Carlos Lehder Colombian drug lord Date of Birth: 07.09.1949 Country: Colombia

Biography of Carlos Lehder

Carlos Enrique Lehder Rivas, a notorious Colombian drug lord, was born in 1949 in Armenia, Colombia. His father was a German engineer and his mother was a Colombian teacher. Lehder was the youngest of four children, and his parents divorced when he was only four years old. He began his criminal activities at a young age, involving car theft, smuggling, and marijuana trafficking. It was during his prison sentence for car theft in 1973 that Lehder met his future partner, George Jung, a drug dealer.

Jung was already an expert in smuggling drugs from Mexico using small planes that flew below radar detection. Lehder was an eager learner, absorbing information about drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, and smuggling while in prison. He accumulated a wealth of theoretical knowledge during his time behind bars.

Lehder became particularly attracted to the cocaine trade due to its high profitability and compactness. After serving his sentence, Lehder was sent back to Colombia in 1977. Together with Jung, they devised plans to smuggle cocaine. They initially befriended two American women who agreed to vacation with them in Antigua. Unbeknownst to the women, they carried cocaine in their suitcases, which could have resulted in a significant prison sentence. They repeated this procedure several times, accumulating enough money to acquire their own small aircraft.

Their business flourished as Lehder and Jung established connections with Colombian suppliers, and corrupt officials on Norman's Cay in the Bahamas provided protection. The notorious Medellín Cartel was eventually formed, consisting of Lehder, Jung, and other drug traffickers. Norman's Cay served as a base for cocaine operations, with numerous planes carrying illegal drugs landing there daily. Lehder and Jung eventually went their separate ways due to their ambitious nature.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Norman's Cay became a hub for cocaine trafficking, with daily shipments exceeding 300 kg according to some sources. Complaints piled up, and authorities were forced to take action. Lehder received warnings and offers to leave the island, but he always managed to bribe his way out. By this time, Carlos Lehder was one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

The downfall of his cocaine empire came in 1981 when Lehder was forced to flee the island, facing charges of smuggling and tax evasion. In 1982, after a report by Brian Ross exposed corruption, Lehder's business faced even more difficulties. However, he managed to evade extradition to the United States with the help of Pablo Escobar. It was not until 1987 that Lehder was captured and handed over to American authorities. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 135 years.

During the 1990s, Lehder's whereabouts were unknown, with rumors suggesting that he had been released in exchange for providing certain information. There were also rumors that he entered the Witness Protection Program. Today, it is known that Carlos Lehder remains in prison, occasionally filing complaints and demands with various authorities.