[Ruiz] Carlos Ayala started out in the family connection business--
real estate in Tijuana, fishing boats out of Ensenada, hydroponic strawberries.
Then he met up with the Obregon brothers of the Tijuana cartel.
Using regression analysis, we made a study...
of the custom lines at the border and calculated the odds of a search.
The odds are not high, and we found variables to reduce those odds.
So, you pay off customs officials?
Well, you know, in Mexico...
law enforcement is an entrepreneurial activity.
Not so much in the States. Anyway, we, uh--
We hire drivers with nothing to lose and throw a lot of product at the problem.
Some get stopped. Enough get through. It's not difficult.
Look, boys, this has worked for years. It's gonna continue to work for years.
NAFTA makes things even more difficult for you because the border's disappearing.
Do you realize in the next year or two at the outside Mexican trucking companies...
are gonna be able to go from the States to Mexico and back again...
with the same freedom as U.P.S., D.H.L., FedEx?
- It's gonna be a free-for-all. - What, are we on Larry King or something?
[ Gordon Laughs ] Shit.
Tell us something we don't know, Eddie.
You guys remind me of those Japanese soldiers left on deserted islands...
who think World War II is still going on.
Let me be the first to tell you, your government surrendered this war a long time ago.
I don't think all this attitude is gonna help in front of a juy.
- It's really a bad attitude. - Very bad. Very bad.
Look, Ed, there's only one problem with all this math. You're in here.
Well, I got greedy, didn't I?
- Yes, you did. - Yeah.
Decided to bring a little in on my own and somebody tipped you off.
Carl never would have been so stupid.
Well, Carl hired you. That was a mistake.
Carl and I have been friends since we were little kids.
He was loyal.
[ Speaking Spanish ]
[Man] Theport of San Ysidro, California:
45,000 vehicles on average, 25,000 pedestrians per day.
[Mechanical Whirring ]
- In the last six months, a three fold increase? - Increase in narcotics seizures.
Would that mean, pro rata, three times as much drugs is getting in?
That's a scay way to figure it, but I believe that's true.
In my heart, I'd love to say that we were getting 60 or 70%.
In the reality, we're more like 40 or 50% of the total that's approaching us.
And it's all big-dollar issues now.
That's the reason you're seeing a lot of these murders taking place.
It's one organization fighting another organization.
When things are good, people don't kill each other.
When things are bad, when they're losing dope,
when they're losing drivers and guys are going to jail,
people start killing each other.
- How's David? - "How's David?"
- Oh, he's terrific, Carl. Terrific. - Oh, Helena--
He watched his father being dragged away by federal agents.
- He's just doing fine. - Okay.
I can't even begin to tell him where you are...
and when you're coming home, if you're ever coming home.
Helena... we're gonna get through this.
I promise.
- I'll make it up to you. - Do you have any idea what's going on out here?
Huh? Our credit cards are maxed.
The people in the bank-- you should see the way they look at me when I walk in.
I have a letter from the government telling me...
anything I sell from the house will be taken against an income tax lien.
Our fucking friends--
Nobody will help us. Nobody will take us in.
Nobody wants anything to do with us, Carl.
So, you just tell me how you're gonna make it up to me.
Helena--
Just tell me what to do.
I'm not bringing a child into the life that I was brought up into.
I won't do it, Carl.
I want our life back.
♪ Know the dayis comin'♪
♪ When the party people♪
♪ Start their runnin' home ♪
♪♪ [ Continues, Indistinct ]
♪ Leave it out to dry ♪
♪ Hanging on for a line ♪
♪ And I'll tell you no lie lie, lie, lie ♪
♪ Too much pressure ♪
♪ Is sending me ♪
♪ On the new drops in London ♪
♪ Can't you see, can't you see Can't you see, can't you see ♪
♪ I'm going under, I'm going under I'm going under ♪♪
Yeah, we're smarter. We know the difference.
Hello. Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.
- Hi, folks. - Hello. - Hi. Room 310, please.
- Okay, I need to see some I.D.s, please, and $28. - Okay.
Man, I love this place.
I wish we could just stay here.
Just be here forever and ever and...
make a little home here.
I want to, uh...
I want to have sex and then do a hit right as we're both coming.
Okay.
[ Gordon ] The first time I got laid was on a beach just like that.
- [Ray] You got a what on a beach? - Got laid, man.
Lost my virginity, was a sophomore in high school.
- That's cool. - Yeah, it was sweet.
Did he treat you good?
- [ Gordon ] Who's this guy? - [Ray] I don't know.
- I never seen him before. - He's going right for the kid.
David!
David, come back here!
- Mom, Mom. - Please, put down my son.
[ Man Over Headphones ] Shouldn't let your kid wander off with strangers.
[ Gordon Over Walkie-Talkie ] Karen, if he tries to move with that kid, you break cover.
Mrs. Ayala, your husband owes a lot of money. Snapping this kid's neck wouldn't cover it.
You better come up with it in a hury or your kid is gonna disappear,
and he won't turn up until the evening news.
You get only one warning. First payment is $3 million.
- Javier. - Yes?
[ Speaking Spanish ]
[ Spits ]
- John, how are you? Bob Wakefield, pleasure. - Judge, welcome.
- Good to see you. How are you? - Long time, no see.
[John ] EPICis very unique.
It's a facility that has over 15 different agencies-- state and local--
that participate in gathering intelligence...
and maki ng sure that information gets out...
to people in the field that need it to stop drug trafficking.
From here, we have the ability to track vessels, airplanes, boats,
anything that carries drugs.
When the information comes in, we're able to check with different databases...
to see if it's in the system or not.
And would most ofthat energy be focused on the two cartels?
The Juarez, the Obregon brothers-- Are those the two that would be most important?
Those are the two clearest threats right now.
They are the dominant force in trafficking,
both on the Mexican side and in the U.S.
How are the cartels achieving...
the level of intelligence and sophistication that they're showing?
- [John] Craig, why don'tyou answer that? - An unlimited budget.
So, you're saying, actually, that even a county of our size...
and the budget that we throw towards this issue,
- they can compete at the same level? - No, they're way beyond us.
- "Way beyond"? - Our budgetay process makes us pale in comparison.
[John ] That house you're looking at over there used to belong to Porfirio Madrigal.
His nickname was Scorpion.
I'll let you figure out what that means.
Wasn't that the guy who died during plastic surgey?
Best of our information, yes.
Who do you interact with on that side?
Nobody.
Well, who has my job in Mexico?
Your position doesn't exist over there yet.
[Wakefield's Voice] I want everyone thinking out ofthe box...
for the next few minutes.
What are we doing about Mexico?
- Come on, guys, out of the box. - [ Man ] Unlimited funds?
Unlimited.
From a D.E.A. standpoint, we need a vetted task force and matching funds.
And cut the red tape on getting them equipment and training.
Come on, guys, I want to hear from eveyone:
F.B.I., customs, treatment.
- Is there anybody from treatment on this plane? - No, Judge.
Then, I want to know why there isn't anybody from treatment on this plane.
Yes, sir.
We need to take down one of these cartels--Juarez or Tijuana--
not because they're a symbol, but--
Hell, they are a symbol. But because we need to send a message.
When Carlos Ayala hires Michael Adler as his legal defense,
I send Ben Williams down to San Diego as a prosecutor.
Why? Because it's a symbol.
It's a symbol that we are sending the best.
It's a message that we're going after their top guys.
So...
right now...
on this flight only...
the dam is open...
for new ideas.
On a clear day, you can see Mexico City.
I have this place swept twice a day, so just feel free to talk.
I learned that back in Miami in '85.
U.S. shut down the entire Caribbean.
- It's a big game of whack-a-mole. You knock it down in Miami-- - Arnie, I need money.
Somebody-- I think it was the Obregons-- threatened David.
They want a first payment of $3 million.
Oh, Helena. [ Sighs ]
I'd give it to you myself, but I-I-I just don't have that kind of money.
Please. Does anyone owe us money?
Yes, there are people that do owe you money, but nobody's gonna pay.
Carl's got too much heat on him.
What about our other businesses, our legitimate businesses?
- Don't we own a construction-- - Laundromats wash the money.
Just tell me something positive, Arnie.
Give me some good news, for Christ's sake.
I'm sorry.
I just keep wondering what's gonna happen if he doesn't get out.
Just never been on my own before.
Always had someone. Always.
I remember the first time that I saw you--
little Helen Watts from the wrong side of somewhere.
Somehow I knew even then that your survival skills were pretty well honed.
Glad you think so, Arnie.
I just keep picturing a debt-ridden, 30-year-old mother of two...
whose ex-husband is being compared to Pablo Escobar.
I don't know anyone who wants to be with someone like that.
Do you?
- [ Laughs, Sighs ] - The bags?
[Wakefield] I think we may have found our Mexican drug czar.
General Salazar.
Be nice to have somebody to work with down there.
Does this mean you're gonna be gone more?
Possibly, yeah.
You might want to pencil in a little face time with your daughter.
- Barbara-- - Because I'm at the edge of my capabilities, Robert.
I think it's important we maintain a unified front.
If you start in on the war metaphors,
I'm gonna drive this car into a fucking telephone pole.
- I am as worried as you are. - Oh, I don't think so.
"Leave me alone. Give me some money."
That's what I get from our daughter.
She has a way of shutting me out that seems vey familiar.
Well, she has a way of self-medicating that I'm sure is vey familiar to you.
[ Scoffs ]
I'm not the one who has to have three scotches...
just to walk in the house and say hello.
I have one drink before dinner to take the edge off. It's different.
- Oh, is it? - Otherwise, I would be dying of boredom.
Why don't you go in and tell your daughter how bored you are?
[ Caroline Flicking Lighter]
[Wakefield] Caroline, open this door immediately.
Who is it? I'm going to the bathroom.
- Open the goddamn door! - [ Caroline ] One minute.
Excuse me. I have to go to bed.
Oh, Jesus.
You are not going anywhere, young lady.
You stay right there.
Where are they?
Where the hell are the drugs?
Where are they?
Fuck you.
I wasn't doing anything. You're like the Gestapo.
Fuck me. Fuck me. Well, fuck you!
- [ Driver ] Javier, good to see you. - How you doing, partner?
Did you take the precautions we discussed about being followed?
- Yes, of course. - Will you move to the middle, please?
- You're not carying a weapon? - No.
- Of course not. - Where are you taking me?
- Somewhere safe. - Where?
A place we have that we know is protected. He's good. Let's go.
- [Javier] No, no. No, no, no. - Don't wory. It's really safe.
No, no, no, no, no. This is safe. This is safe.
Come on, Javier, close the door. Eveything is cool, all right?
- This is safe. - Come on.
All right.
Where would you like to go?
- Huh? - Where do you want to go, Javier?
[Javier] I believe it's important that we work together.
Mexico and the United States. One hand washing the other.
We agree.
So, maybe you can tell me about your informants in our operations.
We thought that maybe you'd have that kind of information for us.
This is a vey different proposition, my friend.
We pay for that kind of information.
[Driver] Is that what you're talking about, Javier?
Getting paid?
You like baseball?
[ Spanish ]
We need lights for the parks so kids can play at night.
So it's safe.
So they can play baseball.
So they no become-- [ Spanish ]
Eveybody like baseball.
Eveybody likes parks.
Listen.
I believe it's important that the United State take an interest...
in Tijuana now.
That's what I'm talking about, my friends.
[Helena ] Account number...
8201-4302-8091...
2431.
A cash advance.
How much can I get?
That's it?
You ever ty the patch, man?
- The what? - The patch.
- That shit doesn't work, bro. - It worked for my cousin.
- No shit? - Yeah.
He had to wear five or six at a time, but it worked.
- So, how's he doing now? - Oh, he's dead.
- He's dead? - It wasn't from the patch, man.
- [ Agent Over Headsets ] Okay, she's coming out. - On it.
- What did he die from? - His wife shot him.
[ Agent ] She's leaving her property.
[ Gordon ] Where the hell is she going?
Maybe her neighbors.
No, I don't think the neighbors are fucking with her too much right about now.
What does she have in her hand there?
[Agent] She seems to be headed for the van.
Oh, shit.
- What-- Wh-What do we do? - I -I don't know. What do we do?
- What do you think she wants, man? - She's your girlfriend.
You think she'll invite you to her babyshower?
- Just sayhello. Work it. - All right, all right, all right.
[Agent] She's waiting outside the van.
- Hello? - [Helena ] Would you like some lemonade?
- I wasjust making some. - You want some lemonade?
Sure.
[Helena ] I know this is a difficult situation, and you're only doing your jobs.
I don't wish you guys any ill will or anything like that.
But I have a favor to ask you.
You're asking us for a favor?
Some man threatened my child.
These charges have created so much attention,
it seems to be bringing all the nut jobs out ofthe nut jar.
Would you keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinay?
- Sure. - Yeah, of course we will.
- I'd really appreciate it. - Sure.
- Thanks. - Than you for the lemonade.
You're welcome.
I'm gonna get this analyzed right away, bro.
[Man's Voice] So, it was my birthday...
and my ex-wife was getting remarried...
and I was in some church basement telling a bunch of strangers...
it was a good day because...
I didn't have to eat out of a Dum pster.
That was enough to send me out on a pretty big one.
I've been thinking a lot about the first step--
that I came to believe I was powerless over alcohol...
and that my life had become unmanageable.
My disease tells me that I don't have a disease,
that it's my birthday and I can have one little beer,
one little line, a little Valium.
Six months later, I wake up in a sober-living house in Philly.
I'm from Dallas, people.
It's a disease, an allergy of the body,
an obsession of the mind.
So, my name is Marty,
and today I'm a grateful, recovering alcoholic.
And it's a good day because I didn't have to eat out of a Dumpster.
Thanks.
Hi. [ Clears Throat ]
I'm Caroline. I'm not sure I'm an alcoholic.
I mean... I don't really like to drink.
For someone my age, it's a lot easier to get drugs than it is to get alcohol.
I guess I'm angy.
I mean, I think I'm really angy about a lot of stuff.
I'm just... not sure what.
Listen to me. I built our house...
and I'm not gonna lose it.
[Carl's Voice] My business--
that would take a lot of private study.
I suggest... you look into the Coronel.
- The painting? - Into selling it.
If you can stomach it,
you should look into it.
Oh, my God.
[Salazar's Voice ] DearJudge,
I recruited the best men in Mexico for my task force.
I make the selection, putting them under a rigorous screening process.
And not only physically, but also psychologically.
Judge, I'm sory for boxes and the paintings and things,
but I have been too busy to completely settle in here.
I know you've made very good progress with the Tijuana cartel.
- Congratulations, General. - Muchas gracias.
I am confident that before the end of the year,
Juan Obregon is gonna be taken into custody.
But you must understand that it's going to be a very difficult task...
because of the corruption in the police force.
Hopefully, the exchange of training methods and information...
between our two countries will help.
I hope so.
On another note, General, we were talking about supply.
- Mm-hmm. - What about demand?
What are your policies towards treatment of addiction?
"Treatment of addiction."
Addicts treat themselves.
They overdose, and then there's one less to wory about.
[ Counselor's Voice ] What I wantyou to do right now is write down five triggers...
that could lead to your relapse,
that could jeopardize your recovey.
Five triggers. Your parents, something they could say.
Anything that's a trigger for you. It varies from person to person.
Some of us have already discussed--
Linda, we talked about it the other day.
I know you have trouble with your sister,
how she's always kind of out shining you.
[Ray] Hey, sugar foot, how do you like your new home?
[ Chuckling]
- You got to be kidding me. This is not what my lawyers negotiated. - [ Scoffs ]
Please. Fuck your lawyers.
You're not getting any goddamn cappuccino or--
- [Ray] Biscotti. - Yeah, you ain't getting none of that shit either.
- Pick a bed. - Stay off the phone, Eddie.
No long-distance calls, all right?
- Use 1-800-CRI MI NAL if you do. - [ Laughing ]
[Laughing Continues]
[Man] Mr. Ayala first came to see me in January.
That would have been 1987.
He wanted to rent warehouse space along the harbor.
I didn't ask too many questions. I am a businessman also.
I was the company's secretary from 1991 to 1994.
I supposedly worked for all six companies, but they weren't--
I mean, it was just an empty office with a desk and a telephone.
I never sold anything the whole time I was there.
Sometimes people came in, and they got paid.
I-I don't really know what they did.
- [Prosecutor] Didn't Mr. Ayala say where the money came from? - No.
- Did you ask where the money came from? - No.
Where do you think it came from?
- [ Lawyer ] Objection. Speculation. - [Judge ] Sustained.
[ Prosecutor ] I'll rephrase, Your Honor.
Did you feel like you were engaged in a legitimate enterprise?
No, not really.
Thank you.
You were followed by the police,
but they won't be able to hear us over the children.
[ Camera Shutter Clicks ]
I want to use a bomb.
Are you kidding?
Can't you just shoot him or something?
I don't really like guns.
You shoot somebody in the head two, three times...
and some pinche doctor is tying to keep him alive.
When are you gonna do it?
I don't know.
Eduardo Ruiz is the only real witness against Carl.
Security will be vey tight.
- I may not be able to get to him. - You'll be able to get to him.
If they can get to the pope and the president, you can certainly get to him.
[ Chuckles ]
Careful. You're starting to sound like your husband, Mrs. Ayala.
[ Sighs ] Nobody saw her leave?
Hmm.
No, I understand.
Okay.
[ Hangs Up Receiver]
I gotta go.
I've got to go home.
Did you want me to resch-- [ Clears Throat ]
Fine.
[ Siren Blaring, Horn Honking ]
What you want? Pot? Rock? Hey, what you want?
[ Grunting ]
- [Knocking] - Fuck!
[ Muttering ]
What the fuck do you want?
[ Chuckles ]
Yeah.
[Sighing, Moaning]