In Las Vegas, DEA agents to discuss rise and fall of drug lord ‘El Patron’

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar’s legacy is built on “death and destruction” as he and his Medellin Cartel are credited with the bombing of a commercial airliner, the assassination of a popular presidential candidate, the bounty-driven killings of hundreds of police officers, and the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians caught in the middle.

But 24 years since his death, “El Patron’s” folklore remains ingrained in popular culture, punctuated by productions such as Netflix’s celebrated “Narcos.”

On Wednesday, two retired Drug Enforcement Administration agents instrumental in Escobar’s demise — and who inspired the streaming service’s series — will be in Las Vegas to candidly outline the true story behind their pursuit.

“That’s why we do this, we present this as a lesson in history” and not what’s showcased in television or literature, Steve Murphy said about his and Javier Peña’s “Capturing Pablo” presentation at Brooklyn Bowl.

At the peak of his criminal enterprise, Escobar was deemed one of the world’s richest men. He paradoxically and disgracefully died alone on a rundown rooftop, fleeing from Colombian authorities in 1993.

The show will focus on the rise and fall of Escobar and his enterprise. Murphy and Peña will share anecdotes, show videos and unpublished photos, and will take questions from the audience. Discussing a dead man is a “dark topic,” but it won’t be a typical and uninteresting lecture as one might attend in college, Murphy said.

If Murphy and Peña are Escobar encyclopedias, it’s because they combated his illicit and deadly dealings at the height of Colombia’s narco war. And although Murphy says some of their actions on “Narcos” were dramatized for television purposes, their work has earned them high honors.

And presenting Escobar’s evils is a way for them to keep serving after retirement from law enforcement, Murphy said.

Embarking on the speaking circuit is not new for the pair of friends. Before “Narcos,” Murphy and Peña gave talks to mostly law enforcement.

They brushed off offers to tell their story because they felt like “agendas” might skew them. When the “Narcos” creators came to them, the DEA agents wanted a guarantee that the series would not glorify Escobar, something they’ve kept their promise on, Murphy said. “We didn’t think anyone wanted to hear the story … were we wrong.”

Murphy recalls a scene in the second season where Escobar is portrayed as just a man visiting his father at a farm. Wagner Moura’s excellent acting abilities briefly made Murphy forget Escobar’s destruction. “Are you stupid, that’s Pablo Escobar. Of all people, I should be the last person to ever feel sorry for the guy, because I have no admiration, no respect, and in my opinion, he got what he deserved,” Murphy said he told himself.

The continuous drug supply and demand means iconic kingpins will continue to rise, Murphy said.

It doesn’t matter if the likes of Escobar or Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman fall, the riches of the trade will continue to drive future generations. “You take out an entire organization and there are just so many people waiting, so many evil people in the world waiting to take advantage of you and me,” Murphy said. “We want people to know the true story and that there’s nothing to be glorified about illegal narcotics.”

For more information on the show, visit Brooklyn Bowl’s site. More information on the agents can be found here.