EP 107B: Luis Navia - The Inside Story of Smuggling Cocaine for Pablo Escobar
- Author
- Gary Bertwistle / Luis Navia / Jesse Fink
- Published
- Thu 29 Oct 2020
- Episode Link
- https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/themojosessions/108_mixdown.mp3
Luis Navia smuggled over 300 tons of cocaine for the biggest Colombian & Mexican cartels including Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel. The book Pure Narco is the true life story of Luis Navia, also known as 'El Senador' (The Senator). In this fascinating conversation we hear from the man who smuggled over $10 billion worth of product for the worlds biggest cartels and lived to tell his story. We discuss with Luis his lifestyle as a smuggler, the logistics of these huge operations, working for Pablo, his drive to make his father proud, his sacrifice for the thrill of more, and then his ultimate international capture in Operation Journey.
- When people ask Luis what he does today how does he like to reply?
- Why Luis felt uncomfortable being called a Narco, yet the book title is Pure Narco?
- When a drug trafficker turns government informant they either end up in prison or dead. Why does Luis believe he is here?
- The most fatal of attractions. How Luis fell in with the Medellín Cartel, the most violent criminal organisation in the world through a beautiful woman.
- There were few men who influenced Luis heavily. One was a killer named Poli.
- Probably the most famous name Luis worked for was Pablo Escobar. Why did he never feel he would ever be a target to Pablo?
- What impact did the affluent surroundings growing up as a kid have on his character, beliefs and values?
- Was dressing well a character trait Luis used as a symbol of acknowledgement to his Father?
- Did his Father ever tell him he was proud of him or that he loved Luis?
- His father was such a strong figure in his life but he felt he betrayed his values by entering a life of crime. What regrets does he carry?
- The theme though the book is Luis chasing deals to prove something. What was he looking to prove?
- How did his Mother influence his character?
- Luis believes his parents should have applied heavy braces on him, and they didn’t. Would that have worked?
- The inner struggle of the law-abiding American citizen or South American bandido.
- The tightrope knowing he could go to prison and not see his children but wanting to smuggle and live that life of the Bandido.
- The day Luis came face-to-face with Robert Harley, the man who’d been looking for him for nigh on a decade.
- Does he still look over his shoulder or watch the door in a restaurant for fear of retribution?
- Did writing the book help Luis understand his journey?
- Why did Luis trust Jesse to tell his story?
- Why was now the right time for Luis to do the book?
