Carlos Lehder, full name Carlos Enrique Lehder Rivas, is best known as a drug trafficker and the leader of the well-known Medellin Drug Cartel. In the 1980s, he is also credited with significantly increasing the volume of narcotics and transforming the transporting network to deliver cocaine into the United States.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name: | Carlos Lehder |
| Real Name/Full Name: | Carlos Enrique Lehder Rivas |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 75 years old |
| Birth Date: | 7 September 1949 |
| Birth Place: | Armenia, Colombia |
| Nationality: | Colombian, German |
| Height: | 1.7 m |
| Weight: | 75 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | N/A |
| Wife/Spouse (Name): | N/A |
| Children/Kids (Son and Daughter): | Yes (Monica Lehder Garcia, Monice Lehder Garcia, and Maria Del Mar Lehder) |
| Dating/Girlfriend (Name): | N/A |
| Is Carlos Lehder Gay?: | No |
| Profession: | Drug Trafficker |
| Salary: | N/A |
| Net Worth in 2024: | $3 Billion |
Carlos Lehder Biography
Carlos Lehder is of German and Colombian descent. In Armenia Colombia, he was born on September 7, 1949, to his father Klaus Wilhelm Lehder, an engineer, and his mother Helena Rivas.
His father was a German immigrant in Colombia. In Armenia Colombia, his father met his mother, with whom he married and had four sons. Carlos is the third child in a family of three. The family-owned an inn where German immigrants gathered. During WWII, this inn was said to have served as a safe haven for Nazis.
In addition to the inn, they invested in the production of vegetable oils. It didn’t take long for his parents to divorce. Carlos was returned to his mother’s custody, and the family relocated to New York.
Carlos Lehder Age, Height, And Weight
Carlos Lehder was born on September 7, 1949, and is 75 years old. His height is 1.7 m, and he weighs 75 kg.
Carlos Lehder Wife, Marriage
Carlos Lehder is currently residing in Germany. After serving his prison sentence, he was taken in by a charitable organization to be cared for. There is no information available about his wife.
He has three children named Monica Lehder Garcia, Monice Lehder Garcia, and Maria Del Mar Lehder, according to sources. There has never been any evidence of him having affairs, but we do know that he is straight.
Career
Carlos Lehder’s criminal career began with him selling stolen cars and marijuana. He not only sold cars in the United States, but he also imported stolen cars from the United States into Colombia. It didn’t take long for him to be arrested for the crime.
While in prison, he learned about international drug trafficking and decided to get into the business as soon as his car theft sentence was over. As a result, he became friends with George Jung. George Jung was a skilled aircraft controller who was also involved in drug trafficking via aircraft.
Jung and Carlos both purchased an aircraft to transport drugs after making a small profit from drug sales. They obtained protection from the Bahamian government by bribing government officials.
Lehder’s ambitions were far greater than Jung’s, and their partnership soon fell apart. Lehder purchased Norman Cay, which served as his headquarters. He drove the island’s population off and took complete control of the island. The island quickly became congested with planes bringing drugs from Colombia.
He was in command of bodyguards. He became so wealthy that he once offered to help Colombia pay its debts in exchange for the right to traffic drugs. His political interest grew, and he eventually founded the National Latino Movement.
Carlos Lehder’s militant worldview was one of his most distinguishing characteristics. From a young age, Carlos Lehder identified with Adolf Hitler’s beliefs. The far-right party was founded on Nazi ideology and ran anti-extradition campaigns.
However, his bribery of Bahamian officials became internationally known, and the government launched an investigation into the drug trafficking. His long-standing empire soon crumbled. He became ill while on the run, and Pablo Escobar sent his helicopter to rescue him, and in exchange, he became his puppet. However, he was apprehended and imprisoned a few years later.
According to some, Lehder’s aggressive behavior alarmed other Columbian drug lords. Some believe that Lehder’s comrades betrayed him.
Carlos Lehder Awards
Carlos has not been nominated for an award due to the nature of the drug trafficking business. Furthermore, there are no notable accomplishments associated with Carlos Lehder.
Carlos Lehder Net Worth
He is estimated to be worth $3 billion as of March 2024. He made his fortune through drug trafficking. His wealth, however, was seized and he was imprisoned. He is currently being cared for by a charitable organization.
Carlos Lehder will be remembered for his significant contribution to the drug trafficking industry, but his downfall serves as an example to many cartels. His approaches, on the other hand, were radical, and he was passionate about what he did, and if channeled in the right direction, many people would benefit.
