El Cartel (TV series)
Encyclopedia
El Cartel de los Sapos (English title
: The Cartel of Snitches) or El Cartel is a Colombia
n television series that first aired on June 4, 2008 on the Colombian network Caracol TV
. It is based on the book by the same name by Andrés López López, alias Florecita (a former drug dealer), who wrote the book during his years in prison. In his book, he writes about his experiences while in the Cartel and what happened within the Norte del Valle Cartel
. In the TV series, each character from the book and the locations were changed. El Cartel stars Manolo Cardona
, Karen Martínez
, Diego Cadavid, and Robinson Díaz.
The illegal drugs trafficking world seems to be attractive to all these middle class people who just want to grow up in a safe way without legal problems.
Ignoring this choosing is just the beginning of a turbulent and troubled life that is going to change his fate forever, Martín alias "Fresita" gets a job in a drugs lab sponsored by the big boss Óscar Cadena (Fernando Solorzano). Martín learns really fast and he starts to send illegal drugs to the United States, while his boss makes an alliance with the Villegas Brothers, from the West Cartel, to take down the biggest drug dealer ever: Pablo Escobar
.
With Escobar down, a new cartel is up: The Pacific Cartel, the most worthless in Colombia
, led by Óscar Cadena, so Óscar (the teacher) and Martín (the student) make a pact of friendship and business.
Martín becomes a rich man and he falls for Sofía (Karen Martinez), a beautiful woman, but he gets her heart by lying to her. But Sofía discovers the origin of Martín's wealth and he has to choose: Sofía or the business.
Óscar helps the police to finish the West Cartel. The snitches (sapos) make the war between these criminal machineries to reach a point of breaking.
Martín refuses to take part in this war and decides to go to Miami
with Sofía and his children, but what he does not know is that it is not a safe place anymore, and he must keep going with the old illegal activities, watching his old friends die by the enemy.
Business partners and brothers dead or caught, forces Martín to run to Mexico
looking for protection. He realizes too late that in this business; you can never win...
So he becomes a sapo and tells his tale to the DEA.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: The Cartel of Snitches) or El Cartel is a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n television series that first aired on June 4, 2008 on the Colombian network Caracol TV
Caracol TV
Caracol Televisión is a Colombian private national television network, owned by Julio Mario Santo Domingo.- History :Caracol Televisión started in 1954 when Organización de Radiodifusora Caracol offered to afford national television costs, then state-run, through commercial spots...
. It is based on the book by the same name by Andrés López López, alias Florecita (a former drug dealer), who wrote the book during his years in prison. In his book, he writes about his experiences while in the Cartel and what happened within the Norte del Valle Cartel
Norte del Valle Cartel
The Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...
. In the TV series, each character from the book and the locations were changed. El Cartel stars Manolo Cardona
Manolo Cardona
Manolo Cardona is a Colombian actor.-Personal life:Cardona was born in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia. At the age of seven Cardona's family baptized him "Manolo".This would later be used as his name as an actor.When he was eighteen he moved to Cali, Colombia, to finish his studies. Manolo studied...
, Karen Martínez
Karen Martínez
Karen Cecilia Martinez Insignares better known as Karen Martinez, is a Colombian actress and model. Known primarily as the wife of the hit Colombian singer Juanes....
, Diego Cadavid, and Robinson Díaz.
Synopsis
Two friends enter the illegal drugs business, thinking it is the fastest way to become rich.The illegal drugs trafficking world seems to be attractive to all these middle class people who just want to grow up in a safe way without legal problems.
Ignoring this choosing is just the beginning of a turbulent and troubled life that is going to change his fate forever, Martín alias "Fresita" gets a job in a drugs lab sponsored by the big boss Óscar Cadena (Fernando Solorzano). Martín learns really fast and he starts to send illegal drugs to the United States, while his boss makes an alliance with the Villegas Brothers, from the West Cartel, to take down the biggest drug dealer ever: Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
.
With Escobar down, a new cartel is up: The Pacific Cartel, the most worthless in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, led by Óscar Cadena, so Óscar (the teacher) and Martín (the student) make a pact of friendship and business.
Martín becomes a rich man and he falls for Sofía (Karen Martinez), a beautiful woman, but he gets her heart by lying to her. But Sofía discovers the origin of Martín's wealth and he has to choose: Sofía or the business.
Óscar helps the police to finish the West Cartel. The snitches (sapos) make the war between these criminal machineries to reach a point of breaking.
Martín refuses to take part in this war and decides to go to Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
with Sofía and his children, but what he does not know is that it is not a safe place anymore, and he must keep going with the old illegal activities, watching his old friends die by the enemy.
Business partners and brothers dead or caught, forces Martín to run to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
looking for protection. He realizes too late that in this business; you can never win...
So he becomes a sapo and tells his tale to the DEA.