Journey into Colombia's darkest contrast through the story of two criminal empires that chose dramatically different paths to power. While Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel built an empire through spectacular violence, the Cali Cartel created a sophisticated criminal corporation. From burning cash for warmth to boardroom death sentences, discover how two cartels shaped a nation through dramatically different means.

This episode explores how these organizations corrupted Colombia's entrepreneurial spirit and geographic advantages in profoundly different ways. While one cartel waged open war against the state, the other quietly infiltrated it. One built an army of teenage assassins and employed hundreds of accountants. Both left legacies that would shape Colombia's future in unexpected ways.

Key Timestamps: 00:27 - Opening: A Tale of Two Empires 01:54 - Setting the Stage: 1980s Colombia 03:38 - The Numbers That Numb 05:49 - Medellín's Reign of Thunder 8:09 - Cali's Empire of Whispers 10:31 - International Dimension 12:01 - Methods of Control 13:24 - The Human Cost 14:27 - Legacies 15:38-Closing

Quick Facts:

• Medellín Cartel: $60 million daily earnings
• Cali Cartel: 700 accountants employed
• Combined 80% of the global cocaine market control
• World's largest private wiretapping operation
• 5,000 taxi drivers as Cali informants
• Operations in 25 countries
• Largest private air fleet in Latin America

Written by [Diego Yepes] Original Score by [Diego Yepes] Sound Design by [Diego Yepes]