By the early 1990s, Colombia’s Cali cartel had become what the former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Thomas Constantine referred to as the “biggest and most powerful crime syndicate in history.” Responsible for nearly 85 percent of the cocaine that reached US soil and 90 percent worldwide, they were untouchable, earning billions of dollars all while maintaining their reputation as “The Godfathers of Cali.” They brazenly corrupted thousands of Colombian authorities and government officials, even “buying” the outcome of the 1994 presidential election.

That same year, the DEA sent young operatives Chris Feistl and Dave Mitchell to Colombia with one formidable task: help Colombian authorities take down the ruthless leaders of the brutal Cali cartel. Not any easy job for two men who looked more like California surfers than DEA agents. Standing well over six feet tall and only six years removed from the DEA Academy, they were the epitome of conspicuous in a city where most residents rarely, if ever, saw an American in person. Many of their colleagues feared for their safety, openly questioning their ability to blend in. Their almost three-year journey would lead them from the bureaucratic halls of the US Embassy to the violent streets of Cali and deep into its rural sugar cane fields, on high alert day and night as they dodged deadly cartel assassins and battled the unprecedented corruption within Colombia’s security forces. Throughout their quest they formed loyal, long-term alliances, experienced shocking and devastating betrayals, participated in numerous dramatic arrests, and suffered constant setbacks. Over time, their relentless efforts began to slowly degrade the godfathers’ defenses and weaken their infrastructure.

After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History offers a unique, on-the-ground perspective that will be praised by true crime enthusiasts, history buffs, and Narcos fans alike. Part of Chris and Dave’s story was told in Season 3 of the acclaimed Netflix series Narcos: Rise of a New Empire. Now, they tell it for themselves.