The second season of the American crime drama TV series “Narcos” on Netflix showed how the Cali cartel took the rag out of the foot of Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel to become Columbia’s new drug kingpins.
The good strategy on the part of the Cali cartel is that unlike Escobar and his Medellin cartel, the former worked with the Columbian government among other groups to make it look like they were concerned with the cause of the government.
Among the groups utilized by the Cali cartel as shown in Season 2 of “Narcos” was the Los Pepes, which disbanded shortly after the death of Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel.
Reports have it that in the upcoming third season of the TV series, the Columbian government shall be restoring Los Pepes and used the group to once again give out intelligence reports about the whereabouts of drug lords and the drug trade itself in the country, reports Counsel & Heal.
It can be recalled that it was the Los Pepes who gave out intelligence on the Cali cartel and the Columbian government which is why Escobar was cornered and killed in Medellin some months after escaping from La Catedral prison.
No replacement for Pablo Escobar
Eric Newman, co-showrunner of “Narcos,” also debunked speculations that Cali cartel stalwart Gilberto Orejuela, played by Damian Alcazar, shall be the focal point of the third season of the TV series.
There were rumors saying that Gilberto Orejuela will be some sort of replacement to Pablo Escobar, played by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura during the first two seasons of “Narcos.”
In a recent interview, Newman said that there is nobody who would be replacing Pablo Escobar in “Narcos” because what the show is trying to do is explain the drug trade and corruption within Columbia or the extent of its impact on the South American nation.
Escobar was an outlaw but the Cali cartel was able to infiltrate the Columbian government system. They were able to buy their way into the system so they enjoyed a higher type of protection from the Columbian government compared to Pablo Escobar.
In addition, Escobar was only a single-celled organism whereas the Cali cartel was more complex and certainly a multi-celled organism.
Moving forward with the storyline
With the death of Pablo Escobar in Season 2, “Narcos” Season 3 shall be moving forward without some of its original characters.
According to initial reports, Season 3 of “Narcos” shall focus on Pablo Escobar’s successors which are no other than the Cali cartel featuring Helmer ‘Pacho’ Herrera, Miguel Rodriguez, and Gilberto Orejuela, details the Parent Herald.
The fourth key member is Jose ‘Chepe’ Santacruz-Londono, who has yet to be introduced in “Narcos” and is likely to be done so by the series in its upcoming third season.
Not only is “Narcos” expected to evolve for its Season 3 next year particularly its storyline following the successful streaming of its Season 2 early last month featuring the demise of Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.
It can be recalled in Season 2, the Cali Cartel also helped out the Columbian authorities finally get to and put an end to Pablo Escobar.
The group worked with Escobar’s competition, Judy Moncada, and also enlisted the vigilante group Los Pepes. They also provided intel for the Search Bloc in the Columbian police.
The Cali cartel will take center stage in drug operations in Columbia and also in “Narcos” Season 3. Along with the teaser for “Narcos” Season 3, Netflix also formally announced the renewal of the TV series for its third and fourth seasons.
Eric Newman said that while Escobar’s life story on “Narcos” was legendary, the Cali cartel had a bigger organization and had an influence in Columbia’s presidency in 1994. They had control over military, financial and legal institutions as well. The group was even listed as one of the world’s most powerful crime syndicates.