393:, he was introduced to Suárez by a confidential informant as a Spanish speaking mafioso from the US. After days of negotiations in south America the two contracted for the sale of 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of cocaine to be delivered to Levine in South Florida, at the time the biggest undercover drug deal in history. Also at the time, while among international drug traffickers Suárez was known to be the biggest purveyor of coca base (raw product) and cocaine on earth, he was entirely unknown to the DEA, who at first would not authorize Levine spending any funds on the operation. As Levine describes in his book, he and a small group of dedicated DEA undercover agents had to work around obstacles and dangerous roadblocks put in their path by DEA management, CIA and the Department of Justice to successfully complete the largest undercover cocaine seizure in history at that point. Levine and his team were also able to document CIA protection of the Suárez cartel from prosecution and incarceration in the United States. Levine and his undercover DEA team were also able to document the CIA's role in causing the coca revolution of July 17, 1980, the bloodiest revolution in that nation's history, that had its purpose the destruction of the anti-drug faction in the Bolivian government that had been working with Levine and DEA to bring down the Roberto Suárez organization. Subsequently, on the basis of Levine's book, on March 3, 2011, Bolivian President
44:
426:"), was also serving a 30-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. During his time in prison, Suárez was said to have shown regret for his crimes, had found religious faith in jail and preferred to be photographed next to images of Jesus Christ. Suárez had lost most of his fortune, spent on the construction of buildings and other philanthropic activities. He spent the remaining years of his life managing his hacienda.
466:
On
Thursday evening, July 20, 2000, Suárez died from a heart attack in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Weeks before his death, in a TV interview, Suárez expressed remorse for his crimes and stated "The worst mistake I ever made in my life was to have gotten involved in cocaine trafficking". Suárez was buried in
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Suárez married Ayda Levy Martínez in 1958 and had four children; Roberto, Gary, Heidy and Harold Suárez Levy. The couple split after Levy discovered his involvement in the drug trade but remained on good terms. Suárez was heavily involved in politics. Suárez's son, Roberto "Robby" Levy, was killed by
397:
expelled the DEA from all operations in
Bolivia. As a result of the investigation Michael Levine was targeted for the death by both the Bolivian Santa Cruz Mafia and the Medellín Cartel who placed a $ 200,000 price on Levine's head, calling him "El Judio Trigueño" (the Dark Jew). In secret testimony
103:
261:, known as the "Cocaine Coup", and was a major supplier of cocaine for various criminal organizations. Suárez was arrested in 1988 and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was released after serving half his sentence. He died on July 20, 2000, from a heart attack.
442:. His family owned more than 16 million acres of farmland, which he used for cattle ranching, farming and sometimes airstrips. He gained popularity by building churches, hospitals, streets in rural villages and soccer fields. In his hometown province of
281:
barons", famous for expanding the rubber trade worldwide, expanding westernization in the
Bolivian northern Amazon, and for singlehandedly financing the Columna Porvenir, during the Acre war with Brazil. He was also the great-grandson of
402:, Ramon Milian Rodriguez, convicted of laundering more than $ 1 billion in drug money for the Medellín Cartel, testified that Suárez was the biggest and most powerful drug trafficker in the world.
389:
in 1980 when Levine was serving as DEA's special agent in charge of undercover operations in the
Southern Cone, with a residence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Levine recounts in National bestseller
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for drug trafficking but served only 7 years. He was released in 1996 due to accounts of good behavior and declining health, having suffered two heart attacks in prison. His nephew and successor,
371:
was
Minister of the Interior, and so he received political protection for his enterprise Arce Gómez ordered the killings of many Bolivians, including union leaders and intellectuals such as
375:. During the 1980s, Suárez' relationship with Escobar slowly deteriorated because of Escobar's murderous activities, which contrasted with Suárez's use of violence only as a last resort.
348:". Fidel and Raúl charged millions of dollars per day in exchange for giving coverage to cocaine trafficking and the use of airports for refueling airplanes. In self-defense against the
1010:"BOLIVIA... LO MEJOR QUE TENEMOS: "HOY BOLIVIA ESTA LLENA DE NARCOS MEXICANOS": GARY SUAREZ GOMEZ, HIJO DE QUIEN FUERA EL "REY DE LA COCAINA" DURANTE LOS AÑOS 80, ROBERTO SUAREZ GOMEZ"
294:
Suarez originally owned airplanes to support his legitimate cattle operations. In the 1970s, Suárez first entered into the cocaine trade, conducting business with the
446:, Suárez was most popular around the locals and often called "Robin Hood". His Robin Hood image gained popularity and protection from the Bolivian government and the
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Born to a prominent family, Suárez entered the drug trade and made millions from cocaine in the 1970s and 1980s. He is known for financing
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In 1981, Suárez's favored son
Roberto "Robby" Levy was arrested in Switzerland and was extradited to the United States. In a letter to
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277:. His parents were Nicomedes "Cattle King" Suárez Franco and Blanca Gómez Roca. Suárez was the descendant of the Suárez brothers "
63:
Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.
352:(DEA), Suárez established his own private air force, as well as a private army of 1,500 soldiers and Libyan-trained bodyguards.
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455:
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as well as the leader of the largest
Bolivian drug empire, and was considered to be the biggest cocaine producer in the world.
674:
621:
538:"After Nephew Steals Business, Suarez Gomez Winds Up in Jail : Treachery, Police Pressure Ended Bolivia Drug King's Rule"
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851:
The big white lie : the deep cover operation that exposed the CIA sabotage of the drug war : an undercover odyssey
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and his hacienda was raided; more than one and a half tons of cocaine was found. He was sentenced to 15 years in the
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in 1983, Suárez offered to pay
Bolivia's foreign debt of more than $ 3 billion if he and his son received amnesty.
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was based on Suárez. On
November 21, 2012, Suárez's ex-wife Ayda Levy published an account of his life, entitled
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755:"Una vida cinematográfica: Revelaciones de la viuda del boliviano Roberto Suárez, el rey de la cocaína"
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991:"The Incredible Story of The Bolivian Drug Lord Who Built The 'General Motors Of Drug Trafficking'"
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727:"El rey de la cocaína: Mi vida con Roberto Suárez Gómez y el nacimiento del primer narcoestado"
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250:. In his prime, Suárez made $ 400 million annually, was one of the major suppliers of the
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344:. Upon visiting the island nation, Castro had planned to use drugs as a weapon against "
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Suárez was born on
January 8, 1932, to a wealthy cattle-ranching family in the tropical
492:
The King of Cocaine: My Life With Roberto Suárez And The Birth Of The First Narco-State
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950:"Roberto Suarez Gomez, Bolivia's King of Cocaine, died on July 20th, aged 68"
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Suárez owned various lavish homes in Bolivia, including a hacienda known as "
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1069:"When The King Of Cocaine Built The General Motors Of Drug Trafficking"
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The downfall of Roberto Suárez began when he met undercover DEA agent,
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With aid from the Argentine military dictatorship, Suárez financed the
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and bankrupted the government, which collapsed. The coup installed a
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438:" ("The Mosquito"), in northern Bolivia and an armored palace in
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contacted Suárez and Escobar in January 1983 and invited them to
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37:
968:"Cuando el "Rey de la Cocaína" fundó el primer narcoestado"
910:
BOLIVIA: LA PAZ: DRUG LORD ROBERTO SUAREZ GOMEZ IS RELEASED
325:, which flew cocaine shipments from the Bolivian Amazon to
242:
and trafficker who played a major role in the expansion of
884:"Michael Levine: Former Undercover DEA Agent and Author"
699:
El Choco : svensken i Bolivias mest ökända fängelse
1050:"Bolivia 'cocaine king' dies in home from heart attack"
854:. Laura Kavanau-Levine. Lexington, KY: Michael Levine.
234:(January 8, 1932 – July 20, 2000), also known as the
1025:"Murió el narco que quiso pagar la deuda de Bolivia"
917:
from the original on 2021-12-15 – via YouTube.
778:"La cinematográfica vida de un jefe narco - América"
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332:Suárez's wife Ayda Levy recounted in detail that
317:). Suárez had a fleet of aircraft, primarily the
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929:"Drug boss model for 'Scarface' dies in Bolivia"
822:"Roberto Suarez Gomez; Bolivian Drug Trafficker"
657:"Roberto Suarez Gomez; Bolivian Drug Trafficker"
675:"BOLIVIANS FIND A PATRON IN REPUTED DRUG CHIEF"
329:, selling the cocaine at $ 9,000 per kilogram.
31: and the second or maternal family name is
606:"Roberto Suarez Gomez ("King of Cocaine"), 68"
1029:Diario Río Negro | Periodismo en la Patagonia
410:On July 20, 1988, Suárez was arrested by the
350:United States Drug Enforcement Administration
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1138:The Devil's Milk: A Social History of Rubber
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1067:Marinelli, Alejandro (27 November 2012).
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458:agents on March 22, 1990, in Santa Cruz.
79:Learn how and when to remove this message
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367:would be president and Suárez's cousin
199:Nicomedes Suárez and Blanca Gómez Roca
7:
791:Dominic Streatfeild (1 July 2003).
536:Long, William R. (31 August 1988).
311:
794:Cocaine: An Unauthorized Biography
14:
1117:"Mexican Narcos Dominate Bolivia"
478:in the 1983 American crime film
980:Streisland, Dominic, p. 249
587:"Bolivian Drug Lord Is Captured"
101:
42:
634:Gunson, Phil (3 August 2000).
566:Encyclopædia Britannica Online
302:. Later he recruited Bolivian
212:Drug trafficking and smuggling
1:
1180:People from Trinidad, Bolivia
504:Illegal drug trade in Bolivia
1147:Dominic Straitfeild. (2001)
1097:(in Spanish). March 10, 2013
487:Scarface: The World Is Yours
306:producers into his company "
23:, the first or paternal
1200:Medellín Cartel traffickers
1175:People from Beni Department
907:AP Archive (21 July 2015).
1231:
1008:Danny (22 November 2012).
888:www.michaellevinebooks.com
398:held before the US Senate
373:Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
18:
1195:Bolivian drug traffickers
1054:Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
767:Naylor, R.T., p. 170
697:Lutteman, Markus (2007).
225:
203:
100:
1185:Bolivian Roman Catholics
1023:Redacción (2000-07-22).
848:Levine, Michael (2013).
797:. Picador. p. 245.
484:and the 2006 video game
412:Bolivian National Police
163:(The Robin Hood of Beni)
16:Bolivian drug trafficker
604:JJMMJJ (22 July 2000).
561:"Suárez Gómez, Roberto"
514:Sonia Sanjinez De Atala
139:Santa Cruz de la Sierra
51:Some of this article's
1205:20th-century criminals
315: the corporation
161:El Robin Hood del Beni
135:20 July 2000 (aged 68)
448:Roman Catholic Church
284:Nicolás Suárez Callaú
221:15 years imprisonment
1142:Monthly Review Press
705:. pp. 118–120.
454:Bolivian police and
440:Santa Ana del Yacuma
259:the 1980 coup d'état
232:Roberto Suárez Gómez
117:Santa Ana del Yacuma
95:Roberto Suárez Gómez
997:. 27 November 2012.
970:. 25 November 2012.
780:. 16 November 2017.
1190:Bolivian criminals
757:. 2 December 2012.
591:The New York Times
406:Arrest and release
363:in 1980, in which
346:Yankee imperialism
861:978-0-9852386-2-9
827:Los Angeles Times
804:978-0-312-42226-4
712:978-91-7263-878-5
681:. 15 August 1982.
467:a small niche in
420:Jorge Roca Suárez
391:The Big White Lie
238:, was a Bolivian
229:
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174:Jorge Roca Suarez
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88:
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1215:Drugs in Bolivia
1210:Crime in Bolivia
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956:. 3 August 2000.
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462:Death and legacy
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365:Luis García Meza
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150:Other names
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935:. 23 July 2000.
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830:. July 24, 2000
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593:. 22 July 1988.
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400:Kerry Committee
369:Luis Arce Gómez
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290:Criminal career
271:Beni Department
267:
252:Medellín Cartel
246:trafficking in
236:King of Cocaine
208:Criminal charge
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158:(The Godfather)
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153:King of Cocaine
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430:Personal life
429:
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424:Techo de Paja
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396:
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380:Ronald Reagan
376:
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357:military coup
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300:Pablo Escobar
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69:November 2016
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1128:Bibliography
1111:
1101:September 7,
1099:. Retrieved
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1083:
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1033:. Retrieved
1031:(in Spanish)
1028:
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891:. Retrieved
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832:. Retrieved
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772:
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735:. Retrieved
733:(in Spanish)
730:
721:
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678:
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640:The Guardian
639:
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570:. Retrieved
564:
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361:dictatorship
354:
334:Fidel Castro
331:
323:Douglas DC-3
293:
268:
256:
235:
231:
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160:
155:
75:
66:
55:
32:
28:
21:Spanish name
1170:2000 deaths
1165:1932 births
1144:, New York.
1134:Tully, John
1074:Worldcrunch
933:Independent
436:El Mosquito
422:(known as "
395:Evo Morales
338:Raúl Castro
165:Don Roberto
56:may not be
1159:Categories
1136:. (2011).
1035:2024-01-24
893:2021-06-23
834:2008-12-29
737:2024-01-24
572:2016-11-29
520:References
469:Cochabamba
319:Cessna 206
298:drug lord
265:Early life
156:El Padrino
1094:Pagina 12
870:840399912
703:Norstedts
610:Newsgroup
296:Colombian
240:drug lord
196:Parent(s)
183:Ayda Levy
170:Successor
915:Archived
679:NY Times
661:LA Times
542:LA Times
498:See also
481:Scarface
327:Colombia
321:and the
188:Children
58:reliable
19:In this
1149:Cocaine
618:Usenet:
612::
312:transl.
275:Bolivia
248:Bolivia
244:cocaine
218:Penalty
143:Bolivia
125:Bolivia
25:surname
868:
858:
801:
709:
620:
279:rubber
180:Spouse
29:Suárez
33:Gómez
1103:2015
866:OCLC
856:ISBN
799:ISBN
707:ISBN
444:Beni
342:Cuba
336:and
304:coca
132:Died
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