The Cali Cartel: Beyond Narcos

by Shaun Attwood

An electrifying account of the Cali Cartel beyond its portrayal on Netflix. From the ashes of Pablo Escobar’s empire rose an even bigger and more malevolent cartel. A new breed of sophisticated mobsters became the kings of cocaine. Their leader was Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela – known as the Chess Player due to his foresight and calculated cunning. Gilberto and his terrifying brother, Miguel, ran a multi-billion-dollar drug empire like a corporation. They employed a politically astute brand of thuggery and spent $10 million to put a president in power. Although the godfathers from Cali preferred bribery over violence, their many loyal torturers and hit men were never idle.

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction, Amazon, History, Biography

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2017

About the author

In prison, I read over 1000 books in just under six years, including many literary classics. Books were the lifeblood of my rehabilitation.

As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...

Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.

But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.

Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.

I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.

Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.

In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.

I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.

Reviews

[Z Cutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Attwood’s books that I read in one sitting! Attwood does a great job of describing the Cali cartel, who are the focus of Narcos seasons three and four. Unlike Pablo Escobar, not much has been written about the Cali cartel, and Attwood brings everything up-to-date with a fast-paced story that had me hooked from beginning to end. At the same time you get a good look at the messed up war on drugs and a really thought provoking view of how America could have actually been a lot more involved than the government wants you to think. This book actually taught me a lot of information I didn't know about Colombian traffickers, the government, Los Pepes and the DEA. I'm happy to give this book 10/10! It was better than Attwood’s Pablo book. The writing is stronger. Great job Shaun Attwood!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've included this as "read" because I listened recently to it in audiobook form. Its very well narrated and written in such a way as to show the depth of research as well as personal experience in the very dodgy world of drugs that the author found himself involved in. Shaun Atwood is becoming a prolific author of a series of really very interesting books, many based on personal experience. They are well written and unputdownable.

[Enjgaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone is a thug at some point.

The book itself illustrutes the way how human society's life goes in rough environment. Only power wins. It is pitty that Columbia could be powerful country in American continent. However more powerful force rules it not to. Every country, which wants to survive, have to be strong and clever. This does not apply only for USA or Columbia. It applies to all civilizations in the world.
One country has to be low in order to stay another country constantly forms high power. It happened to be USA was on power and Columbia was manipulated. However, it could happen reverse if Columbia had ability as USA.
The example was expressed by a war of drug cartels between USA, Columbian governments, cartels within Columbia and other parties of interest in this book.


[Sarah Portsmouth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

This is my favourite in the series so far as although it covers a lot we’ve already read about Pablo Escobar it carries on after his death and what became of the cartels. Very good read.

[Nano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly quick and to the point is what I enjoyed most about this book with little detail lost along the way

[Randal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pablo Escobar’s downfall, getting into politics, helped the Cali Cartel. With the spotlight on Pablo, the Cali Cartel ran their business like McDonald’s complete with franchises. Another fast-paced book by Attwood. I recommend all of them in his war on drugs series.

[Robin Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book by Shaun Attwood. These cartels are certainly scary. Its horrible all the crime being committed as well as the killings. Excited to ready more by Shaun. Good job with this book.

[Yazzmin Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have watched Narcos on Netflix, this book was interesting and informative, I have learnt more about the drug cartels and it’s extremely disturbing how involved some people are, we live in a corrupt system but without the dirty money, we wouldn’t survive.

[Stavros Kanakaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sobering read about the duplicity of governments and their so called war on drugs. Cocaine should be stained blood red because that's what people are sniffing up their noses: misery, hypocrisy and criminality.

[Yinka Kolawole · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the war goes on ... not all is as it seems

Not all we hear or are told can ever be taken as gospel, not all is as it seems it appears. Can easily create a tag line as mantra from Shaun Attwood’s book. Thoroughly enjoying and informative. Now to binge watch the Netflix flicks

[Michael Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Awesome read enjoyed it very much. Very indent and the makes you feel your there learned new things didn’t know

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from Shaun Attwood. I doubt very many people can write a book with such detailed background information and yet make them such an intense read as this man.
Just fantastic.

[Jan Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fascinating and gruesome. Power, money, and greed abound. And the governments are such a disappointing mess! I never watched Narcos so it was enlightening to me.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/25/1990, Colombia, Bogata. Gilberto “Chess Player” Rodríguez Orejuela (older brother, drug lord), & Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela (younger brother) were quite powerful & very wealth from the Cali Cartel international cocaine empire.
Pacho Herrera (36, brother, gay, Cali Cartel godfather) had joined.
The Medellín Cartel was 1 of their arch rivals.
Jose “Chepe” Santacruz Londono (Cali godfather) also had other towns (districts) to oversee.
Bribes or payoffs with bankers, politicians, military or law enforcement were necessary & not uncommon.
Did McAleese & David Tomkins leader, Peter McAleese (Scottish, former paratrooper, SAS Regiment soldier, South African Sergeant-Major, Rhodesian SAS soldier) succeed with their next mission?

Miguel Escobar received word that Juan Pablo Escobar (17, son/brother) had been shot/killed by police at the Medellín’s Obelisco shopping centre.
10/7/1992, Not knowing his fate, Roberto Escobar (son/brother) turned himself into law enforcement. He had escaped from the Cathedral prison.
Roberto was transferred to the maximum-security Itagüí prison.
A Los Pepes cartel lawyer brought him a TV & a mobile phone.
Several attempts on Juan Pablo Escobar life had been made, & he never fully recovered from his serious injuries.
Carlos Castaño (Los Pepes godfather), the Medellín Cartel godfather, the Moncada Cartel godfather, & the Galeano Cartel godfather, held a meeting with Maria Victoria Escobar (wife/mother) to discuss her & the other family members future.
Miguel & Gilberto were caught by federal authorities planning a 1-ton shipment of cocaine.
In 1991, President Bill Clinton’s US Operation Cornerstone had begun.
Will the drug bust operation be successful & PPL brought to justice?

Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written drug cartel thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Gadfly Press; Justkindlebooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Alan Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In depth look at the immorality of drugs and the people that control with the help of politicians both Colombian and American ,the depravity shown is mind boggling as is the colloidal am.ount of money spent arresting and imprisoning small time dealers and their customers whilst the Cali cartel & the Medellin cartel go on ever stronger. Finally the U s government exerts enough pressure on the Colombian government to stamp out these cartels yet not enough to stop the lucrative War against drugs initiative and the billions paid to the DEA alone some of whom are unsurprisingly seduced by the wealth generated by the sale of narcotics.

[Johann Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comparing the Cali Cartel compared to Pablo Escobar is like comparing a Fortune 500 company to a fiefdom.

Atwood’s primary source material seems to be from the autobiographies and memoirs of cartel members. These are laden with their own biases, and emerge in Atwood’s conclusions without sufficient evidence. Still, the narrative is a sufficient overview of the cocaine-driven plight of Colombia in the 1980’s and 90’s.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting until the end when the author's political leanings became more obvious. Accusations he writes may be true but need to be double-checked, and I don't have the time or resources for that kind of research.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well worth your time.

[Rory Costello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Juicy material served dry...so deadpan and matter-of-fact that it makes Jack Webb look histrionic.

[Armin Durakovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting view on the War on Drugs while aiming to capture the Godfathers of the Cali Cartel. Especially the last half of the book was very thrilling.

[Augie Swanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story.

[Joseph Kibera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background on Cali cartel operations and war with medellin cartel. 4 thumbs up ....

[Jetgyro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject matter marred by poor writing, the authors' fascination with the Narcos Netflix show and delving into conspiracy theories.