El Navegante, whose real name is Jorge Enrique Velásquez, operated as an informant for over 30 years and continued working for the DEA well into the early 2020s. After the DEA betrayed him during a botched operation against a European drug trafficking organization, he fought back by choosing to expose everything through a media interview.

His 1993 autobiography, "Cómo me infiltré y engañé al Cartel (How I infiltrated and deceived the cartel)", is well worth a read if you speak Spanish. He wrote that by the time readers got to his book, he might already be dead. In fact, he survived an assassination attempt.

In Narcos, El Navegante is not solely based on Velásquez. His character is a composite that is also draws from Memo Lara, the Cali cartel's chief sicario, and César Yusti, another prominent sicario who was brought in for the hit on Guillermo Pallomari. According to the real Jorge Salcedo, he was indeed ordered to assassinate Pallomari alongside Yusti, moving together just as depicted in the show.

Here is how Memo Lara is described in William C. Rempel's book, At the Devil's Table, which is based on Salcedo's account:

Here is how Memo Lara is described in William C. Rempel's book, At the Devil's Table, which is based on Salcedo's account: The most important of the Cali sicarios was Guillermo León Restrepo Gaviria, known in the cartel simply as Memo Lara. He was the godfathers' chief hit man - low-key, loyal, and reliably lethal. He would sometimes be gone for long periods, usually coinciding with someone's death or disappearance.

Memo had dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark disposition. Some blamed his grim demeanor on a lost love, a girlfriend who left him for a police captain and then compounded the betrayal by trying to set him up for arrest. Memo barely escaped. The ex-girlfriend had the good sense to flee the country. Years later, Memo still seethed. He kept an eye on her family's residence just outside Cali, lurking in her old neighborhood at odd hours, just biding his time - waiting for her to come home.

... Sitting with Jorge in the dim reflection of dashboard lights, Memo told a story that explained his good humor. The tale started with the sicario's discovery that his long-missing ex-girlfriend had come home - the ex-girlfriend who had betrayed him to her police captain lover, the ex-girlfriend whose family home Memo had been watching for nearly eight years. "She was hiding in Japan," Memo told Jorge. "But I knew she would come home eventually." ... "Don Miguel needs to know that it's over," Memo said. "I wish to thank him." Jorge understood. The godfathers had approved the ex-girlfriend's execution, no doubt a personal favor to Memo Lara.

File found and restored by: TanyaAkamatsu_Archivos on YT. A "wanted" notice from early 1993, featuring appearances by prominent bosses such as Chopo, Arete, H.H., Comanche, and El Angelito.

I already know what he achieved and the money he made. But what was his personality like? Was he the cool, charismatic, honourable gangster that was portrayed in the show? Or was he more scummier in real life? Is there any testimonies and records from associates or family members of how he was?

Dust jacket and condition it’s perfect. Beautiful book and very sought after. I can provide all proofs and payment can be by PayPal goods and services

i am currently learning Spanish by watching TV shows like Narcos and have come to a conclusion that a lot of people didn’t like Wagner Moura’s Spanish in the show.

Just to differentiate how I am really supposed to speak Spanish and not pick up on anything that I’m not supposed to while learning the language, what was it that made it bad? are there some examples? and is it understandable or just totally unacceptable?

I've recently got into Mexican Narcos culture and am so confused rn of how many different cartel names and groups and splintering. Does anyone have a good summary of which are the current state of cartels and how they differ. Is there like alliances, decentralized, or a dominant one, and are do they recruitment, culture, and portray themselves differently?

Narcos opening credits edited with True Detective Season 1 introduction.

What’s the most insane story you have ever heard that’s verified come from the world of narcos. Let’s say 70s to present day? And any country. NSFW is fine

IAG en su salida de prision (2008)

Does anyone remember the episode where el chapo slept with the beauty pageant winner and said “vamos a culiar o que?” I remember that being a scene in the show but can’t find it

Foto aproximadamente meses después de la muerte de Edgar guzman

Would they have succeeded in killing Pablo? Or would he have been able to make a swift escape?

For those that don't know, the Cali cartel hired British mercenaries (ex-SAS) to fly in on a helicopter, kill Pablo at his hacienda Napoles, cut his head off & give it to the Cali leaders, but the chopper crashed & they were stranded (I think some died) & after some days they got rescued..

Also, why did Pablo not hire Russian mercenaries (ex-Spetsnaz) to retaliate? Cali leaders lived in fortified compound in Cali & they could have done a Bin Laden style raid & almost definitely killed them (instead of just letting off car bombs)..

People are so stupid and ignorant when talking about Mexican drug cartels. They have no idea what the fuck they are talking about.

The only reason why the American and Mexican governments don’t take them down is because they profit a ton off their existence. You will hear they take action every once in a while like arresting a narco or seizing drugs and stuff like that but thats just for people to think they are actually doing something.

The cartels are very powerful and well armed and equipped with lots of guns, armor, vehicles, and technology. Also well trained and funded by a certain agency. But the government could easy wipe them out at any time.

So its just corruption and thats it, its simple. So much people saying stupid stuff online and spreading misinformation.

Just finished both series and loved every second... are there any shows out there that even compare? What should I watch next?

In the last few months I've watched a bunch of mafia shows and movies such as Sopranos, Layer Cake, Goodfellas, We Still Kill the Old Way, and more. I just finished the six Narcos seasons and am now watching El Chapo.

One thing I find interesting is the seeming disregard for family and "civilians" that the cartel displays relative to how Italians are portrayed (at least in television). Comparing Italians to Mexicans and Columbians, at least on the surface they seem to hold near identical values (family, tradition, etc.).

The only two potential factors I can think of are poverty and perhaps a lingering religion/culture that existed before Catholicism that still persists? But with Italians, didn't they experience quite a bit of poverty prior to and following their emigration?

I could be completely wrong. I've done quite a bit of travel and lived overseas, in Korea, but have had less exposure to Central and South America outside of some shows and movies.