The 1970s marked the explosive growth of the Colombian drug trade, fueled by skyrocketing global demand for cocaine. This era saw the rise of powerful cartels, including the Medellín and Cali Cartels, whose influence reshaped Colombia's society, politics, and economy. At the forefront of this transformation were notorious figures like Pablo Escobar, who epitomized the violence, wealth, and reach of the Colombian drug trade.
The Medellín Cartel: Escobar’s Empire
Pablo Escobar began smuggling cocaine in 1975, initially using small planes to ferry shipments to Panama and the United States. As his operations grew, Escobar acquired a fleet of 15 planes and six helicopters. His infamous Hacienda Napoles became a symbol of his wealth and audacity, featuring a zoo and the retired plane that had launched his empire.
Escobar’s Medellín Cartel capitalized on the soaring U.S. demand for cocaine, controlling smuggling routes through the Caribbean and establishing distribution networks across Florida, California, and other states. At its peak, the cartel transported 70–80 tons of cocaine monthly, earning billions of dollars annually. Escobar’s methods of operation—bribery or assassination—ensured compliance from authorities, cementing his control over Colombia’s cocaine trade.
Norman’s Cay: A Caribbean Stronghold
To streamline operations, Escobar partnered with Carlos Lehder to develop Norman's Cay, an island in the Bahamas that became the cartel's primary transshipment hub. The island, outfitted with airstrips, warehouses, and luxury accommodations, facilitated the transit of cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. By the mid-1980s, Norman’s Cay was a critical node in the cartel’s logistics, with Lehder managing operations alongside Escobar.
The Cali Cartel: Subtlety and Sophistication
While the Medellín Cartel dominated headlines with its violence, the Cali Cartel operated more discreetly, relying on bribery over bloodshed. Led by the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers and José Santacruz Londoño, the Cali Cartel initially trafficked marijuana but shifted to cocaine in the 1980s. By the mid-1990s, the Cali Cartel supplied 80% of the world’s cocaine, controlling 90% of the European market.
The Cali Cartel’s less confrontational approach enabled it to extend its influence globally. Its leaders managed sophisticated money laundering networks and maintained operations in major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Despite their less violent methods, the cartel amassed immense wealth and power, rivaling that of Medellín.
Crackdown and Decline
By the 1990s, the Colombian government, supported by U.S. law enforcement, intensified its efforts to dismantle the cartels. Following Escobar’s death in 1993, the focus shifted to the Cali Cartel. A coordinated campaign led to the capture of the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers and Santacruz Londoño in 1995, effectively ending Cali’s dominance.
Even as the Medellín and Cali cartels crumbled, Colombia remained a central hub for cocaine trafficking. By 1996, the remnants of these cartels still controlled much of the Andean cocaine trade, underscoring the entrenched nature of the drug industry. Bribery and corruption persisted, with cartels spending an estimated $500 million annually to secure their operations.
Ongoing Battle Against Drug Trafficking
In the decades following the fall of the major cartels, cocaine trafficking continued, with new routes through Venezuela and Mexico emerging. Colombian, Venezuelan, and U.S. authorities coordinated efforts in the 2010s to capture drug lords like Daniel Barrera Barrera and Javier Antonio Calle Serna, reflecting the continued evolution of the trade.
While the Medellín and Cali Cartels were dismantled, their legacy of violence, corruption, and social disruption continues to shape Colombia’s history and global perceptions of the drug trade.
History of Colombia