Steve Murphy – The DEA Agent Who Helped Take Down Drug Lord Pablo Escobar

Sitting down with Giovanni and Dutch, Steve Murphy shares his journey from being a police officer in a town of fewer than 20,000 people to becoming one of the DEA agents most synonymous with the takedown of narco-terrorist and Medellín Cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar. A story best known for its depiction in Netflix’s hit series Narcos, Murphy provides intimate insights into life in Colombia during its most violent years, as he and partner Javier Peña pursued Escobar alongside the Colombian National Police. 

About Steve Murphy:

Retired DEA Special Agents Steve Murphy and partner Javier Peña were at the center of the largest, most complex, multi-national, high-profile investigation of its time. Because of their efforts, Escobar offered a $300,000 bounty for the death of each of them. After Escobar’s capture, Murphy returned to the American south first landing in Greensboro, NC where he ran an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force before moving to Washington D.C. to serve as Senior Executive Service where he oversaw the DEA’s office of Special Intelligence. Now retired, he and Peña often make guest appearances to tell their heroic story. Murphy and Peña also act as the lead investigators searching for the remains of The Lost Clipper, a Hawaiian airplane that vanished with 15 Americans on board in 1938.  

Produced by The Mob Museum.

To watch episodes of this podcast, visit YouTube

For behind-the-scenes photos, merchandise and exclusive content, visit insidethelife.org

For more on the Museum visit themobmuseum.org

This program is presented by The Mob Museum and includes views and opinions of independent panelists and/or interviewees that do not necessarily reflect or represent the stance of The Mob Museum. Factual statements made by panelists/interviewees have also not been vetted by the Museum, and the Museum does not assert that such statements are truthful. All statements should be understood as the individual’s perspective rather than a view expressed by The Mob Museum.

This program has been made available by The Mob Museum for the private, non-commercial use, of its audience. Such private use is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This program is subject to copyright protection, and those seeking to utilize the program, or portions thereof, for anything other than private use should contact The Mob Museum at [email protected].