Pacho Herrera was one of the most feared drug lords in Colombia and a major figure in the Cali Cartel. He rose to power in the late 1980s and became known for his ruthless tactics, including using violence to intimidate rivals and protect his territory. After 2 years of recovery, Pacho Herrera was tracked down by police and surrendered himself in 1996, becoming the last of the Cali Cartel leaders to be arrested.
While in prison, Pacho Herrera began spending much of his time playing soccer. In 1998 a man posing as a lawyer approached him during a break in a soccer game and shot him multiple times in the head and stomach. This was an assassination attempt orchestrated by one of Colombia’s more powerful drug cartels.
Despite being shot seven times, Pacho Herrera miraculously survived this attack. However, he suffered severe brain damage as a result of these shots that left him unable to speak or walk. He ultimately died in 2002 due to complications from these wounds, making him one of the few cartel leaders to die wile still incarcerated.
The life of Pacho Herrera was featured prominently in Netflix’s hit series “Narcos” where he was portrayed by Matt Whelan. The show’s portrayal of Pacho depicted him as an intelligent yet fierce leader who often resorted to violent tactics to get what he wanted. While some viewers may have been disappointed with how quickly Pacho died on screen – his actual death wasn’t far off from what happened onscreen – it is important to remember that this story is based on real-life events and reflects the dangers faced by those involved with drug trafficking organizations like the Cali Cartel.
Overall, Pacho Herrera played an important role in Colombia’s drug trade during the 1980s and 1990s, although it would ultimately cost him his life when he was assassinated while serving prison time for his crimes. While most viewers may know him best through Narcos – which only scratched the surface when it comes to this notorious Colombian drug lord – it is important to remember that there is far more than meets the eye when it comes to understanding his life story.
The Search for Pacho
Pacho is located in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. It is situated in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, at coordinates 4°49’23″N 74°19’53″W. It lies at an elevation of 2,340 meters (7,678 ft) above sea level and has a population of approximately 6,500 people. The town is surrounded by lush green hills and mountains to the north and east, and by agricultural plains to the south and west. The municipality consists of two major settlements: Pacho itsef and La Santísima Trinidad de Pacho. The main economic activities are agriculture (mainly potatoes and barley) and cattle-rearing. Pacho is easily accessible from Bogota by taking Highway 90 for about two hours.
Source: npr.org
The Salazar Family’s Treatment of Pacho
The Salazars had a long-standing vendetta against Pacho Herrera, an alleged drug lord in Colombia. In order to exact revenge, they orchestrated an elaborate plot. It started with Gustavo de Jesus Gaviria Rivera, one of the leaders of the cartel, hiring John Jairo Velásquez Vásquez (also known as “Popeye”) to kill Pacho Herrera. The plan was for Popeye to break into the jail in Palmira Valle del Cauca where Pacho was being held and shoot him seven times in the head.
To carry out their plan, the Salazars sent a man dressed as a lawyer to the jail two years after Pacho’s arrest. Once inside, Popeye took out his gun and fired seven bullets into Herrera’s head, killing him on spot. This was done in cold blood and withot hesitation or mercy.
In summary, the Salazars orchestrated an elaborate plot that involved breaking into the jail where Pacho was being held and shooting him seven times in the head without hesitation or mercy.
Capture of Pacho Herrera
Pacho Herrera was captured in 1996 after an extensive search by the police. He was the last of the Cali Cartel leaders to be arrested and his arrest marked a major victory for the Colombian government in their efforts to take down one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world. Herrera had been on the run for months and had been able to elude capture util he was finally tracked down by police. He surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody without incident. His arrest brought an end to one of the longest and most dangerous manhunts in Colombia’s history.
The End of the Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel ended in 2006 when the two top leaders, Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, pled guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges in a US federal court. This followed a long-term investigation by the Colombian National Police in cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The brothers were extradited to the US in 2004 and had been facing up to 30 years in prison. After their guilty pleas, they were sentenced to 30 years each. This marked the end of the cartel’s reign as one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations worldwide, controlling 90% of the cocaine trade at its peak.
The Wealth of the Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel was one of the wealthiest criminal organizations in history. At the peak of their operations from the 1980s to the 1990s, they trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States and Europe and amassed a fortune worth an estimated $12 billion. This staggering amount wuld equate to over $20 billion in today’s money. The cartel’s wealth was so great that it allowed them to bribe government officials, politicians, and even law enforcement agents, allowing them to operate with impunity for several years. The cartel was eventually broken up by Colombian and American authorities in 1995, but their legacy as one of the most powerful criminal organizations in history lives on.
Source: rottentomatoes.com
The Boss of Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar was the founder and leader of the notorious Medellín Cartel, a Colombian drug trafficking organization that operated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was considered one of the most powerful and influential people in Colombia at the time. Escobar’s boss was Jorge Ochoa Vásquez, one of his fellow founders of the cartel. Ochoa Vásquez was a major player in the cocaine trade in Colombia and had connections to oher drug trafficking networks across Latin America. He was also a close associate of Escobar, whom he initially met while working together in the criminal underworld. Additionally, Juan Ochoa Vásquez (Jorge’s brother), José Rodríguez Gacha † (another cartel member) and Carlos Lehder (Escobar’s right-hand man) were all instrumental in helping to build up the Medellín Cartel.
The Leader of the Salazar Cartel
The Salazar Cartel is headed by Héctor Luis Palma Salazar, better known as “El Güero Palma”. Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Palma Salazar has been involved in the illegal drug trade since the late 1980s. He began his career working for the Juarez Cartel before joining forces with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and becoming a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Palma Salazar has been described as a low-profile but influential figure in the cartel hierarchy, known for his loyalty to El Chapo and his ability to maintain control over smuggling operations. He was arrested in 1995 on drug trafficking charges and served more than 10 years in prison before being released in 2006. Since then he has been living in Mexico and remains a powerful figure withn the Salazar Cartel.
The Fate of Enrique Narcos
On February 7, 1985, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar, an American intelligence officer for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), was kidnapped by drug traffickers hired by Mexican politicians in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was taken to a residence near the city and tortured for thirty hours befoe being murdered. His body was found on March 5th in a shallow grave north of the city.
Camarena had been investigating drug trafficking in Mexico since 1981 and had been deeply involved in exposing and stopping drug trafficking operations. His work had been extremely successful, leading to the arrest of several major Mexican drug traffickers and their associates. As a result of his investigation, he had become a target of the Mexican government and drug cartels.
After his abduction, DEA agents led by Phil Jordan conducted an extensive search for Camarena which included searching more than 100 locations throughout Mexico. On March 7th, four suspects were arrested for their involvement in Camarena’s murder: Mexican doctor Humberto Alvarez Machain; Juan Ramon Matta-Ballesteros; Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo; and Rafael Caro Quintero. All four were convicted of various charges related to Camarena’s kidnapping and murder but were later released on appeal or commuted sentences due to lack of evidence or procedural errors.
The death of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar was a tragedy that shocked the world and brought attention to the harsh reality of international drug trafficking operations. His work lives on through continued efforts by US law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime and illegal drug trafficking activities around the world.
The DEA’s Discovery of Gilberto
The DEA, in conjunction with the Colombian National Guard, was able to locate Gilberto Rodriguez after a lengthy investigation. By gathering intelligence from informants and utilizing advanced surveillance techniques, the agency was able to determine that Gilberto was hiding in a hardwood crawlspace beneath a set of stairs. After confirming his location, the team of officers proceeded to lift the stairs and take Gilberto into custody.
Source: netflix.com
Are the Cali Cartel Brothers Still in Prison?
Yes, the Cali Cartel brothers, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and his younger brother, are both still in prison. Gilberto was sentenced to 30 years in prison and his release date is scheduled for February 9th, 2030. His younger brother is currently serving his sentence at a prison in Pennsylvania.
Active Cartels in Colombia
The four major drug cartels that are active in Colombia are the Medellín Cartel, the Cali Cartel, the Norte del Valle Cartel, and the North Coast Cartel. The Medellín Cartel was founded by Pablo Escobar in the 1970s and at its peak was responsible for 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States. The Cali Cartel was founded by brothers Gilberto and Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela in the 1990s and became Colombia’s largest drug trafficking organization. The Norte del Valle cartel was formed by former members of the Cali Cartel in 2002 and has since become one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Colombia. Finally, the North Coast cartel is a Colombian drug trafficking organization operating mainly out of Buenaventura and is known for its use of violence to control local markets. In addition to these major cartels, tere are several smaller organized crime groups operating in Colombia known as bandas criminales or BACRIMs (bandas criminales autodefensas). These groups are generally involved in activities such as extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
The Fate of the Cali Cartel’s Accountant
The accountant for the Cali Cartel, José Santacruz Londoño (also knwn as “Don Chepe”), was arrested in 1996 by Colombian police. After his arrest, José Santacruz Londoño was extradited to the United States where he faced charges of racketeering and drug trafficking. Following a plea bargain agreement with the US Department of Justice, José Santacruz Londoño agreed to provide information on the activities of the Cali Cartel. He was then placed in a witness protection program and given a new identity – that of Gustavo Rafael Pallomari. Since then, he has been living under his new identity, with his whereabouts remaining undisclosed.
Conclusion
Pacho Herrera was a notorious Colombian drug lord and leader of the Cali Cartel, who was arrested in 1996 after a massive manhunt. In 1998, while he was in prison and playing a game of soccer, he was tragically assassinated by a man posing as a lawyer. His death marked the end of an era for the Cali Cartel, and his legacy lives on in Colombia to this day.
