Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Classified

Episode 78 – The Hunt for Pablo Escobar: Death Squads & Delta Force (Ep 5)

Date: August 31, 2025
Hosts: David McCloskey (former CIA analyst & spy novelist), Gordon Corera (veteran security correspondent)

Overview

This episode plunges into the high-stakes chase for Pablo Escobar after his notorious escape from La Catedral, the sham "prison" he both ruled and roamed freely. David McCloskey and Gordon Corera dissect the unprecedented manhunt, detailing US involvement via Delta Force and the emergence of ruthless vigilante group Los Pepes, as Colombia spirals into violence and secrecy. The episode explores covert operations, intelligence rivalries, and the shifting moral boundaries in the war against Escobar.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escobar's Escape & Global Fallout

• Escobar’s “imprisonment” was a sham: He ran operations, brought people in, and left at will.
  • “No prison can hold Pablo. It was more of a headquarters.” – David (03:05)
• His escape, rather than disappointing the US, gave them an opening to pursue more drastic measures.
  • “Nobody in Washington...had seen his pseudo imprisonment at La Catedral as any kind of permanent solution...it gave them their best chance maybe, to finish him off in a more permanent manner.” – David (03:51)

2. US Response: Intelligence Surge and Delta Force Deployment

• US Ambassador Busby mobilizes action: After high-level talks in Colombia, the US sends in elite teams.
• Delta Force's Involvement: Under the guise of “training,” Delta operators led covert search and support missions.
  • “Four days after Pablo Escobar has sauntered out of La Catedral, a team of Delta Force operators, eight of them...led by Jerry Boykin, are on the ground in Bogota.” – David (13:29)
• Delta’s ethos and background: Inspired by UK SAS, the unit was designed for deniable, lethal actions.
  • “Charlie Beckwith...could promise them only two things, a medal and a body bag.” – David (09:38)
• Mission blur: Officially there to train, but directly involved in raids and tactical support.
  • “It was clear to the Delta operators that if they did not go along on raids, the Colombians would just ignore them.” – David (15:28)

3. Manhunt Tactics: Tech, Human Intelligence, and Friction

• SIGINT and Tech:
  • US deploys massive spy resources—Centra Spike (military signals intelligence), the CIA’s Majestic Eagle, satellites, U2s, SR71s, P3s, and a “Schweitzer” spy glider.
  • Intelligence rivalry: Centra Spike’s tech is superior to CIA’s; detectable surveillance draws public and journalistic attention in Medellin.
    “There was a bit of a head to head competition...Centra Spike could pinpoint the target to under 200 meters. But the Majestic Eagle tech...was actually more like 7km.” – David (27:48)
• Informants and leaks:
  • Escobar adapted quickly—switching comms, using couriers. Search Bloc compromised by moles feeding information to Escobar.
  • Martinez (head of Search Bloc) employs counter-intel tactics (barium meal) to flush the snitch.
• On-the-ground dynamics: Colombian police (“Search Bloc”) under initial leadership of Pajamas Pinzon, who fails to act decisively.
  • “The Delta guys...go to the ambassador...and then there's an intervention at the presidential palace.” (22:38)
  • Delta nicknames Pinzon “Pajamas” due to his apparent lack of urgency and possible collusion with Escobar.

4. Intensifying Violence and the Death Squad Solution: Los Pepes

• Stalemate leads to escalation: With official tactics stalling and raids always lagging behind, a new force appears—Los Pepes (People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar).
  • “What you kind of need is a good old fashioned death squad, Gordon, to break this log jam.” – David (38:07)
• Los Pepes tactics & ambiguous origins:
  • Ruthless revenge against Escobar’s inner circle and support network: family, lawyers, financiers, and associates murdered or targeted daily.
  • Attacks signal the collapse of Escobar’s protective network and amplify the pressure on him.
    • “Just to give you a sense of the tempo here, Los Pepe's are maybe killing six people each day. So they are working very hard.” – David (42:33)
• State and US involvement suspicion: Flow of intelligence from authorities to Los Pepes is strongly implied if never officially admitted.
  • “At minimum, what seems obvious is that there was a pipeline of information that was flowing from the US and the Colombians to Los Pepes. And whether the Americans knew...suspected it, it's very unclear. It will never be answered.” – David (44:57)

5. Turning the Tide: Escobar Isolated, Organization in Shambles

• Immense pressure: Rewards posted, amnesties offered, and Escobar’s allies defecting.
• Escobar’s failed negotiations: He tries to cut deals for surrender, but both government resolve and public sentiment have shifted since his earlier reign.
• Cycle of violence: Escobar retaliates with terror bombings, though his impact is visibly waning as his network shrinks.
  • “By the summer of 1993, we basically have three clocks running in the hunt for Pablo.” – David (47:45)
    1. U.S./Delta Search Bloc hunting to kill.
    2. Escobar pushing violence for negotiation leverage.
    3. Los Pepes squeezing his family and support base.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “[Escobar] tries to portray himself as a man of the people. This kind of, like, leftist revolutionary outlaw.” – David (00:35)
• “The idea of this unit is very similar to the SAS...if necessary, they can conduct assassination. So it’s, in other words, a really unconventional military unit.” – David (10:16)
• “Maybe that's a bit harsh.” – Gordon, on calling Delta unhinged (11:49)
• "I don't think so. I think it's pretty clear...everyone knows this is a manhunt with the aim of killing him.” – Gordon (16:21)
• “The more you look at it, the more you go, the relationship [between Los Pepes and authorities] looks pretty close. Even if people who were there at the time wouldn't want to acknowledge it.” – Gordon (44:57)
• “Los Pepe’s leave [Pablo’s inner circle] alone. And there’s a good reason...these are the people who might lead you to Pablo, and you want them alive.” – David (45:37)
• “He’s trying to negotiate a deal with the government…But his entourage is definitely thinning out.” – David (47:16)

Important Timestamps

• 00:26 – 03:23: Escobar’s pseudo-imprisonment, escape, and US reaction
• 04:00 – 08:00: US/Colombian discussions, Delta Force’s role, Delta history
• 09:38: Charlie Beckwith’s infamous “medal and a body bag” briefing
• 13:29: Delta Force arrival in Colombia
• 15:28 – 17:56: “Training” vs. operational involvement; “get the bad guys, then fade away”
• 18:18 – 22:50: Hunt technology, surveillance, bureaucratic rivalry, Search Bloc challenges
• 27:48: Centra Spike vs. Majestic Eagle—intelligence tech showdown
• 28:44 – 29:30: Rotating leadership; Pinzon (“Pajamas”) out, Martinez returns
• 32:48: Escobar’s retaliation and stakes for Search Bloc
• 38:07 – 46:34: Arrival, actions, and suspected partnerships of Los Pepes
• 47:16 – 49:14: Escobar’s shrinking support network, “three clocks” of pressure, lead-in to next episode

Tone and Style

• Candid, sometimes darkly humorous: Both hosts riff on spy world absurdities, e.g., "guy arguing with his rucksack" (10:24) and "Pajamas Pinzon."
• Analytical but accessible: Technical details are balanced with street-level narrative and moral reflection, sustaining thriller energy.
• Finely skeptical: Both hosts probe the shadowy alliances, asking what the “official story” omits.

For Listeners

• You’ll gain: An intricate, honest look under the hood of the manhunt for Escobar—where official missions blur with covert assassination, and where state, criminals, and vigilantes overlap.
• Next episode: The dramatic final confrontation and Escobar’s demise.