage in Escobar-style tactics – and the United States continued to support the search block with money, manpower and technology.
In the end, nobody was ever prosecuted for the crimes committed by Los Pepes and, to this day, Martinez, denies any connection to the group. VIDEO 90
“Los Pepes and our group did not share any links at all. We never received any information directly from them. We always received it through the prosecutor's office, and we denounced any element related to them, that we had managed to identify.” (Gen. Martinez) ((TAPE #7 @18:25 R:21)) SOT 36
Press the General on the matter and he’ll stand his ground, insisting he had nothing to do with the Pepes…even arguing that the Pepes played only a minor role.
But the General’s U-S partners say the Pepes role was huge. VIDEO 91
“they were very effective because they were playing without any rules, they were killing Escobar's people left and right.” (Joe Toft) (X24 15:35:15-24) r:09 SOT 37
“The way that PE was going to be captured was by him making a mistake, whether it be moving or by making phone calls, or getting out into an environment where someone might recognize him. The Pepes caused PE to move.” (Ken Magee)) (X27 4:00:22) R:15 SOT 38
“They basically had a license to go after him without any repercussions.” (Joe Toft) (X25 15:42:57) R:07 SOT 39
And soon, the man with little love for his fellow man would be undone by his love of family. VIDEO 92
SEGMENT 4
It’s just another house on just another street in this well-kept neighborhood in Medellin. Today, it’s a lawyer’s office. VIDEO 93 In December 1993, it was where the Search Block finally cornered its prey.
The final chapter began VIDEO 94 in October, when Los Pepes fired grenades at the apartment complex where Escobar’s family was living.
By November, Escobar was so concerned for their safety, he arranged for them to fly to Frankfurt, Germany and, he hoped, asylum.
This set off alarms in Washington. VIDEO 95
“In the hunt for this fugitive we realized one of the keys to catching Pablo Escobar is his family.” (Ken Magee/DEA) (X27 4:08:54) R:08 SOT 40
If his family left Colombia, authorities would have fewer opportunities to trace his phone calls to them. VIDEO 96
Kenny Magee booked a seat on the Escobar’s flight to Germany to keep tabs on them and see whom they came in contact with. He snapped these pictures with a hidden camera.VIDEO 97
“I could tell that they were scared obviously. And it was kind of ironic and they were the hunted instead of the hunter. And they were fearful for their lives -- and rightfully so.” (Ken Magee, DEA) (X27 4:13:54-59//4:14:06-14) r:13 SOT 41
German authorities refused their application for asylum, and Magee was also on the return flight.
“Not only were they tired, disappointed and scared -- but they were probably also dumbfounded because normally they would have gotten what ever they wanted, whenever they wanted, in their own country. And here you have a situation where they could not pay for whatever they wanted.” (Ken Magee) (X 28 4:17:01-20) r:19 SOT 42
At that point, The Escobars were out of options. Ironically, they had to turn to the Colombian government for protection from the pepes.
They were put up at the Tequendama hotel in Bogota…a hotel owned by the Colombian Armed Forces.
(super=December, 1993)
{nats of family talking to colombian media}
These interviews were done with Colombian television at that time.
While the family was holed up in their suite, police waited… hoping Pablo would try to contact them.
Pablo didn’t disappoint.
He was so incensed that his family
VIDEO 98 had been turned away from Germany that he started to call them immediately. VIDEO 99
“He must have known that he was making himself very vulnerable and yet he did it anyway.” ((Morris Busby)) ((BUSBY #2 @53:50)) R:07 SOT 43
But Pablo knew police were listening in so at first he kept the calls short and talked from the backseat of a moving taxi VIDEO 100 so the phone calls couldn’t be traced.VIDEO 101
He also wrote letters like this one. Addressed to a number of Colombian officials – including Col. Martinez – it is dated November 30 and begins, “Senores Pepes…”
In it, Pablo complains bitterly about his treatment from authorities and the Pepes which he contends are one in the same.
“I have been raided 10,000 times. You haven't been at all. Everything has been confiscated from me. Nothing from you.
The government will never offer a reward for you all.
The government will never apply faceless justice to criminal and terrorist policemen. SOT 44 VIDEO 102
December 2, 1993: somewhere in Medellin. As Colombian Police listen in, Pablo begins to talk too much and too long. It is the day after his 44th birthday and just three days after his family was kicked out of Germany. VIDEO 103 He calls a radio station to complain about his family’s treatment and he calls his family at the Tequendama hotel.VIDEO 104
“I had direct communication with the person in charge of the switch board and of transferring calls to the rooms.. When Pablo Escobar called, the person in charge, a fellow police officer, called me immediately and said: "I've got him." (Capt. Martinez) ((TAPE #14 @26:10 R:27)) SOT 45
Pablo keeps the first phone call short, but hangs up promising to call his son back later that same day. It was the second call to his family that would prove to be his last.
And the family of General Martinez – whom Pablo Escobar had threatened on countless occasions – would bring the drama to a climax. VIDEO 105
“When the communication started, we began looking for him and, in about 5 minutes, it was done. We knew exactly where he was.” (Capt. Martinez) (x14 29:12) R:12 SOT 46
Or at least they thought they did. The search block raided a hotel in a shopping center, but Pablo wasn’t inside. Then Captain Martinez saw something on his signal analyzer he hadn’t noticed…a slight squiggle.
“I saw that there was a storm drain nearby and power lines. THAT made me look to see if my readings were inaccurate. I established rather quickly that it was the wrong place because of those influences.” (Capt. Martinez) (X14 30:12) R:30 SOT 47
Pablo was still talking as Martinez crossed over the creek and followed the signal to its strongest point…a simple two-story row home. And when Martinez looked up, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“At that moment, when I was signaling them, Pablo peered through the window, between the curtains, there he was, he got closer and saw me. I had the headphones on and I was pointing, "here," I also had the equipment and the radio with me.” (Capt. Martinez) (X14 32:19) R:13 SOT 48
Pablo hung up. And Captain Martinez, expecting an army of armed opposition inside, scrambled to redirect his forces who were still searching the shopping center. But in the end, Pablo Escobar had only his bodyguard, Limon to protect him. And as raiders burst through the door, Limon ran onto the roof.VIDEO 106 Riddled with bullets, he dropped to the grass below. Then came Pablo. VIDEO 107
“Pablo appeared by the window, with two guns, one in each hand…and he began to fire toward the house and outside, yelling ‘Police sons of bitches!’” (Capt. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #14 @33:53 R:04//CUT TO//34:03 R:06)) SOT 49
Pablo made a run for it. He was dropped by gunfire in the middle of the roof. A Colombian police commander assigned to the case says the wounded drug lord was then executed…with a bullet to the ear…as this autopsy photo reveals. VIDEO 108
(super=December 2, 1993)
And an officer yelled into the radio “Viva Colombia! We have just killed Pablo Escobar!” VIDEO 109
As word spread, Pablo’s mother arrived at the scene but all she saw was her son’s dead bodyguard viDEO 110
“The mother began to laugh and say he was not her son, that he was not Pablo Escobar, "you are wrong," she told us. So the rumor spread that it was another failed operation, that somebody else had died. She had not seen her son's corpse on the roof.” (Gen. Martinez/translation) ((TAPE #8 @13:57 R:21)) SOT 50
After Pablo died, members of the Search Block clipped off the corners of his mustache as a souvenir VIDEO 111 …giving Escobar a bizarre Hitler-like look VIDEO 112 that was noted throughout the world. It was a private prank, a final indignity to the man who had evaded them so long.VIDEO 113
“I felt that it had been a victory for the people of colombia, the colombian national police and the united states federal law enforcement.” (X 28 Ken Magee @ 4:26:57-08) R:11 SOT 51
“everybody was happy. All of us understood he had been taken down.” (general martinez )) ((tape #8 @ 8:11:33 r:07)) SOT 52
The Search Block and its US patrons threw a “Pablo is dead” party. But the DEA’s Joe Toft was uneasy. Not only VIDEO 114 was the field cleared for Pablo Escobar’s drug dealing rivals to move in, the US and Colombian team had succeeded only after assistance from Los Pepes, which engaged in the same sort of Escobar-style terror tactics that had sparked the chase to begin with. VIDEO 115
And Toft would ask whether the U-S had traded one set of enemies for another. VIDEO 116
“Once it sunk in that he was finally gone, it was a bittersweet feeling because Pablo was history, but the real winners were the Cali cartel.” (Joe Toft) (X25 15:52:40-58…can cut :08 if cut pauses and cover) R:10 SOT 53
SEGMENT 5
Pablo Escobar had become so rich, so powerful and so vicious that he had threatened to bring down the very nation of Colombia by undermining its judicial constitution and influencing elections.
Killing Pablo was almost a symbolic act. VIDEO 117
“To tell colombian people that nobody out of the law would be…would be able to defy the state.” ((Cesar Gaviria)) ((GAVIRIA #3 1:21:03-14-20-27)) R:07 SOT 54
But the newly empowered cali cartel - - pablo’s rivals- would try. VIDEO 118
“they got rid of their #1 opponent, their #1 competitor, Escobar and his organization and they became the monopoly in the country.” (toft @ 43:30)
In time, the Cali cartel was also brought down by Colombian police officers trained and financed, in part, by the Americans. And the struggle with the Cali cartel only led to an even more sophisticated criminal. VIDEO 119
“We are facing a new generation of drug traffickers, that has learned its lessons from the past, and knows that terrorism and corruption are weapons that the State defeats at the end of the day. This new generation is using their intelligence, sophistication and basically a clandestine world to ensure drug trafficking.” (Col. Naranjo) ((TAPE #22 @38:00 R:27)) SOT 55
((nat burst guerillas))
The fact that the drug traffickers are allied with the leftist guerillas who’ve been fighting a 36 year civil war has made them even more formidable. VIDEO 120
“that drug production base is fueling enormously violent, corrupting influences in their society. That’s the heart and soul of it.” ((dir. Barry mccaffrey/u.s. office of national drug control policy))@20:34-42 r:08 SOT 56
Which brings us to the multi-billion dollar plan to fund the fight against this new force. VIDEO 121
((nat burst training))
Much is made in Washington about the distinction between battling an insurgency (a la Vietnam) VIDEO 122 and the war against drugs (a la Pablo Escobar). But when the drugs are controlled by the insurgents, authorities admit the two goals can become one. VIDEO 123
“If one eliminates the possibility of the FARC rebels participating in this business, it would be possible to overcome the problem of drugs.” (Col. Naranjo) ((tape #22 18:39:13 r:09)) SOT
“they're fighting over drug money and that's where we have to support colombian police and their prosecutors and their judges and their armed forces in regaining control of all of their own nation.” (Barry McCaffrey)
((nat bu rst – some sort of relevant US military imagery))
For the US military, the Pablo Escobar experience provided invaluable training in what has emerged as a post-Cold War way of handling conflict.VIDEO 124
Not threatened by countries, The United States is threatened by drugs and thugs and small bands of terrorists.
“you’re dealing with a much smaller group of people…people who are mobile.The chain of command, the leadership is much more murky/so it becomes a different type of intelligence target.” (jeff richelson/author of 9 books on u.s. intelligence post cold war) (richelson & mccaffrey tape @ 3:34-3:42//cut to 3:37-3:50) r:11 SOT 57
In such cases, the strategy of US technology (such as Centra Spike) working with a small, well-targeted force has become the preferred course of action. VIDEO 125 The United States126 tried it in Somalia, where Centra Spike tracked down associates of warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid and Delta operators were dispatched to grab them. VIDEO 127
The U-S 128did it in Afghanistan, where Osama Bin Laden’s phones assisted in the targeting of cruise missiles, launched in August 1998.VIDEO 129 And American forces are doing it right now in the Balkans, where the successor to Centra Spike has provided targeting information that has enabled NATO-led peacekeepers to arrest alleged war criminals. VIDEO 130
In each case, U-S adversaries live in parts of the world where cell phones are a must – and the messages they send are vulnerable to intercept. VIDEO 131
Going forward, the DEA’s joe toft says the u-s must be ready to help bring down criminal drug lords like Pablo Escobar. But he also believes america must be vigilant about the risk of moral compromise as notions of right and wrong vary from place to place.VIDEO 132
“I think most Americans, including government officials, politicians, are very naïve when it comes to… knowing what it takes. //jc// to operate in a place such as Colombia. (Joe Toft, DEA) (X26 16:16:02-14//16;16:20-24) R:16 SOT 58
“I don’t know what the moral of the story is. I hope the ends don’t justify the means.” (DEA Chief Joe Toft)