Colombia was known throughout the world in the 1970s for drug trafficking. Cities like Valle del Cauca and Cali are ruthlessly run by drug cartels. As a result, many people who opposed the cartels were killed, and others went missing. Cali Cartel, based in Santiago de Cali, was one of these cartels.
Jose Santacruz, Gilberto Rodriguez, and Miguel Rodriguez, also known as the three brothers, founded the Cali cartel in the early 1970s. After breaking away from the Medellin Cartel, which was led by Pablo Escobar, the Rodriguez brothers formed this group.
Before moving on to the lucrative business of cocaine trafficking, the group began with kidnappings and marijuana trafficking. The brothers later formed Helmer Herrera, which grew into a four-man drug trafficking organization. By the early 1990s, the cartel had grown so large and powerful that it was estimated that they were responsible for over 70% of all cocaine trafficked.
So, what do you know about the Cali Cartel? If that’s not enough, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about Cali Cartel’s net worth in 2022, wiki, and biography. So, if you’re ready, here’s everything we know about Cali Cartel so far.
Inception and Formation
The Cali cartel was formed when the famous Rodriguez Orejuela brothers and Santacruz decided to join forces. They were known for belonging to a higher social class than the majority of the traffickers at the time. Because of their social background, they became known as a group and were dubbed Las Caballeros, which translates to “gentlemen of Cali.” The gang was formed as kidnappers and called themselves Las Chemas, with Luis Fernando Tamayo Garcia as their ringleader.
Las Chemas were kidnappers, and it was from this business that they made enough money to keep their drug dealing business afloat. As a result, they were linked to a number of kidnapping cases, including the abduction of a diplomat and two Swiss citizens, to name a few. They were ransomed for 700,000 dollars, which was most likely used to fund their drug dealing business. They got their start in marijuana trafficking. However, it did not appear to bring them the high profits they desired, owing to the fact that they needed to cover resources that cost far more than marijuana revenue. The gang decided to concentrate their efforts on a more lucrative drug, cocaine.
In the early 1970s, the Cartel dispatched Helmer Herrera, one of the group’s members, to establish a distribution center in New York. Cocaine was considered less important than heroine in the United States at the time. It’s clear that the group started with a strong group of seven men who paved their way into the industry to get to where they wanted to be.
Evolution and Progression
The Drug Enforcement Administration, which saw cocaine as a less important drug than heroine, decided to relax its hardline policy. As their business grew, this was their turning point. The group grew and eventually organized into multiple cells that agreed to operate independently but remained under their manager’s supervision.
The clandestine cell system that distinguishes the group is the reason for all of this. This did not, however, deter them from continuing to operate their drug dealing business. The group maintained a strong bond and continued to operate as separate criminal organizations. The cartel grew stronger over time, eventually becoming the world’s most powerful and largest criminal organization. The Drug Enforcement Administration has confirmed this.
Aside from that, we can see that Cali is now known for innovating in production and trafficking because they have many connections and have moved their refining operations from Colombia to other countries such as Peru and Bolivia, not to mention the fact that they figured out how to find more traffic routes through the famous Panama Canal. Due to the fact that their business was illegal, the Cali decided to open a legal business to conceal their income sources. As a result, they put their money into legitimate businesses.
Achievements and Awards
Cali’s business was not legal, so they may not be in the awards industry. However, in terms of their drug dealing business, it is clear that they have made significant progress. To begin with, the absence of a toughline policy pushed by the Drug Enforcement Administration made it easier for the Cartel to expand and explore their business. We can see how the group grew and decided to form strong independent organizations, which was more advantageous to them.
Cali Cartel’s Net Worth and Earnings in 2022
According to research and all available information about their business, the company has been steadily growing, which is a positive for them. The company’s net worth must be impressive, given that it is known as one of the most powerful and large crime syndicates in history. As a result, it is estimated to be worth $7 billion by 2022, which is quite impressive. As a result, we can conclude that Cartel is an outstanding company that can be emulated and some of the things they did to achieve success can be adopted.
The Cali cartel has been one of the most dedicated drug dealers, putting in every effort to make a profit. They did not give up, despite the fact that their drug trafficking journey was illegal and they faced numerous challenges, and they worked hard to achieve their goal. They may not set a good example in terms of the business they run, but we can say that some of the positive steps they took to build a successful business can be emulated.
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