Rating
8.5/10
Editor’s Note
A first-hand, high-stakes account of an FBI agent’s decades undercover inside Columbian cartels. Smuggling over a billion dollar in cocain and later becoming a top money launderer while covertly working for FBI
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The Operation
Ian Frisch and Martin Suarez were given the responsibility by FBI to bust a Colombian narcotics network that posed threats both to the US national and global security alike. The thrilling journey of these two FBI agents to infiltrate and break into the Syndicate in itself a Hollywood action!!
These undercover operations are not easy and fanciful as they appear to be. They need a deep, long, and fully planned operation-plan for the agents who undertook these operations involving every type of risk to them and to their mission.
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But these secret operations give the very exact and deep informations to the law enforcement agencies (LEA) for the capturing and busting of these rackets. Informations about whom is otherwise impossible to get due their very organized nature.
The Author in Action
The author of the book, Ian Frisch, was a law enforcement officer who was assigned a special task in FBI to unearth a narco-network operating from Colombia. From here onward his action-packed journey into the Colombian land of drugs, weapons, and murders starts.
Frisch having a degree in journalism and criminal justice Frisch stories the hidden world of crimes and mafia to his readers. Thus giving many acumen both to law enforcement departments, academia, policy makers about the causes, mentality, and structure of this underworld.
Colombian Drug Cartels
The Colombian narco-trafficking could be traced back to the fourth decade of 20th century when poppy and coca plantations were rampant making it a haven for drug mafia. Several syndicates emerged during this phase. Among whom were Medellin Cartel and Cali Cartel were the most strongest ones.
They harbored and protected the plantation poppy and coca on a such large scale with such strategic shrewdness that no one can crush or defeat them. Their godfathers become understood heads of states that no political government or authority could challenge them. Madellin Cartel roughneck, Pablo Escobar, became a symbol of drugs and racketeering in Colombia!!!
The Medellín Cartel, particularly in the 1980s, was renowned for its violent tactics and its ability to corrupt officials, which enabled it to maintain a significant grip on the drug market, both locally and internationally.
While Cali Cartel was rather more peaceful than its competitor, Medellin Cartel. The transportation and distribution of cocain was the sole responsibility of the Cali Cartel. The two cartels made Colombia a hub for drugs and drug-trafficking.
Cartels operate through a highly organized structure often resembling vast business enterprises. Their operations encompass various stages, from coca cultivation to production and distribution. This hierarchical system allows them to control the supply chain effectively while minimizing risks associated with law enforcement interventions.
The socio-economic effects of these drug-trafficking and mafia has cost Colombia in many ways. While some areas developled and roled into riches, other areas were marked for violence, murders, narcotics, and poverty. The political and societal structure of the country were deeply affected by this tug-of-war!!!
Going Undercover
Preparation for such a dangerous and risky covert operation was not an easy task. Robert Suarez being a FBI agent had to take some more rigorous physical and mental trainings for the success of this operation. The cultural and other social and religious niceties have to be inculcated in these agents. In case of failure or of their faux pas, both their lives and the mission would be at the stake!!!
The needs for the success of these missions depends upon the proper availability of tools and equipments like, surveillance, communicating back to the law enforcement agencies (LEA), and logistic ones. The lack or absence of anyone of them have a cost beyond imagination!!
The Initial Infiltration
The Operation Narcos undertook by Saurez was in nature an infiltration of a crime-ridden, narco-empire of the Colombian cartels. This sneaking was initially was must for these agents for getting the trust of these crooks as well as informing back their agencies who have launched them for this operation.
For getting cartel members trust on him, Suarez used different techniques both psychological as well as social one for this trust creation. He used their language and parlance in their meetings and gatherings. Any slight doubt or mistake by the mobsters could cost Suarez by his life!!
Smuggling Cocaine
The cocaine smuggling is a lucrative job for these cartels involving some unseen and imagined techniques by these cartels. The most basic deceptive way for the transportation of cocain by cartels was to smuggle them out via various means so that law enforcement agencies or their narco-curbing intelligence may not trace them.
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The Agents like Saurez who partook in these illegal activities as part of their duty and secret operation face danger of life and limb both at the law enforcement agencies and also from the other rival gangs who try attack during this drug-transportation. The proper, exact, secret, and also at right time communication with their law enforcement organizations is essential for their safety and the arrest of these criminals.
Laundering Money
The financial operations of these cartels are more complex than their shippment of cocaine and drugs. Ths money laundering is the backbone of their criminal empire which otherwise could not survive with out it.
They from the conventional banknig system to the offshore companies use every possible and available method for the hidding and channeling of this black money.
The agent Suarez during his covert operation discovered that these cartels funnelled all their illicit money into the legal businesses so that law enforcement agencies could not track them out. Car washes, restaurants, boutiques, and groceries are just a few names used by these cartels for the white washing of their black money making almost a daunting if not an impossible task for the FBI to unearth this criminal web of financial transactions…
The Final Blow
After the months careful yet risky surveillance by these two agents finally paved the way for the last knock-out blow to these cartels. Various locals and international law enforcement agencies were briefed and taken on board for the arrest and dismantling of these cartels.
With the arrest of their different godfathers who were otherwise considered to be untouchable and beyond law, shocked the whole mafia. The supply-chain of drugs were interrupted for sometimes that gave other rival factions opportunity for fiiling this vacuum showing the transitoriness of this secret operation and demanding for a more comprehensive and long lasting solution by the governments.
FAQ on this Memoir
What responsiblity was given to Ian Frisch and Martin Suarez by FBI?
They were given the responsiblity of busting a Columbian narcotics network?
Are these undercover operations easy?
No. These undercover operations are not easy and fanciful as they appear to be.
What were the names of two famous Columbian Cartels?
Their names were, Medellin Cartel and Cali Cartel.
What were the responsibility of Cali Cartel?
The transportation and distribution of cocain was the sole responsibility of the Cali Cartel.
How these cartels launder their money?
From the conventional banknig system to the offshore companies, they use every possible and available method for the hidding and channeling of their black money.
Who was the ring leader of Medellin Cartel?
Pablo Escobar was the roughneck of Madellin Cartel.
