Barry Seal - Drug Smuggler

Drug Smuggler

In 1980, Seal began working for the Ochoa family and the Medellín Cartel transporting more lucrative cocaine shipments.

After he made contacts with various Latin American drug producing organizations Seal began to develop his smuggling strategy. By 1981 he worked mainly for the Ochoa family and the Medellín Cartel transporting more lucrative cocaine shipments. This is according to the Frontline documentary on the "drug war". He then became one of the largest transportation rings for the cartel in the United States.

Seal began his drug smuggling career in 1976 after he lost his job with TWA. He initially worked with South American cannabis growers. Then he began to move cocaine shipments along with his general smuggling business. In 1979 he was arrested in Honduras and spent nine months in jail. Once released he met another contract pilot, William Roger Reaves, who agreed to introduce him to the Ochoa family. The Ochoas with Jorge Luis Ochoa Vasquez as their leader, headed the Medellín Cartel.

After successful runs into his homebase in Louisiana he moved operations to an infamous airport facility in Mena, Arkansas. There he owned and operated many planes and helicopters and advanced radar equipment. This includes the C-123 transport plane which was used famously in the Nicaragua sting operation. "All of his aircraft were equipped with the most expensive cryptic radio communications we had ever seen at that time," said DEA Agent Ernest Jacobsen. The operation was very successful until Seal was indicted on conspiracy to smuggle Quaaludes into Florida in 1984. While operating for the Medellín Cartel, Seal went by the alias, "Ellis Mackenzie."