El cartel
El Cartel de los Sapos
GenreAction, drama, Narconovela
Written byJuan Camilo Ferrand
Andrés Lopez (original novel)
Directed byLuis Alberto Restrepo
StarringManolo Cardona
Karen Martínez
Diego Cadavid
Robinson Díaz
Country of originColombia
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodesSeason 1: 57
Season 2: 50
Production
Production locationsColombia
United States
Mexico
Venezuela
Ecuador
Running time45 minutes
Original release
ReleaseJune 4, 2008 (2008-06-04) 
May 21, 2010 (2010-05-21)

El Cartel de los Sapos (English title: The Cartel of Snitches) or El Cartel is a Colombian television series that first aired on June 4, 2008 on the Colombian network Caracol TV. El Cartel stars Manolo Cardona, Karen Martínez, Diego Cadavid, and Robinson Díaz and is based on the 2008 novel by the same name by Andrés López López, alias Florecita ("Little Flower"), a former drug dealer who, while in prison, wrote the fictionalized account of his experiences in the Cali Cartel and of what happened within the Norte del Valle Cartel. In the TV series, which Lopez also wrote, the characters and locations from the book were changed.[1][2]

Synopsis

Two friends enter the illegal drugs business, thinking it is the fastest way to become rich. The illegal drug trafficking world seems attractive to all these middle-class people, who overlook the associated dangers and legal problems.

This choice begins a turbulent and troubled lifestyle that will change their fates forever. Martín, alias "Fresita", gets a job in a drugs lab sponsored by the big boss Óscar Cadena (Fernando Solorzano). Martín learns the business quickly and starts to send illegal drugs to the United States, while his boss makes an alliance with the Villegas Brothers, from the West Cartel, to take down the biggest drug dealer ever: Pablo Escobar.

With Escobar down, a new cartel is up: The Pacific Cartel in Colombia, led by Óscar Cadena, so Óscar (the teacher) and Martín (the student) make a pact of friendship and business.

Martín becomes a rich man and he falls for Sofía (Karen Martinez), a beautiful woman, but he wins her heart by lying to her. But Sofía discovers the origin of Martín's wealth, and he has to choose: Sofía or the business.

Óscar helps the police finish the West Cartel. The snitches (sapos) make war between these criminal machines to the point of breaking.

Oscar has been killed and decided to make Martin as the owner of the cartel. Martín refuses to take part in this war and decides to go to Miami with Sofía and his children, unaware that Miami is no longer a safe place. He continues his illegal activities, meanwhile watching enemies kill his old friends.

As increasing numbers of his business partners and brothers die or get caught, Martin is forced to run to Mexico, looking for protection. He realizes too late that, in this business, you can never win. So he becomes a sapo and tells his tale to the DEA.

In the second season, Pepe, after being captured by the FBI, and now released to be a snitch, tells the rest of the story, which leads to the arrests and deaths of several drug traffickers.

Characters

Caracol decided to change the characters' real names, their aliases, and some locations from the book, although the filmmakers maintained some physical resemblance between the real-life characters and their portrayers. The following tables detail the names of the characters, their portrayers, and the real life people they represent in the series. The first table also highlights the first season characters who also appear in the second season.

First Season
Character Name – AkaActorReal name – Alias
Martín González – El fresitaManolo CardonaAndrés López López – el Florecita (The Flower)
Sofía (Martín's wife)Karen MartínezMaría del Socorro Patiño
Milton Jiménez – El caboRóbinson DiazWílber Alirio Varela – Jabón
Pepe CadenaDiego CadavidFernando Henao Montoya - El Grillo
Oscar CadenaFernando SolórzanoJosé Orlando Henao Montoya- el Hombre del Overol
Álvaro José Pérez – GuadañaJulian ArangoLuis Alfonso Ocampo Fómeque – Tocayo
Amparo Cadena (esposa de Julio)Sandra ReyesLorena Henao Montoya
John Mario Martínez – PirulitoJuan Pablo Raba (1.ª season)
Camilo Saenz (second season)
Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía – Chupeta
Julio TrujilloFernando ArévaloIván Urdinola Grajales – el Enano (The Dwarf)
Conrado Cadena – El mochoÁlvaro RodríguezArcángel Henao – el Mocho
Alfonso Rendón – AnestesiaAndrés ParraCarlos Zapata – el Médico
Humberto Paredes – HumberJuan ÁngelEfraín Hernández – Don Efra
Samuel MoralesLuis Alfredo VelascoMiguel Solano – Miguelito
Mario Lopera – Don MarioSantiago MoureDiego Montoya – Don Diego
Gonzalo Tovar – BuñueloJuan Carlos ArangoHernando Gómez Bustamante – Rasguño
Apolinar S. Santilla – el Negro SantillaElkin CórdobaJorge E. Aspirilla – El negro Aspirilla
Eliana Saldarriaga (esposa de Pepe)Juliana GalvisCristina Santana
Juanita MarínNataly UmañaNatalia Paris Gaviria
Juliana Morales o EstupiñánNatalia BetancurtRosario Molano o Santibañez
Agente Sam MathewsJohn GertzAgente Romedio Viola (DEA)
El OvejoHarold CórdobaÓscar Varela García – Capachivo
Fermín Urrego – el TigreWaldo UrregoVictor Patiño Fómeque – la Fiera
Cdte Ramiro GutiérrezAlberto PalacioColonel Danilo González Gil
David PazArmando GutiérrezBaruch Vega – el Fotógrafo
Hugo de la CruzPedro MogollónHélmer Herrera – Pacho Herrera
Gral. Javier Ibarra (Policía Nacional)Germán QuinteroGral. Rosso José Serrano
Leonardo VillegasVictor CifuentesGilberto Rodríguez Orejuela
Enmanuel VillegasHermes CameloMiguel Rodríguez Orejuela
Ignacio Nacho SotomayorNéstor Alfonso RojasJosé Santacruz Londoño
Novio de Hugo de la CruzAndrés ToroNovio de Hélmer Herrera
Tulio de la Cruz – Doble RuedaAlberto BarreroJosé Manuel Herrera – el Inválido
Pedro Tejada – RevolverJimmy VásquezJulio Correa – Julio Fierro
Susana de Cadena (esposa de Conrado)Carolina Cuervo
Francisco José Trujillo (hermano de Julio)Mauricio Vélez
Silvio Méndez (chofer y amante de Amparo)Giovanny Álvarez
CaremicoChristian TappanOrlando Sánchez Cristancho – Trompa de Marrano
Kevin – Kevin IzquierdoJuan CalderónRichard Martínez
Guillermo Polo – GuilloDorian Keller
Ita (abuela de Martín)Consuelo Luzardo
Perla (hermana de Martín)Carolina Lizarazo
Esposa de Samuel MoralesTania Falquez
Rene Zamudio (amigo de Samuel)Federico RiveraJosé 'Chepe' Puello
Giselle (esposa de Anestesia)Angeline Moncayo
El ContadorMauricio Navas– el Secre.
Omar Godoy – NavajaRodolfo SilvaJuan Carlos Ortiz – Cuchilla
Adolfo Aguilar (jefe de Las AUC) – El HalcónMauricio MejíaCarlos Castaño
Belinda (amiga de Juanita)Linda Lucia Callejas
Soledad (esposa de Óscar)Majida Issa
Myriam de Saldarriaga (madre de Eliana)Rita Bendeck
GargajoRafael Uribe OchoaRafael Ángel Uribe Serna
Señuelo (Trabajador de Eliana)John Alex Toro
CristiánJulio Ocampo-
Jhonatan de la CruzRoberto Marín
Israel de la cruzHéctor García
William TorresNelson Tallaferro
Gral. Jorge Contreras/Capitán Harvey RacinesJulio Correal (1.ª season)
Tommy Vásquez (second season)
Jaime Hernán Pineda 'Pedro Pineda' or 'Pispis'
Agente Katherine (DEA)Paulina Gálvez
Steven DouglasBrandon Fokken
Becky ClarksonVivian Ruiz
Alias "Lagartija"Johnny Acero
Second Season
Character – AliasActorReal name – Alias
Andrea Negrete – La Mera Mera o la ReinaPatricia ManterolaSandra Ávila Beltrán

– la Reina del Pacífico

Victoria "Vicky" PuertaCarolina GuerraYovanna Guzmán
– AntenasJohn Alex ToroRamón Oliveros 'Parabólica'
John – el Gordo JohnLuis Eduardo ArangoWilliam Tamayo Hernández – Mazinger
Mayor Luis Madero – el Caza Narcos (Unidad Antinarcóticos)Alejandro MartínezMayor Elkin Leonardo Molina Aldana
Rodolfo Villate 'Rockie'Juan Sebastián Aragón
Holger Prado 'el Puma'Víctor MallarinoJuan Diego Espinoza – el Tigre
Diego Casas – CalicheCarlos Mario EchavarríaLuis Fernando Lopera – Casadiego
– El primoLuis Fernando Montoya (actor)|Luis Fernando MontoyaCarlos Alberto Renteria – Beto
Aracely - Tía de JohannaMarcela Agudelo
Johanna LesmesAngélica Blandón
El mariachi de "El piloto"Gustavo Ángel
María Luisa Higuera (amante de "Caliche")Margarita Muñoz
Lina María Acevedo (amor de "Don Mario")Andrea NocetiPaula Andrea Betancourt
Blanca (Esposa de Racines)Paola Dulce
Larissa Márquez de Casas (esposa de "Caliche")Paula BarretoGloria Patricia Gomez Osorio
Zully CarmonaDiana HoyosNancy Cadavid
Olga (esposa de "Pirulito")Patricia CastañedaYessica Paola Rojas Morales
Agente Katherine (DEA)Paulina Gálvez
Agente Peter McAllister (DEA)Anthony GuzmánAgente Terry Cole (DEA)
Agente Lilian Young (DEA)Michelle Manterola
Oliver Carmona o García (esposo de Zully)Ramiro SandovalAlbeiro Monsalve
Patricia Carmona (hermana de Zully)Sandra GuzmánLibia Cadavid
XLRamón MedinaJosé Luis Ledezma – el JL
Wilson Gamboa – ParedónJoltzman NúñezCarlos Arturo Patiño – Patemuro
Pedro – el MantecoUlíses GonzálezWeimar Pérez – Grasoso
Teniente CaleroJulián Álvarez
Juan B. Guillén – el PilotoEsteban FrancoAmado Carrillo Fuentes – el Señor de los Cielos
– el GolfoGuillermo QuintanillaMiguel Ángel Félix Gallardo – el Padrino
Sebastián BoneraCarlos Humberto Camacho
Farid DuarteIsmael Barrios
Jaime Vélez – el PajarracoBernardo GarcíaCarlos Robayo – Guacamayo
Weimar Castro – CaremotorCarlos SánchezWenceslao Caicedo – el Señor de la Motosierra
– MogolloGiovanni GalindoGilmer H. Quintero – el Cabezón
Milton de Jesús Jiménez – JimenitoJuan Hugo CárdenasWilber Felipe Varela Camacho – Varelita
LuisinhoBárbaro MarínFernandinho Beira-Mar
Lucía (esposa de Buñuelo)Mónica Franco
Abogado Eddy Doménico (defensor de Bonera)Gilberto Reyes
– la India (esposa del Rockie)Yesenia Valencia
Joyce (esposa de Luisinho)Viña MachadoJacqueline Alcântara Morais
Antonio VillegasJhonny RiveraSigifredo Rodriguez Orejuela
Alias "El Pariente"Carlos Mario Jiménez - MacacoManuel Gómez Gutiérrez
Doctor RayoCarlos SerratoDoctor Wilfrido Barrios Chávez
Agente NavarroD'Michael Haas
Agente DEAIlja Rosendahl
Julián LevyGuy Davidyan
Bodyguard of "El Golfo"Carlos Arrechea

Associated media

The book upon which the TV series is based also inspired the film El Cartel de los Sapos (2011). Lopez has also written several additional books based on his and his associates' experiences in the drug trade.[3][2]

Prequel

A prequel series; The Snitch Cartel: Origins was released by Caracol Televisión in 2021.

References

  1. Iaconangelo, David (7 August 2013). "Lifestyle: Andres Lopez Lopez: The Journey Of A Colombian Drug Lord Turned Bestselling Author Of 'El Cartel De Los Sapos' And The Upcoming 'Lord Of The Skies' [PROFILE INTERVIEW]". Latin Times.
  2. 1 2 Elfrink, Tim (10 February 2011). "ANDRES LOPEZ EXPOSES THE COLOMBIAN CARTELS". Miami New Times.
  3. "Author profile". Goodreads.
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