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From flying cocaine-laden planes to running massive boat shipments, Luis Navia was a logistics mastermind for the Medellín Cartel — responsible for moving over 100 tons of cocaine into the U.S. and Europe. In this gripping full-length interview, Luis pulls back the curtain on a 25-year career that spanned the height of the cocaine boom, working alongside legendary traffickers like Pablo Escobar.
- Surviving kidnappings & near-death experiences in the drug trade
- The cartel’s control over coca production in Peru
- The evolution of smuggling methods — from air to sea
- How a mole inside the organization led to his capture
- Life after prison & his book Pure Narco
Now a construction company owner in Miami, Luis reflects on his Cuban heritage, the dangers of the cartel world, and the lessons learned from a life on the run.
📖 Pure Narco — Luis Navia’s autobiography: https://a.co/d/e9bGPbg
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
True Classic!
Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/CONNECT! #trueclassicpod
BETTERHELP! As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://betterhelp.com/connect
MOOD! Head to https://mood.com/ and let Mood help you discover YOUR perfect mood. And don't forget to use promo code CONNECT when you check out to save 20% on your first order.
Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!
https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow
00:00 Introduction: A Life in Drug Smuggling
01:52 Early Life and Cuban Heritage
07:41 Cuba Before and After the Revolution
10:41 FREE PATREON GIVEAWAY!
11:36 Growing Up In The Elite
16:00 Family’s Move to Miami & Childhood in Exile
23:17 This Episode Is Sponsored By True Classic!
25:30 Youthful Rebellion & Early Drug Exposure
32:00 First Steps into Drug Trafficking
45:43 Enter the Big Leagues: Medellín Connections
49:21 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp and MOOD!
52:35 How the Medellín Cartel Was Formed
01:08:44 Cartel Logistics & Drug Route Expansion
01:22:40 Building Distributions Across the U.S.
01:32:00 Smuggling Innovation: Planes, Boats, and the Keys
01:47:00 Adapting to Law Enforcement & Evolving Routes
01:55:30 Rising with the Northern Valley Cartel
02:06:00 The Era of Massive Freighters & European Expansion
02:19:59 Coke Money, Money Laundering, and New Markets
02:34:00 Arrest, Cooperation, and Prison Time
02:47:33 Lessons, Regrets, and the Future of the Drug Trade
03:02:00 Reflection, Wrapping Up & Book Recommendation
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4.4
473473 ratings
From flying cocaine-laden planes to running massive boat shipments, Luis Navia was a logistics mastermind for the Medellín Cartel — responsible for moving over 100 tons of cocaine into the U.S. and Europe. In this gripping full-length interview, Luis pulls back the curtain on a 25-year career that spanned the height of the cocaine boom, working alongside legendary traffickers like Pablo Escobar.
- Surviving kidnappings & near-death experiences in the drug trade
- The cartel’s control over coca production in Peru
- The evolution of smuggling methods — from air to sea
- How a mole inside the organization led to his capture
- Life after prison & his book Pure Narco
Now a construction company owner in Miami, Luis reflects on his Cuban heritage, the dangers of the cartel world, and the lessons learned from a life on the run.
📖 Pure Narco — Luis Navia’s autobiography: https://a.co/d/e9bGPbg
This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:
True Classic!
Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/CONNECT! #trueclassicpod
BETTERHELP! As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://betterhelp.com/connect
MOOD! Head to https://mood.com/ and let Mood help you discover YOUR perfect mood. And don't forget to use promo code CONNECT when you check out to save 20% on your first order.
Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!
https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow
00:00 Introduction: A Life in Drug Smuggling
01:52 Early Life and Cuban Heritage
07:41 Cuba Before and After the Revolution
10:41 FREE PATREON GIVEAWAY!
11:36 Growing Up In The Elite
16:00 Family’s Move to Miami & Childhood in Exile
23:17 This Episode Is Sponsored By True Classic!
25:30 Youthful Rebellion & Early Drug Exposure
32:00 First Steps into Drug Trafficking
45:43 Enter the Big Leagues: Medellín Connections
49:21 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp and MOOD!
52:35 How the Medellín Cartel Was Formed
01:08:44 Cartel Logistics & Drug Route Expansion
01:22:40 Building Distributions Across the U.S.
01:32:00 Smuggling Innovation: Planes, Boats, and the Keys
01:47:00 Adapting to Law Enforcement & Evolving Routes
01:55:30 Rising with the Northern Valley Cartel
02:06:00 The Era of Massive Freighters & European Expansion
02:19:59 Coke Money, Money Laundering, and New Markets
02:34:00 Arrest, Cooperation, and Prison Time
02:47:33 Lessons, Regrets, and the Future of the Drug Trade
03:02:00 Reflection, Wrapping Up & Book Recommendation
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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