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


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(1371)

James Altucher Live and Unplugged

James Altucher Live and Unplugged

James Altucher talks about his new best-selling book, .Choose Yourself ------------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 201422min

The Best Guest Ever

The Best Guest Ever

James Altucher proves to be one of our best guests as he and Porter Stansberry break down the markets. ------------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 201438min

Why College Is a Waste of Money

Why College Is a Waste of Money

On James Altucher's first visit to Stansberry Radio, recorded back on August 9, 2012, he sets the stage for what's to come. For the very first time to give our audience a look into why we consider James one of the most interesting people we know. In this first show, he talks about why he believes college is a real waste of money. His analysis will get you re-thinking what you though you knew. ------------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.

8 Jan 201424min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
finansredaksjonen
pengepodden-2
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
pengesnakk
utbytte
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
aksjepodden
okonomiamatorene
rss-sunn-okonomi
lederpodden
rss-rettssikkerhet-bak-fasaden-pa-rettsstaten-norge
rss-markedspuls-2
rss-andelige-tanker-med-camillo