who was the lawyer for the cali cartel

by Cassidy Prohaska 9 min read

Jorge Salcedo Cabrera (born November 25, 1947) is a Colombian civil engineer, countersurveillance specialist, and former head of security for Miguel RodrĂ­guez Orejuela and the Cali Cartel who turned confidential informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

What happened to the Cali Cartel in Miami?

Apr 28, 2020 · The cartel led by Rodriguez Orejuela and his brother, Miguel, smuggled over 200,000 kilograms (441,000 pounds) of cocaine worth more than $2.1 billion into the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s.

What is the Cali cartel known for?

The Medellin cartel, represented by Pablo Escobar Gaviria, requested financial and logistical support from the Cali Cartel to face the policy of the Colombian State that wanted to end their criminal actions.

Who are the Cali Cartel’s billionaires?

Mar 28, 2022 · Play Sound. Nicolas Rodriguez was a Colombian lawyer and the son of Cali Cartel godfather Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela. Rodriguez was sent to law school instead of becoming involved with the family business, as Gilberto did not wish for his son to be in danger. In 1995, after Gilberto's arrest, he hired his son as his personal lawyer, and Rodriguez secretly began …

Did the Cali Cartel have any members in law enforcement?

Jun 06, 1995 · They include Michael Abell, a Washington lawyer who, as head of the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs until 1984, helped investigate the Cali cartel.

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Where is Miguel Rodriguez now?

Miguel RodrĂ­guez Orejuela is serving his 30-year sentence at FCI Loretto in Pennsylvania. His inmate number is 14022-059 with a release date of July 15, 2029.

Is Miguel Rodriguez still alive?

Miguel Rodriguez (actor)Miguel RodriguezDiedFebruary 14, 1997 (aged 34) Parañaque, Metro Manila, PhilippinesResting placeAlabang, Muntinlupa CityOccupationActor, modelYears active1981–19962 more rows

Was Franklin Jurado a real person?

Franklin Jurado was a Colombian banker who ran the money laundering operations for the Cali cartel till his death in 1994.

Who was the head of the Cali Cartel?

The cartel led by Rodriguez Orejuela and his brother, Miguel, smuggled over 200,000 kilograms (441,000 pounds) of cocaine worth more than $2.1 billion into the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s. The organization succeeded the Medellin cartel once run by drug lord Pablo Escobar.Apr 28, 2020

Where is Agent Pena now?

Following the investigation of the Medellín Cartel, Peña worked for the DEA with additional assignments in Puerto Rico, Texas and Colombia. Peña retired from the DEA in 2014.

Does Cali Cartel still exist?

The Cali Cartel (Spanish: Cartel de Cali) was a drug cartel based in southern Colombia, around the city of Cali and the Valle del Cauca Department....Cali Cartel.FoundedCali, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaYears active1975–1995TerritorySouth America, Central America, Miami, New York City, SpainEthnicityColombians4 more rows

Is Maria Salazar real?

María Santos Gorrostieta Salazar (1976 – c. 15 November 2012) was a Mexican physician and politician of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)....María Santos Gorrostieta SalazarBorn1976 Tiquicheo, Michoacán, MexicoDiedc. 15 November 2012 (aged 36) Michoacán, MexicoCause of deathAssassination5 more rows

Is Agent Pena real?

Steve Murphy and Javier Peña are the real-life federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents portrayed by actors in the TV series “Narcos” on Netflix. They helped Colombian authorities track down cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, who was killed by the Colombian National Police in 1993.Mar 2, 2022

What happens to Christina Jurado?

This was a diversion tactic by the cartel, as cartel sicario Navegante kidnapped Christina and handed her over to the FARC for safe-keeping. Despite Peña rescuing Christina with help from the ACCU, the cartel succeeded in having Franklin killed while in American custody.

Where is Gilberto Rodriguez now?

Gilberto RodrĂ­guez Orejuela is serving his 30-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, Butner, a medium-security facility in North Carolina.

What does Escobar's daughter do?

Manuela EscobarPablo Escobar / Daughter

Who was Judy Moncada in real life?

Cristina UmañaBornCristina Umaña Rojas December 24, 1974 Ibagué, ColombiaNationalityColombianOccupationActressYears active1996–present2 more rows

The Rise and Fall of the Cali Narco Empire of Colombia

Cali Cartel, owned by two brothers, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela was on the top of the drug hierarchy after being founded in 1975. They produced tons of cocaine and smuggled it into the US with a well-aligned strategic plan. But one can never be too careful when it comes to illegal business.

Rise of the Cali Cartel

It was the early 1970s when the Cali organization started to flourish rapidly. Escobar’s death was a long shot but he made choices that led to his downfall. The Rodriguez brothers never stopped wishing for more. There was no end to the desire for power. But that is what power does- blinds people to crave more.

The Business Expansion and Crawling Up on the Hierarchy of Drug Cartels

The reason that the Cali organization went on for so long is their professional approach to running their business. Unlike Escobar, they were not involved in crimes like kidnapping and harming someone physically, instead, had a sophisticated method of dealing with problems. They made sure to never get caught.

The Money Laundering

In about two decades, the Rodriguez brothers laundered around $2.1 billion of drug money from around 200,000 kg (441,000 pounds) of cocaine. The money was then converted into currency which would be undetectable by the kingpins of the drug mafia or the government. Everything was led out in proper order.

The End of the Power

One can never be too careful when it comes to unlawful business. Even after all the strategies and professionalism, the brothers’ power came to its long-awaited end in the mid-1990s. The conversion of black money to a legitimate sum attracted enough attention required to bring the brothers down.

The Conviction

After about two decades of the brothers being in jail, all of the appeals of cutting their time there short are being rejected. The mafia business they had been running for decades affected the youth and people of America in a lot of ways. One could only imagine what such a huge amount of cocaine can do to people.

Who was the chieftain of the Cali cartel?

U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno found that Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, the 81-year-old former chieftain of the Cali cartel, did not have serious enough health problems to merit early release. The judge also said doing so would be a blow to the U.S. justice system.

Who succeeded the Medellin cartel?

The organization succeeded the Medellin cartel once run by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Both used violence and killings extensively for intimidation and enforcement. “The court can only imagine the far-reaching, destructive effects of this much cocaine in the United States,” Moreno wrote. “How many thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, ...

Why won't the Colombian drug cartel kingpins be released from prison?

prison over claims of ill health and coronavirus fears

Where is Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela?

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2002, file photo, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela leaves the Combita maximum security prison, in Tunja, 60 miles northeast of Bogota, Colombia. A Miami federal judge ruled Tuesday, April 28, 2020, that one of the world's most notorious Colombian cocaine cartel kingpins will not be released early from a U.S.

Is Gilberto Rodriguez in prison?

PETERSBURG, Fla. -- One of the most notorious Colombian cocaine cartel kingpins will not be released early from a U.S. prison over claims of ill health and fears of the deadly effects on him of a potential coronavirus infection, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno found that Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, ...

Does Rodriguez Orejuela have a medical condition?

Prosecutors acknowledged that Rodriguez Orejuela has multiple health issues but added that he can still get around and generally take care of himself under medical supervision. Moreno ruled that those health problems are not enough to merit compassionate release — even under the possible threat of the coronavirus.

What was the Cali cartel?

The Cali Cartel was a perfectly structured organization with different departments that each had their bosses, who reported to a kind of manager, and this in turn reported to the leaders of Cali.

Why did the Cali Cartel organize a meeting with other drug traffickers?

After the death of Pablo Escobar, the leaders of the Cali Cartel organized a meeting with other drug traffickers in order to put an end to drug trafficking, since they had been talking with members of the government and they assured them that if this were done they could keep the money and established legal companies, besides they would only pay a few years in jail.

Why did the Medellin cartel refuse to support the Colombian government?

The Cali drug lords refused because apart from the diatribes among them for personal and operational reasons, they had the philosophy of avoiding the use of violence.

Why did the Cali drug lords refuse to use violence?

The Cali drug lords refused because apart from the diatribes among them for personal and operational reasons, they had the philosophy of avoiding the use of violence . The conflict had deeper and personal roots. Jorge Pabón aka “El Negro” and Alejo Piña met and became friends in a jail in New York.

What is Cali known for?

Cali other than being the origin of a criminal organization that in the nineties made shake the foundations of Colombian society is known for multiple events such as fairs, carnivals, music festivals, as well as other sports, scientific and business. Contents [ hide] 1 Members of The Cali Cartel.

How much money did the drug cartel make in 1996?

It is believed that for the year 1996 they obtained a gross income of 7,000 million dollars only in the United States.

When was José Santacruz arrested?

José Santacruz Londoño. He was arrested on July 4, 1995 in Bogotá. He escaped from prison in January 1996, and tried to reorganize the Cali Cartel, seeking alliances with members of the Medellin Cartel, the FARC guerrillas and paramilitaries.

Who was the chief of security in the Cali cartel?

Mario del Basto's arrest in 1995 promoted Salcedo to the cartel's chief of security. In that same year, Joel Rosenthal, an American lawyer who had helped the Cali Cartel with previous cases, was arrested for his connections to the cartel. Salcedo viewed this as an opportunity to begin his relationship with United States law enforcement.

Who was the first person to join the Cali Cartel?

v. t. e. Salcedo was invited to join the Cali Cartel in 1989, after Mario del Basto, a member of Salcedo's reserve unit, made first introductions. Salcedo had previously worked on behalf of British commandos, who worked with the Colombian government to counter the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

What did Salcedo do after Escobar was killed?

After Escobar was killed by national police in 1993, Salcedo considered his duty with the Cali Cartel completed, and attempted to resign.

What did Salcedo do after the failed raid?

Surveillance. After the failed raid, Salcedo focused his efforts on the personal security of the RodrĂ­guez Orejuela family. His expertise with radios and communication equipment allowed the cartel to communicate freely, all while monitoring the communications of national police and rival cartels.

What happened to Salcedo in 1992?

In 1992, Salcedo coordinated the purchase and retrieval of several Salvadorian bombs in another plot to kill Escobar. After the transaction was discovered by national police, Salcedo was outed as a member of the Cali Cartel. He was removed from his post in the reserve.

What is the first name of Jorge Salcedo?

Jorge Salcedo Cabrera. For other people with similar names, see Jorge Salcedo (disambiguation). In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Salcedo and the second or maternal family name is Cabrera. This article cites its sources but does not provide page references.

Who was the leaker in the Pallomari case?

William RodrĂ­guez Orejuela, Miguel's son, suspected Salcedo to be the leak, and reassigned Jorge's responsibilities. On August 12, the DEA successfully collected Pallomari and his family. Salcedo stayed in Colombia, awaiting diplomatic permission from the Colombia government to leave.

Who was the last member of the Cali cartel?

With the founding brothers in jail, the remaining leaders of the Cali Cartel followed suit. And after Pacho, the last remaining member, gave himself up, government officials officially dismantled the cartel. Want to learn more about Pacho’s life in the Cali Cartel? Well, we got you covered.

How much ransom money did the Cali Cartel get?

According to Chepesuik, they gained about $700,000 in ransom money. The Cali Cartel believed in equal opportunity drug dispensing. They sold a number of drugs, from weed to cocaine to opium to heroin.

What is the richest cartel in history?

The infamous Cali Cartel, the richest cartel in history, started with betrayal and ended with betrayal. But that’s the business. You finish how you started. Interest in this cartel has spiked recently due to the Netflix hit series, “ Narcos .”. Everyone wants to know about the cartel that rivaled Pablo Escobar’s empire.

What drug did Cali sell?

They sold a number of drugs, from weed to cocaine to opium to heroin. Additionally, this belief in equal opportunity mirrored the way they ran their business. Unlike Pablo’s organization, Cali ran their cartel like a conglomerate. Multiple CEOs in charge of multiple parts of the business kept the cartel alive.

Who worked with the Colombian authorities and the DEA?

The End of the Cali Cartel. Initially,Jorge Salcedo worked remotely with the Colombian authorities and the DEA. Salcedo’s intel led to many high-stationed Cali Cartel members’ deaths. In response to their people being picked off left and right, the Orejuela brothers became paranoid.

Who orchestrated Pablo's death?

According to one of the chapters from Ron Chepesiuk’s new book, “ Escobar versus Cali: The War of the Cartels ,” the man who orchestrated Pablo’s demise was none other than Jorge Salcedo, the same man who would later take down the Cali Cartel, too.

When does Narcos season 3 start?

Scan through the summary of the conglomerate below to learn about the Cali Cartel before “Narcos” season three premieres on Sept. 1.

Who is the leader of the Mexican cartel in Narcos?

In Narcos: Mexico, he shows up, silk shirt clad, at a party held by Mexican cartel leader Felix Gallardo, refuses to pay him the $200 million Felix says Cali owes him, and chastises him for the disastrous decision to murder and torture an U.S. DEA agent, Kiki camarena. It was, Herrera warns, bad for business.

Who is the real Pacho Herrera?

The real Pacho Herrera and the actor playing him in Narcos: Mexico. There were a lot of Cali cartel characters to follow in Narcos Season 3, but “Pacho” Herrera was one of the most interesting people in the Netflix series.

What was the passion of Pacho?

His greatest passion, however, was soccer.

Is Herrera in season 2 of Narcos?

Fans of the character will be happy to learn that he shows up again in season two of Narcos: Mexico, which streamed in February 2020. Herrera drew attention during the Cali Cartel season, in part, because he is a rare gay character in the Narcos show and on Netflix. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead).

Is Narcos a real story?

Narcos is a series that draws from real events but deviates from them for dramatic purposes at times. Complex.com reports that the real life Helmer “Pacho” Herrera was “was out, proud and oversaw the group’s most gruesome deaths,” basing that account on the reporting of investigative journalist William Rempel, who wrote the book, ...

Was the Cali cartel bad?

The real Cali cartel was as bad as it is depicted in the Narcos series. The CIA even reportedly compared the cartel to the KGB, and Cali controlled 80% of the world’s cocaine market at one point. For a time, the real Herrera was the cartel’s guy in New York.

How many people were indicted for the Cali drug cartel?

authorities. In the days after, the entire Cali cocaine cartel infrastructure was exposed. Within a few months, about 130 people were indicted.

When did the Cali cartel end?

MIAMI — The official end of the notorious Cali cocaine cartel came in 2006 in Miami with little more than the rap of a judge’s gavel. Colombian drug lords Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, 63, and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, 67, entered guilty pleas and were ushered to federal prison for the next 30 years.

How many bombs did Salcedo buy?

He traveled to El Salvador and, through military contacts, purchased four 500-pound bombs for about a half-million dollars. Waiting at a rural airstrip for the cargo plane from Cali to pick up the illicit munitions, Salcedo saw an executive jet swoop out of the clouds. Its limited cargo space wasn’t designed for bombs.

Where did Salcedo dial the CIA?

Salcedo waited for the chance to use a public phone at a Cali telecommunications building. He dialed the CIA in Virginia. “They treated him like a crackpot — I confirmed that,” DEA agent Edward Kacerosky testified later. Cartel bosses launched an internal bloodbath targeting other extraditables.

Who controlled the Medellin cartel?

The Orejuela brothers promptly absorbed the Medellin cartel and ultimately controlled 80 percent of the international cocaine market. At its peak, the family ran what one U.S. Justice Department official told Congress was “the most prolific and successful criminal enterprise in history.”. Then came the crackdown.

Who was Pablo Escobar?

They got right to the point. Pablo Escobar of Medellin was “a bandit … a criminal … a crazy guy” who was threatening their wives and children. Miguel, the younger of the two Orejuela brothers, was more direct: He wanted Escobar, the most powerful criminal in the world, dead.

What were the rival cartels doing at the same time?

At the same time, rival cocaine cartels were warring, killing police, judges, politicians and bystanders. Military leaders grew restless with the impotent and corrupt government and tried to fill the vacuum, taking military actions without approval from Bogotá. Enter Salcedo.

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Overview

Activities

The Cali Cartel would become known for its innovations in trafficking and production, by moving its refining operations out of Colombia to Peru and Bolivia, as well as for pioneering new trafficking routes through Panama. The Cartel also diversified into opiumand was reported to have brought in a Japanese chemist to help its refining operation. The Venezuelan General Ramon Guillen Davila, w…

Foundation

The Cali Cartel was formed by the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers and Santacruz, all coming from what is described as a higher social background than most other traffickers of the time. The recognition of this social background was displayed in the group's nickname as "Los Caballeros de Cali" ("Gentlemen of Cali"). The group originally assembled as a ring of kidnappers known as "Las Chemas", which was led by Luis Fernando Tamayo García. Las Chemas were implicated in …

Organization

In the absence of a hardline policy from the DEA on cocaine, the trade flourished. The group developed and organized itself into multiple "cells" that appeared to operate independently yet reported to a celeno ("manager"). The independent clandestine cell system is what set the Cali Cartel apart from the Medellín Cartel. The Cali Cartel operated as a tight group of independent criminal organizations, as opposed to the Medellíns' centralised structure under leader Pablo Esc…

MedellĂ­n Cartel relations

Jorge Ochoa, a high ranking Medellín financier and Gilberto Rodriguez had been childhood friends and years later co-owned the Panamanian First InterAmericas Bank. The institution was later cited by United States officials as a money laundering operation, which allowed both the Cali Cartel and the Medellín Cartel to move and launder large amounts of funds. Only through diplomatic pressure on then Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriegacould the U.S. put an end to the bank's us…

Law enforcement

While the Cali Cartel operated with a degree of immunity early on, owing to its ties to the government and the Medellín Cartel's narco-terrorism war on the Colombian government, they were still subjected to drug seizures. In 1991 alone, law enforcement agencies seized 67 tons of cocaine, 75% originating from the Cali Cartel. In total, the US Customs Service (USCS) alone had spent …

See also

• Manuel de Dios Unanue
• Narcotrafficking in Colombia
• Norte del Valle Cartel

Bibliography

• Bowden, Mark (2001). Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 978-0802123787.
• Chepesiuk, R. (2005). Drug Lords: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel. Milo Books.
• Chepesiuk, R. The Bullet Or the Bribe: Taking Down Colombia's Cali Drug Cartel.

The Origin of Cali Cartel — A Telltale No One Will Ever Forget

  • Cali brothers were known to always be one step ahead of the game. They didn’t know failure, nor were they familiar with getting caught. On top of the game, they had powers beyond anyone’s imagination. The Cartel was a part of another drug mafia- The Medellin Cartel— owned by the mighty Pablo Escobar who was on the top of his game. The two Cartels, ...
See more on medium.com

Rise of The Cali Cartel

  • It was the early 1970s when the Cali organization started to flourish rapidly. Escobar’s death was a long shot but he made choices that led to his downfall. The Rodriguez brothers never stopped wishing for more. There was no end to the desire for power. But that is what power does- blinds people to crave more. The only reason the brothers were able to raise their empire into such a m…
See more on medium.com

The Business Expansion and Crawling Up on The Hierarchy of Drug Cartels

  • The reason that the Cali organization went on for so long is their professional approach to running their business. Unlike Escobar, they were not involved in crimes like kidnapping and harming someone physically, instead, had a sophisticated method of dealing with problems. They made sure to never get caught. The smuggling of cocaine was carried out through ships or loaded pas…
See more on medium.com

The Money Laundering

  • In about two decades, the Rodriguez brothers laundered around$2.1 billion of drug moneyfrom around 200,000 kg (441,000 pounds) of cocaine. The money was then converted into currency which would be undetectable by the kingpins of the drug mafia or the government. Everything was led out in proper order. The employees or the customers had to give up all information, from thei…
See more on medium.com

The End of The Power

  • One can never be too careful when it comes to unlawful business. Even after all the strategies and professionalism, the brothers’ power came to its long-awaited end in the mid-1990s. The conversion of black money to a legitimate sum attracted enough attention required to bring the brothers down. One of the Cartel’s officials, who looked after all their business, Jeorge Salcedoh…
See more on medium.com

The Conviction

  • After about two decades of the brothers being in jail, all of the appeals of cutting their time there short are being rejected. The mafia business they had been running for decades affected the youth and people of America in a lot of ways. One could only imagine what such a huge amount of cocaine can do to people. Miguel, who was once known as “The Chess Player” of the mafia, the …
See more on medium.com