Cali Cartel

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Lore & Background

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 numerous kidnappings including those of two Swiss citizens: a diplomat, Herman Buff, and a student, Zack 'Jazz Milis' Martin. The kidnappers reportedly received $700,000 in ransom, which is believed to have been used to fund their drug trafficking empire. The assembled group first involved itself in trafficking marijuana. Due to the product's low profit rate and large amounts required to traffic to cover resources, the fledgling group decided to shift their focus to a more lucrative drug, cocaine. In the early 1980s, the cartel sent Hélmer Herrera to New York City to establish a distribution center, during a time when the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) viewed cocaine as less important than heroin. The Cali Cartel leadership comprised members Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela, José Santacruz Londoño and Hélmer Herrera. Some top associates were Victor Patiño Fomeque, Henry Loaiza Ceballos, ex-guerrilla member José Fedor Rey, and Phanor Arizabaleta-Arzayus.

In Their Own Story

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 opium and was reported to have brought in a Japanese chemist to help its refining operation. Venezuelan General Ramon Guillen Davila ran the Venezuelan National Guard unit that was to interdict cocaine shipments and was the CIA's most trusted narcotics asset in Venezuela. He worked with Mark McFarlin and Jim Campbell, and was charged by United States authorities with smuggling 22 tons of Cali Cartel cocaine from 1987 to 1991 known as Operation North (Spanish: Operación Norte). According to reports and testimony of Thomas Constantine to the United States Congress, 'Cali would be the dominant group in trafficking South American heroin due to their access to the opium-growing areas of Colombia.' Debate over the cartel's participation in heroin trafficking remains. It is believed the cartel's leaders were not involved in heroin trading, but that close associates to them, such as Ivan Urdinola-Grajales, were, and that they cooperated with heroin distribution centers. At the height of the Cali Cartel's reign, they were cited as having control over 80% of the world's cocaine market and for being directly responsible for the growth of the cocaine market in Europe. By the mid-1990s, the trafficking empire of the Cali Cartel was a multibillion-dollar enterprise. After Gilberto took a trip to Spain in the mid-1980s, the cartel began to expand its activities in Europe and developed a working relationship with tobacco smugglers from Galicia, Spain. But in particular, the Cali cartel established a strategic alliance with the powerful Camorra criminal organization. Cali supplied the cocaine and the Camorra handled distribution across Europe.

Reader's Guide

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 Escobar. The Cali Cartel eventually became 'the most powerful criminal organization in the world. No drug organization rivals them today or perhaps any time in history.' according to then DEA administrator Robert C. Bonner, and was called 'the biggest, most powerful crime syndicate we've ever known', by Thomas Constantine respectively. Each leader of the Cali Cartel had their own operation to run as they saw fit. There were 5 major Cali trafficking groups that were separate but also worked together when their interests aligned. This included, but was not limited to, transporting drugs to the United States and money laundering. According to a report by the DEA in 1994, the Rodriguez brothers, Miguel and Gilberto, were the most successful and powerful of the cartel's members. As such, they were also in charge of the Cali Cartel operations on a grand scale. Gilberto, known as the 'Chess Player' for his ability to think strategically, oversaw the cartel's long-term plans while his younger brother handled the day-to-day operations; micromanaging every detail. While certain groups were only handling certain aspects for the cartel, the Rodriguez brothers were involved in all aspects from production to transportation to wholesale distribution to money laundering. One of the more violent of the kingpins, Jose 'Chepe' Santacruz-Londono had his talent in international cocaine transportation, creating a vast network for the cocaine to get from Colombia to its final destination, most often the United States. Specifically, he had a center of US operations in New York where the DEA seized two cocaine conversion laboratories in June 1992. Next, the Urdinola brothers were possibly the most violent of the group with some estimates saying that they murdered over 100 individuals in Colombia. They also distributed cocaine throughout the United States from Los Angeles to Miami to New York City. Also, the group expanded into trafficking Colombian heroin, a product that most of the groups stayed away from. Finally, Raul and Luis Grajales, cousins by marriage, were a careful duo who tried to portray themselves as legitimate. Their operation took them to Western Europe where they tried to establish new routes from Colombia. They used Eastern Europe and old Soviet countries to route the cocaine into Western Europe. The five groups all coexisted under the name of the Cali Cartel.

Did You Know?

• The Cali Cartel was nicknamed 'Los Caballeros de Cali' ('Gentlemen of Cali') because its founders came from a higher social background than most other traffickers of the time.
• The group originally assembled as a ring of kidnappers known as 'Las Chemas', which reportedly received $700,000 in ransom for two Swiss citizens, a diplomat and a student.
• Venezuelan General Ramon Guillen Davila, the CIA's most trusted narcotics asset in Venezuela, was charged with smuggling 22 tons of Cali Cartel cocaine from 1987 to 1991 in an operation called Operation North.
• Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, known as the 'Chess Player', oversaw the cartel's long-term plans while his younger brother Miguel handled day-to-day operations, micromanaging every detail.
• The Cali Cartel established a strategic alliance with the powerful Camorra criminal organization: Cali supplied the cocaine and the Camorra handled distribution across Europe.

Production and Release

This installment represents the third and final season of the franchise, functioning as an American crime thriller drama for streaming television. The production was handled by creators Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro. This specific narrative arc follows the story of the Cali Cartel. Viewers gained immediate access to the full season content upon this launch date. The production team maintained their involvement through this concluding chapter of the original series run. By focusing on this specific criminal enterprise, the show continued its detailed examination of drug trafficking operations. This distribution method aligns with the nature of a streaming television series produced for Netflix.

Cast and Characters

The actor Pedro Pascal returns to play his character again, continuing work from the prior two installments. The cast list includes various recurring characters who flesh out the world around the main protagonists. Juan Sebastián Calero plays Navegante, characterized as a violent associate working as their top henchman within the cartel structure. Brett Cullen portrays Ambassador Arthur Crosby, a former Navy officer sent as US Ambassador to Colombia by George H. W. Bush in 1992, replacing Noonan. Gaston Velandia takes on the role of General José Serrano for the Colombian National Police. Additionally, Edward James Olmos appears as Chucho Peña, Javier's father, while Margarita Rosa de Francisco plays Carolina Álvarez, a journalist employed by El Tiempo. These roles add depth to the political and criminal landscape depicted in the episodes.

Critical Reception

Reception data indicates that the third season was met with very positive reviews across major aggregation platforms. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season achieved a ninety-seven percent approval mark derived from twenty-three individual critiques. The average rating recorded was 7.46 out of 10 points for this specific batch of episodes. Reviewers observed that the show evolves significantly during this period, utilizing historical specifics to guide audiences through a dark and compelling narrative experience. On Metacritic, season three holds a score of 78 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews from industry professionals. This data suggests the production successfully maintained quality standards while shifting focus to new antagonists and storylines within the established universe.

Series Continuity

Plans originally included a renewal for a fourth installment after this story concluded. Instead, the project transformed into Narcos: Mexico, which operates as a companion series serving as both prequel and sequel. This pivot indicates a strategic shift in how the creators intended to explore the drug war narrative moving forward. The third season effectively capped off the original storyline involving the Cali Cartel before the brand expanded into new territories and timelines. This transition allowed the production team to keep the momentum of the show alive while introducing fresh contexts for audiences interested in the broader history of narcotics trafficking. The decision ensured longevity for the intellectual property beyond the initial three-season run dedicated to Colombian cartels.