DiscoverThe Connect- with Johnny MitchellMeet The Man Who Smuggled 100 TONS Of Cocaine For The Medellin Cartel: Career Drug Trafficker Speaks
Meet The Man Who Smuggled 100 TONS Of Cocaine For The Medellin Cartel: Career Drug Trafficker Speaks

Meet The Man Who Smuggled 100 TONS Of Cocaine For The Medellin Cartel: Career Drug Trafficker Speaks

Update: 2025-08-17
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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!


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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

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Meet The Man Who Smuggled 100 TONS Of Cocaine For The Medellin Cartel: Career Drug Trafficker Speaks

Meet The Man Who Smuggled 100 TONS Of Cocaine For The Medellin Cartel: Career Drug Trafficker Speaks

Johnny Mitchell