How the Colombia cocaine cartels
made the California connection
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Stolen cars Peruvian cocaine New Cali cartel Bahamas connection Contras Coffee, tea or coke? Nicaragua to California

| PREVIOUS | BEGINNING | 1990-'91: Nicaragua to Bay Area Small Colombian planes flew to a remote airstrip in La Rosita, Nicaragua, and cocaine was unloaded into army transport trucks, which were driven to Managua. The cocaine was stored in a series of underground military bunkers built during the war. Mercedes-Benz autos were exported from Miami to the port of Rama, driven to Managua and cut apart so tubes filled with cocaine could be inserted. The cars were loaded onto a transporter and driven north to Los Angeles and San Diego. Rental cars then ferried the cocaine to the Bay Area and points north. Map by Staff Artist Pai Wei