Lex Fridman Podcast

#199 – Roger Reaves: Smuggling Drugs for Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel

Jul 11, 2021

Roger Reaves, a notorious drug smuggler and author of "Smuggler," shares his riveting life story tied to the Medellin Cartel and figures like Pablo Escobar. He recounts breathtaking tales, including landing planes on highways and his encounters with the infamous Barry Seal. Reaves reflects on the moral complexities of wealth gained through crime, the emotional toll of his choices, and the harsh realities of prison life. The discussion spans themes of loyalty, regret, and the desire for genuine connections over material excess.

02:15:54

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Episode guests

Roger Reaves

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Creating Lasting Lifestyle Changes Through Habit Building

2min

Inside the Life of a Drug Smuggler: Motivations and Risks

4min

Reflections on Wealth and Regret

2min

Inside the Medellin Cartel

23min

An Unlikely Encounter: The Barry Seal Story

10min

Unraveling the Drug Trade: Connections and Consequences

20min

Tales of Chaos and Resilience

23min

Miraculous Escapes and Prison Realities

19min

10.

Navigating Futures and Reflections on Love

12min

11.

Anchors of Love and Support

4min

12.

Reflections on Mortality and Existence

8min

13.

A Heartfelt Tribute: Memories of Adventure and Love

5min

Roger Reaves is one of the most prolific drug smugglers in history. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Smuggler (book): https://amzn.to/3xydszD

PODCAST INFO:
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(09:56) – Money
(12:17) – Pablo Escobar
(19:30) – Jorge Ochoa
(27:05) – First time
(31:51) – Landing an airplane on the highway
(34:41) – Barry Seal
(45:05) – Mena, Arkansas
(49:58) – Assassination of Barry Seal
(1:03:10) – American Made
(1:07:22) – Blow
(1:09:28) – Story of torture in a Mexican prison
(1:14:08) – Getting shot down
(1:27:51) – Prison
(1:41:34) – Reflections on a life of crime
(1:46:51) – Advice for young people
(1:49:49) – Love
(2:03:09) – Death
(2:05:55) – Meaning of life
(2:09:58) – Poem

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