Cali Cartel

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The Cali Cartel (Spanish: Cartel de Cali) is a drug cartel based in the south part of Colombia, around the city of Cali. According to some estimates at its height the Cali Cartel controlled 80% of the cocaine exports from Colombia to the United States. Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela founded the Cali Cartel in the 1970s with his brother Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela, José Santacruz Londoño and Helmer "Pacho" Herrera. During the height of Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel, the two engaged in constant conflict. The Cali Cartel helped fund the vigilante group Los Pepes, who fought against Escobar under the banner of persecution, although they were funded by Escobar's rivals.

Some observers consider the cartel to have fragmented somewhat in recent years, and that it does not hold as much power as it once did, due to law enforcement efforts and the emergence of smaller cartels, though many of its newer members and drug trade routes still continue to operate.