The two US DEA agents who were the inspiration behind the popular Netflix crime series Narcos, Javier Peña and Steve Murphy have recalled the difficulties they faced as American agents working against a ruthless enemy in the guise of Pablo Escobar in the mid-80s.
Agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña who are famous for being instrumental in the bringing down of the Colombian cocaine kingpin, spoke to Ray D'Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1 about their work struggles at the beginning of their careers.
"I arrived in 1988 and it was very ruthless, very dangerous," Javier Peña explained. "I told people when I first got there, and the police picked me up, they said: Do you have a gun? I said yes.
"They said put it on your chest. We drive around with our guns on our chests because of all the violence.
"Pablo Escobar's sicarios were killing people, so it was very dangerous. Pablo Escobar, during this time in the mid-80s, was very powerful. He had the sicarios and . . . nobody was giving information on him."
Steve Murphy arrived in Colombia in the early 1990s and he on what was a completely unknown playing field.
"You have to remember that we were American law enforcement officers operating in a foreign country so we didn't really have the jurisdiction we enjoy in our own home country," he told D'Arcy.
"But we had diplomatic immunity. Javier had built a really good working relationship with the Colombian national police. Basically, when you get there you're working with the host country, and fighting whatever narcotics traffic is the greatest threat at that time.
"And of course, with Pablo Escobar being the world's first narco-terrorist, that was the biggest threat."
The duo are jetting into Dublin in December to discuss the show and their role in the downfall of Colombian cocaine King Pablo Escobar.
The pair will be appearing on stage at Vicar Street and will be speaking about the rise and fall of the Medellin Cartel and the role they played in the hunt for Escobar. Afterwards there will be Q&A with audience members.
Organisers say the event "will give Narcos fans and those interested in Pablo Escobar the opportunity to hear first hand information from the two men who were instrumental in his takedown, and provide what we are sure will be a very insightful and unique evening.”
Peña joined the US DEA in 1984 and four years later volunteered for an assignment in Bogota. It was there that he and his partner, Special Agent Steve Murphy, set out to bring down the Medellin drug cartel and its leader Pablo Escobar.
Peña was awarded Colombia’s highest honour for his efforts, while Murphy received multiple honours and awards, during his career, including DEA Special Agent of the Year.
