Inside the Cartel: The Longest Undercover FBI Operation with Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch

Inside the Cartel: The Longest Undercover FBI Operation with Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch

A Note from James

This is a crazy story. Martin Suarez holds the record for the longest continuous undercover assignment in FBI history. He went undercover as a cartel drug lord—smuggling billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine while posing as “Manny.” At one point, the story even starts with a gun to his head, convinced his cover was blown.

The book Inside the Cartel: A True Crime Tale of Espionage, Undercover Operations, and a War Against Billionaire Drug Lords—co-authored with journalist Ian Frisch—captures it all. Martin’s voice may be difficult to catch at times because he’s been battling ALS, but every word is worth hearing. Ian also joins to help tell the story. This conversation had me on the edge of my seat.


Episode Description

Former FBI agent Martin Suarez spent more than a decade living undercover inside Colombian cartels. Known to the underworld as “Manny,” he laundered money, smuggled cocaine, and survived assassination attempts—all while secretly working for the U.S. government.

In this episode, James sits down with Suarez and his co-author Ian Frisch to explore how an ordinary Navy veteran became the FBI’s ultimate undercover agent, why deception works in high-stakes negotiations, and what lessons from cartel infiltration apply to everyday life.


What You’ll Learn

  • The psychological techniques Martin used to maintain his cover for years inside violent cartels.
  • How undercover work creates “alternate realities” to control narratives and shift blame.
  • Why confidence and self-belief are critical in negotiation, business, and personal life.
  • The role of deception and patience in both undercover work and real-world persuasion.
  • How Martin and his family managed the risks and sacrifices of a life lived undercover.


Timestamped Chapters

  • [03:00] A gun to the head: the moment Martin thought his cover was blown
  • [07:00] Surviving a cartel hitman
  • [10:00] From Navy to FBI: the start of an undercover career
  • [12:00] Why Martin was the “perfect” undercover agent
  • [14:00] Smuggling versus intelligence gathering: the FBI’s strategy
  • [16:00] How to move cartel shipments without breaking cover
  • [18:00] The art of deflecting blame and creating alternate realities
  • [22:00] Cartel power and control in Colombia
  • [23:00] U.S. government ties and the Iran-Contra era
  • [25:00] Using FBI agents as “girlfriends” to gather intelligence
  • [27:00] Facing long-term risks—and the bigger battle with ALS
  • [30:00] Marriage, trust, and sacrifice during undercover life
  • [32:00] Art theft undercover operation in Europe
  • [36:00] Fooling even the CIA with a perfect legend
  • [41:00] How legends are built in the digital age
  • [44:00] Negotiation, seduction, and cartel psychology
  • [45:00] Ian’s lessons on confidence and self-convincing
  • [47:00] Applying undercover strategies to everyday life
  • [49:00] The role of greed in cartel decision-making
  • [50:00] Marriage, grounding, and long-term support
  • [51:00] Are cartel leaders truly evil—or just highly educated?


Additional Resources


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Episoder(1371)

Ep. 3  - A. J. Jacobs: A Biblical Experiment

Ep. 3 - A. J. Jacobs: A Biblical Experiment

On this week's show, James' special guest is A.J. Jacobs, a journalist, lecturer, self-described human guinea pig and author of four New York Times bestsellers.   In this episode, he shares life-changing tips about how to improve your business, become healthier, and live better.   You see, A.J. has spent years conducting the wackiest "experiments" we've ever heard of to see what he could learn.   You won't believe the crazy things he has done!   James and A.J. discuss how to generate great ideas... and the importance of exercising the "idea muscle" in your brain. The very act of generating 40 different ideas literally made A.J. millions of dollars.   Other things you'll learn when you listen to this show include:   ** One simple exercise that will make you feel more confident and optimistic. George Washington used this tip to create an aura of authority...   ** How to reframe the boring parts of your job as something creative. If you aren't satisfied living in a cubicle, you need to hear this...   **What you should do within the first three seconds of meeting someone to overcome shyness...   ** Why overthinking is a problem... and how you can stop your brain from ruling your life...   ** A.J.'s proven technique for using Facebook to fix almost any problem...   ** How he's using genetic testing, of all things, to grow his business...   Like James Altucher, A.J. Jacobs is a quirky, interesting guy, who has become a huge success by thinking outside the box. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Feb 201456min

Ep. 2 - Gary Vaynerchuk: Millionaire by Age 35

Ep. 2 - Gary Vaynerchuk: Millionaire by Age 35

On this week's show, which you can now access free of charge, James covered several interesting, unique, and useful topics... which I guarantee you won't hear anywhere else.   For example...   *He shares his idea of the absolute best place to meet women... and how to avoid feeling embarrassed if she says no to your invitation.   *He discusses the 2 reasons traditional jobs are a scam... why he tries to avoid working in the workplace... and the ways you can avoid having a regular ho-hum job...   *And he explains why there has been such a dramatic change in the way we interact with total strangers... how that impacts the way we sell our goods... and how to use this change to your benefit...   Altucher has an interesting take on this subject and you won't want to miss it!   Then James brings on his special guest...   James' good friend Gary Vaynerchuk, author of a New York Times best-selling book: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook.   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Jan 201455min

Ep. 1 - Tucker Max: Buckle Up, We've Launched

Ep. 1 - Tucker Max: Buckle Up, We've Launched

On James' very first show, he covers several really interesting, unique, and useful stories, which I guarantee you won't hear anywhere else. Then James brings on his special guest for Show #1...   Maybe you've heard of Tucker Max. Maybe not.   Tucker is an entertaining guy, who figured out a way to basically reinvent the entire book-publishing industry.   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 Jan 201453min

Robert Greene: How to Become a Master of What You Love

Robert Greene: How to Become a Master of What You Love

Robert Greene, best-selling author of Mastery, joins The James Altucher Show. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201434min

Greg Zuckerman: The Future of Fracking

Greg Zuckerman: The Future of Fracking

This week, James Altucher interviews Greg Zuckerman, author of .The Frackers ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201437min

James Altucher & Marc Eck?: Secrets to Success

James Altucher & Marc Eck?: Secrets to Success

This week, we have James Altucher interviews with Marc Eck?, author of the new best-seller, Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 201453min

James Altucher and Ryan Holiday: Let’s Make the News Up

James Altucher and Ryan Holiday: Let’s Make the News Up

This week, James Altucher interviews the bestselling author of Trust Me I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator Ryan Holiday., James and Ryan talk about what makes a book a best-seller, and how to market yourself and your work. Ryan tells us what it means to be a media manipulator. In a world where blogs control and distort the news, his job was to control blogs - as much as any one person can. And he does this better than anyone else... ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Jan 201457min

Taking Back America

Taking Back America

James, the editor of the widely read letter, , and author of the new blockbuster hit, Choose Yourself,talks with Glenn "Kane" Jacobs.The Altucher Confidential ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Jan 20141h 2min

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