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A former drug lord revealed that Raul Castro gave the green light to the Medellin cartel’s businesses in Cuba.

Carlos Lehder (Eric Vandeville/Getty Images)

Former drug trafficker Carlos LehderA former member of the Medellin Cartel sheds light on the alleged involvement of the general in Cuba’s dark drug-trafficking operations. Raul Castrowho ruled the island for over a decade.

It highlights how the money and power of Colombian drug lords in the 1980s was made possible by the collusion of several governments, including the Cuban regime.

Lehder, who served time for drug trafficking in the United States, describes how The so-called “returnable” Maintained relations with The governments of Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua and the Bahamaspayment Millions of dollars To ensure unimpeded trafficking of Colombian drugs into the United States.

In the case of Cuba, Leheder maintains that General Raul Castro gave the green light to these occupationspoints to that Direct connection Among Colombian kingpins such as Pablo Escobar and Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha, and senior Cuban officials including Colonel Antonio de la Guardia.

Raúl Castro, then president of Cuba, in 2018 (Europa Press)

These statements point out A network of complexes that facilitate the entry and exit of large drug shipments from the island.

Former drug trafficker tells how she met Cuban authorities in the 1980s Base of operations in Key Largo, an island in Cuba. He asserts that, during these negotiations, the Cubans were more interested in dollars generated from drug trafficking than in other commodities.

Leheder Describes a meeting with Raul CastroIn which, according to him, the Cuban general He was welcomed in “Cuba Free”. And expressed the need to get all possible dollars.

Before the meeting, he was told it would be brief. According to the book, These were Castro’s words, According to a magazine review week: “Here in Cuba we have achieved great progress in education, medicine and agriculture. Our trade is growing in spite of the Yankee blockade; The Cuban Revolution is invincible. Enjoy your stay. You may leave now”

Although Raul Castro’s words did not directly mention drug trafficking, Lehder interpreted the meeting as tacit approval of his illegal activities.

The former also highlights the role of drug trafficking Colonel of the GuardWHO Managed the connection Between Colombian bosses and the Cuban regime. According to Leheder, he was authorized to use Key Largo for drug trafficking operations, Five million dollars in cash To cover the Cuban government’s expenses on the island. At one point, according to Lehder’s memoirs. The colonel told him: “For now, I can only make sure that we need all the dollars we can get.”

Pablo Escobar and Carlos Leheder, founders of the Medellin Cartel.

Lehder’s revelations are not the first to link Castro to drug trafficking. John Jairo Velasquez Vasquez, aka “Popeye“, Pablo Escobar’s notorious hitman, also stated in his autobiography that Fidel and Raul Castro were involved in this operation, facilitating the entry of drugs through the island.

The Cuban regime, in 1989, tried and executed several high-ranking officials, including General Arnaldo Ochoa and Colonel de la Guardia, in an operation to clean up the government’s image on charges of drug trafficking. However, Leheder’s latest revelations once again shed light on the dark ties between the Cuban government and the Medellin cartel.

Lehder was previously convicted of drug trafficking USA And currently living Germany.

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