August 22, 2025

Carlos Lehder: Partner to Pablo Escobar and The King of Smugglers (Rare Sitdown)

1 hour 16 minutes

In one of his only english interviews, I sit down with Pablo Escobar’s most dangerous partner — Carlos Lehder, the man who revolutionized coca*ne smuggling and lived to tell the truth.

This isn’t the story you saw in Narcos or read in the history books.

What’s it like being called “The Henry Ford of Coca*ne”? What really happened behind the scenes of the Medellín Cartel? And how do you survive 33 years in America’s most brutal prisons — including four years in solitary confinement?

In this raw conversation, Carlos opens up about his empire built on Norman’s Cay, his complex relationship with Pablo Escobar, and the moment everything came crashing down. We talk about betrayal, survival, and why he’s speaking out now at 75 years old.

This isn’t just about drug smuggling — it’s about power, consequence, and the price of choosing crime over everything else.

If you think you know the story of the Medellín Cartel... you’re only getting half the truth.

Carlos Lehder: Partner to Pablo Escobar and The King of Smugglers (Rare Sitdown)

📰 Go to https://ground.news/mf to see what mainstream media won’t show you. Save 40% off the Ground News Vantage plan and take back control of how you stay informed.

🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://franzesewine.com/

💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/

🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/

🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/

🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb

00:00 Introduction

01:27 Michael introduces Carlos Lehder

02:07 Prison, extradition, Narcos mention

03:26 New York upbringing

07:47 Wealth, satisfaction, regrets

10:36 How the Medellin drug trade started

13:55 Norman’s Cay and smuggling routes

16:38 George Jung partnership

20:44 Why Carlos never retired

23:19 The law finally catches up

24:24 135 years in prison—solitary life

29:23 Release, exile in Germany

32:28 Pirate analogy & amnesty

36:13 Pablo Escobar reconciliation

39:11 Lessons, book, and advice

43:54 Carlos’s new life & message

1:11:10 Michael’s closing thoughts

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By Michael Franzese

4.9

5555 ratings

August 22, 2025

Carlos Lehder: Partner to Pablo Escobar and The King of Smugglers (Rare Sitdown)

1 hour 16 minutes

In one of his only english interviews, I sit down with Pablo Escobar’s most dangerous partner — Carlos Lehder, the man who revolutionized coca*ne smuggling and lived to tell the truth.

This isn’t the story you saw in Narcos or read in the history books.

This isn’t just about drug smuggling — it’s about power, consequence, and the price of choosing crime over everything else.

If you think you know the story of the Medellín Cartel... you’re only getting half the truth.

Carlos Lehder: Partner to Pablo Escobar and The King of Smugglers (Rare Sitdown)

📰 Go to https://ground.news/mf to see what mainstream media won’t show you. Save 40% off the Ground News Vantage plan and take back control of how you stay informed.

🍷 Have you tried my wine yet?: https://franzesewine.com/

💪🏼 Join Franzese Family: https://michaelfranzese.com/family/

🤝 Book 1 on 1 Call With Me: https://michaelfranzese.com/book-1-on-1-call/

🔥 Check out my store: https://store.michaelfranzese.com/

🎙️ Michael Franzese Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Eo39qb

00:00 Introduction

01:27 Michael introduces Carlos Lehder

02:07 Prison, extradition, Narcos mention

03:26 New York upbringing

07:47 Wealth, satisfaction, regrets

10:36 How the Medellin drug trade started

13:55 Norman’s Cay and smuggling routes