In an exclusive interview, the former cocaine king discussed Pablo Escobar trying to kill him, his Netflix portrayal as a narco Nazi, and testifying against Panama’s Noriega
Fantastic interview very interesting more than you are lead to believe. But it came from the man himself. Fantastic the way you let him just talk great interview & great interviewer credit where cridet is due what a person and to give you that interview was brilliant. He must have read about you great work and no was not a Nazi infact just loved John Lennon. Historic 🇬🇧💯
Thanks much there Daniel. Yes, as a journalist that has been covering this for many year it's really something to get people at the top of the food chain on record and it is like solving all this riddles I had in my mind. All best there friend.
Good astute question PoliticalGee and I have a story coming up asset seizures more generally. Many narcos actually manage to keep assets and when they make a deal and came out they live on those. I think that is largely not the case with Carlos Lehder, especially because he was away for a whole 33 years and times change. Still, he was originally from a middle class family with money and has a few other angles and is not living his old narco lifestyle but not in the dingy hovel either. All best there fellow meanderer.
Usually the casa’s and the casitas (including fincas and haciendas) in those areas of the world are better than our casa’s in the USA.. especially .. if they live in the lush tropical jungle… campo .. .. like where we use to live in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷 because every morning at 4:30 am you are awakened by the howling of the howler monkeys .. and the roosters 🐔 crowing .. and the Macaws 🦜.. our rescued Macaw .. Big Red .. she always called my husbands name .. every morning… when she heard the sound of the computer being turned on..
and in those areas of the world the familia takes care of their own or they have amigos to help them…
it’s a different world living in Latin America and Columbia and Panama 🇵🇦 and Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and Nicaragua 🇳🇮 and Mexico 🇲🇽… in fact I would rather awaken to the sounds of the birds and the animals in the jungle they to wake up to the noises of the city. True fact.
And you can live pretty comfortably in the countries I mentioned.. life is good eating Gallo Pinto… with cafe con leche .. black beans and tortillas and Arroz con Pollo .. I bet you he’s just fine..
❤️❤️❤️ yes!!! It’s a whole different lifestyle than what the Gringos are use to… and I’ll take the sounds of the jungle any day over the sounds of the city and car horns.. etc..
even the sounds of the cities in those countries have different sounds.. like in the markets … you know what I mean .. everyone is awake and alive and vibrant and busy!!! And the music makes you happy!!!
And I hope you’re able to find a restaurant in Mexico that serves Gallo Pinto ❤️
We love Mexico 🇲🇽 too!! And we also love Real Mexican food … not the gringos Mexican food… sorry that I’m telling on the gringos..
Thanks for your comment..
Oh and one more thing.. in our golden years .. we live in a funky little beach cottage…. on a little barrier island surrounded by nature and state parks and the beaches and intracoastal waters… and there are only 5,000 souls who live here on the island…
my dear farmer .. he grows all of our vegetables and herbs and we have fruit trees.. and lush tropical gardens ..and an outdoor kitchen and bathhouse .. that we use year round.. and we have a fire pit for cooking and baking.. we’re very self sufficient.. life is good .. and my heart will always be with the kind Ticos and the sounds of the jungle… we lived there during the Nicaraguan Revolution and after the revolution.. and I have a lot of memories of that time as well.
PS.. I guess you could say that our lifestyle hasn’t changed … we still live and love life… like when we we lived in the jungle.
Now 75-years-old, Lehder recounts the story as we sit in a hotel in the hills near his hometown of Armenia, Colombia, exotic birds chirping in the trees. 🦜❤️
Fascinating article. Interesting that the Medellins did not blow themselves apart as the MX cartels have been doing for years. I read Mark Bowden's book Killing Pablo, great read.
Yeah, Killing Pablo is a great read. The Medellin Cartel still did some pretty crazy messed up stuff, especially Pablo to the end of his life. Best there Paul!
What a boring world this would be if not for the young and dumb who belive they are invincible, will never have to pay, will always get away, and will live forever.
Very interesting story, and great reporting. That you got the interview speaks to how well you’ve come to understand Hispanic America - so kudos to you!
Regarding Mr. Lehder, he should either spend the rest of his days picking up trash and painting public spaces, or be already in his grave. These people are the kings of irresponsibility, pain, and violence (no matter how “changed” they can be after decades in prison), and it pains me how societies can let them back in just to get some shit done quicker. He and all other psychopathic narcos should rot in hell and not enjoy a peaceful retirement. Their victims deserve justice.
Fantastic interview very interesting more than you are lead to believe. But it came from the man himself. Fantastic the way you let him just talk great interview & great interviewer credit where cridet is due what a person and to give you that interview was brilliant. He must have read about you great work and no was not a Nazi infact just loved John Lennon. Historic 🇬🇧💯
Thanks much there Daniel. Yes, as a journalist that has been covering this for many year it's really something to get people at the top of the food chain on record and it is like solving all this riddles I had in my mind. All best there friend.
Brilliant
Presumably he had all his assets seized and no longer has access to any of the wealth he accumulated?
I’d be interested to know what his living conditions are like now. Is he living relatively comfortably, or reduced to some dingy hovel?
Good astute question PoliticalGee and I have a story coming up asset seizures more generally. Many narcos actually manage to keep assets and when they make a deal and came out they live on those. I think that is largely not the case with Carlos Lehder, especially because he was away for a whole 33 years and times change. Still, he was originally from a middle class family with money and has a few other angles and is not living his old narco lifestyle but not in the dingy hovel either. All best there fellow meanderer.
Usually the casa’s and the casitas (including fincas and haciendas) in those areas of the world are better than our casa’s in the USA.. especially .. if they live in the lush tropical jungle… campo .. .. like where we use to live in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷 because every morning at 4:30 am you are awakened by the howling of the howler monkeys .. and the roosters 🐔 crowing .. and the Macaws 🦜.. our rescued Macaw .. Big Red .. she always called my husbands name .. every morning… when she heard the sound of the computer being turned on..
and in those areas of the world the familia takes care of their own or they have amigos to help them…
it’s a different world living in Latin America and Columbia and Panama 🇵🇦 and Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and Nicaragua 🇳🇮 and Mexico 🇲🇽… in fact I would rather awaken to the sounds of the birds and the animals in the jungle they to wake up to the noises of the city. True fact.
And you can live pretty comfortably in the countries I mentioned.. life is good eating Gallo Pinto… with cafe con leche .. black beans and tortillas and Arroz con Pollo .. I bet you he’s just fine..
You make my mouth water again with that taste of Colombian food and Colombian coffee! (Although I am here devouring the Mexican variety...)
❤️❤️❤️ yes!!! It’s a whole different lifestyle than what the Gringos are use to… and I’ll take the sounds of the jungle any day over the sounds of the city and car horns.. etc..
even the sounds of the cities in those countries have different sounds.. like in the markets … you know what I mean .. everyone is awake and alive and vibrant and busy!!! And the music makes you happy!!!
And I hope you’re able to find a restaurant in Mexico that serves Gallo Pinto ❤️
We love Mexico 🇲🇽 too!! And we also love Real Mexican food … not the gringos Mexican food… sorry that I’m telling on the gringos..
Thanks for your comment..
Oh and one more thing.. in our golden years .. we live in a funky little beach cottage…. on a little barrier island surrounded by nature and state parks and the beaches and intracoastal waters… and there are only 5,000 souls who live here on the island…
my dear farmer .. he grows all of our vegetables and herbs and we have fruit trees.. and lush tropical gardens ..and an outdoor kitchen and bathhouse .. that we use year round.. and we have a fire pit for cooking and baking.. we’re very self sufficient.. life is good .. and my heart will always be with the kind Ticos and the sounds of the jungle… we lived there during the Nicaraguan Revolution and after the revolution.. and I have a lot of memories of that time as well.
PS.. I guess you could say that our lifestyle hasn’t changed … we still live and love life… like when we we lived in the jungle.
🇨🇷❤️🦜..
Sounds amazing - and great to have your voice here in the mix!
Thank you!!!
Now 75-years-old, Lehder recounts the story as we sit in a hotel in the hills near his hometown of Armenia, Colombia, exotic birds chirping in the trees. 🦜❤️
People complained about the sound in the back of the video - it was the chirping of the birds!
Sad 😢… Because they don’t know Nature!!!
Silly people!!!
And I find that Sad 😢 .. you’re very blessed to hear… the beautiful singing of the birds..
tell the complainers to be still and listen.
Hello Mexico 🇲🇽
You continue to prove the real story is vastly superior to the “made for tv” version. Yet another masterpiece Ioan.
Well appreciated there Daniel - who needs Netflix when you have reality!
Fascinating article. Interesting that the Medellins did not blow themselves apart as the MX cartels have been doing for years. I read Mark Bowden's book Killing Pablo, great read.
Yeah, Killing Pablo is a great read. The Medellin Cartel still did some pretty crazy messed up stuff, especially Pablo to the end of his life. Best there Paul!
This is great Ioan, brilliantly told.
Well appreciated there Stephen. Hope all is well in the southern hemisphere.
Amazing interview, Ioan. What a life Lehder has led and survived.
Super appreciated and best there Jeanine! He really opened his soul in the conversation. Best there.
Great interview. What a fantastic break and dogged reporting on your part.
Oh, to be young and dumb.
What a boring world this would be if not for the young and dumb who belive they are invincible, will never have to pay, will always get away, and will live forever.
As they say, “young, dumb and full of come!” And also as they say, “I wish I knew what I knew now when I was younger.”
Yeah, wouldn't get caught.
Lol
That was the French Connection guy said. “My only regret was my mind-set when I was younger. I regret I wasn’t smarter and stayed out of jail. If I could go back, I would traffic even more.” (https://www.crashoutmedia.com/p/the-true-story-of-the-french-connection?utm_source=publication-search )
I had him in mind.
Remembered.
There is another type, that say they should have quit at the right time.
Lol
Very interesting story, and great reporting. That you got the interview speaks to how well you’ve come to understand Hispanic America - so kudos to you!
Regarding Mr. Lehder, he should either spend the rest of his days picking up trash and painting public spaces, or be already in his grave. These people are the kings of irresponsibility, pain, and violence (no matter how “changed” they can be after decades in prison), and it pains me how societies can let them back in just to get some shit done quicker. He and all other psychopathic narcos should rot in hell and not enjoy a peaceful retirement. Their victims deserve justice.