‘En la Boca del Lobo’
Listen to Jorge Salcedo tell his own story, with DEA agent Feistl and the author, on This American Life, Episode 469, Act III, "The 7-Year Snitch", read the transcript from the show, or listen to episode right here:
“En la Boca del Lobo,” the 80-episode Spanish telenovela, was produced in Colombia by Sony/Teleset. The names of real-life characters were changed slightly throughout the series. Here is a partial comparison of the actors with the actual cartel characters they played.
The “real” Jorge Salcedo, appearing in disguise on this TV monitor, was played by actor Fernando Hoyos as the renamed character “Ricardo Salgado.”
Cali boss Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela (left) was played as “Manuel Ramirez Orejuela” by actor Lucho Velasco in the photo to the right.
Cali boss Jose “Chepe” Santacruz Londono (left), portrayed as “Pepe de la Cruz,” was played by actor Bruno Diaz (right).
The ambitious cartel accountant Guillermo Pallomari, aka “Palomino” in the TV series, was played by actor Cristobal Erruzuriz.
The author flanked by Colombian TV writers Ana Maria Londono and Rafael Noguera
Music Director Osvaldo Montes whose composition, Cara de Limon — Lemon Face, is a favorite of the author. The title is a reference to the cartel boss teased behind his back for a predictably sour disposition.
Listen to the author interviewed on public radio's Madeleine Brand Show, talking about the Man Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel
