Hélmer Herrera

Early years

Herrera grew up in the Colombian town of Palmira in the Valle del Cauca Department. While in high school, Herrera studied technical maintenance, experience that got him a job later in the United States. While living in the United States he also became a jeweler and precious metals broker until he began selling cocaine in New York City. In 1975 and later in 1978 Herrera was arrested on distribution charges in New York City for selling cocaine.

Cali Cartel

It is believed in 1983 Herrera went to Cali, Colombia to negotiate supply and distribution rights with the Cali Cartel for New York City. He would later open up trafficking routes for the Cali Cartel through Mexico with connection he had previously established. In conjunction with new trafficking routes, Herrera also ran one of the "... most sophisticated and profitable money laundering operations" according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Herrera was soon promoted to Cali cartel kingpin and given control over the southern Cali city of Jamundí and northern Cali cities Palmira and Yumbo.

The Herrera operation according to the DEA involved importing cocaine base from Peru and Bolivia, which would be trafficked via his own transportation to conversion laboratories in Colombia. It is believed Herrera hired guerrilla forces such as Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (English: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) (FARC) and then guerrilla group 19th of April Movement (Spanish: Movimiento 19 de Abril, M-19), to guard remote lab sites.

During the narco-terror war waged by Pablo Escobar on the Colombian Government, it is believed a hired assassin attempted to kill Herrera while he was attending a sports event. The gunman opened fire with a machine gun on the crowd where Herrera was sitting, killing 19, however not hitting Herrera.

Law enforcement actions

In November 1991, the DEA launched Operation Kingpin, of which two of Herreras' distribution cells in New York City were targeted. Through a large scale wiretap effort, the DEA utilized over 100 simultaneous, court-authorized wiretaps on cellular phones. At the close of Operation Kingpin close to 100 traffickers were arrested, more than $20 million in cash and assets were seized, and over 2.5 tons of cocaine seized. In addition records of transactions and personnel were seized from computers, that information later provided a greater look into the Cali Cartel cell structure.

On September 1, 1996, Herrera turned himself in at the Colombian National Police unit, the Search Bloc, (Spanish: Bloque de Busqueda). Herrera was the last of the seven leaders of the Cali Cartel to be captured. He was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for drug trafficking charges.

It was stated that when Herrera turned himself in, that he named former associates. A little over 2 years later on November 4, 1998, Herrera was killed by a gunman during a soccer game in a prison yard outside Cali. The assassin, identified as Rafael Angel Uribe, 32, appeared to be "an acquaintance of Herrera because he greeted him first," an official said. Uribe was a hitman hired by Wilber Varela in revenge for trying to kill him days before.

In popular culture

Is portrayed by the actor Pedro Mogollón as the character of Hugo de la Cruz in TV Series El cartel.

Is portrayed by the actor Daniel Rocha as the character of Gerardo Carrera in the TV Series Escobar, el patrón del mal.

Is portrayed by the actor Alberto Ammann in the Netflix series Narcos.