Small airplanes are just one of the ways drug smugglers manage to sneak to their lucrative products across international borders, in particular US borders. Before this innovation often human mules were used or small quantities were packed in luggage sent through commercial flights. The use of small, private aircraft allowed a much larger product quantity to be shipped. Norman’s Cay is a Bahamian Island around two hundred miles off the coast of Florida. When the Medellin Cartel was in full swing, high ranking authority Carlos Ledher used this island as his own playground. He bought up large pieces of land, even a hotel, and constructed an airstrip that was heavily guarded by men and attack dogs. Ledher eventually succeeded in harassing and running off residents and visitors until he effectively became king of the island. The Bahamian government did nothing to stop him as it was believed they had accepted bribes from Ledher to stay out of his business. In July 1980 a yacht was found straying around the island, and on board authorities found blood stains and a corpse. In 1982 the Bahamian government finally started to investigate the island with pressure from the US authorities.
This island reflects the movement theme in Colombia’s violent drug war in two ways. First it gives insight into the movement of the product itself and how it has worked its way into the US in years past. Second it also reflects the violence that has become a standard practice in Colombia expanding to other locations and effecting citizens not related to Colombia or to the drugs at all. The cartels desire for globalizing their product sends not only drugs but violent means as well.
Picture: Carlos Toro, known pilot for Medellin Cartel
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