WEBVTT - 7. Let's Make This Happen, Bro 0:00:03.279 --> 0:00:05.520 Soundcheck one, two three. 0:00:05.760 --> 0:00:07.120 Okay, what's your name? 0:00:08.160 --> 0:00:09.000 Alex Delesco. 0:00:09.840 --> 0:00:12.960 My colleague Nicole McNulty is getting set up with Alex, 0:00:13.280 --> 0:00:15.560 who's about to read from a script we've put together. 0:00:16.560 --> 0:00:17.840 And what do you do for a living? 0:00:18.320 --> 0:00:21.639 I'm a professional actor here in London. I am originally 0:00:21.680 --> 0:00:23.440 from Romania. 0:00:23.560 --> 0:00:25.079 Can you read that top line? 0:00:25.680 --> 0:00:28.000 We talked in his car in front of the building. 0:00:28.320 --> 0:00:33.880 He explained to wait, I've flubbed that. Let me try again. 0:00:34.800 --> 0:00:36.880 We talked in his car in front of the building. 0:00:37.640 --> 0:00:41.159 He explained to me who he is. He showed me 0:00:41.200 --> 0:00:44.560 a list of weapons and ammunition on his phone. Then 0:00:44.600 --> 0:00:47.000 he sent me that list to my phone. 0:00:47.840 --> 0:00:50.479 Alex is reading lines of court testimony given by a 0:00:50.520 --> 0:00:58.120 guy named Christian Vntilla. So in this episode and future ones, 0:00:58.880 --> 0:01:04.080 Alex will be the voice of Christian. Everything you'll hear 0:01:04.319 --> 0:01:08.399 comes verbatim from Christians testimony in court. The words are 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:14.800 all Christians. After the armsteel goes sideways and Christian turns 0:01:14.840 --> 0:01:16.000 against Flavio. 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:19.959 Okay, okay, I'm ready to start. 0:01:21.000 --> 0:01:24.479 Christian wanted nothing to do with me or this show. 0:01:25.400 --> 0:01:27.400 Here's what he told me in an email. 0:01:28.240 --> 0:01:30.520 I don't care about what flav you said or did? 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:34.000 They are a lot of lights and fakes. 0:01:36.200 --> 0:01:39.800 I'm Trevor Aronson from Western Sound to My Heart podcast. 0:01:40.480 --> 0:02:06.840 This is Alphabet Boys, Episode seven. Let's make this happen. Bro. 0:02:11.000 --> 0:02:13.320 Before we get going with this episode, I want to 0:02:13.320 --> 0:02:16.320 give you a quick recap because the story of Flavio, 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:20.600 Juan and the supposed arms deal can get a little confusing. 0:02:23.240 --> 0:02:26.760 Back in twenty twelve, Juan asks Flavio's friend Andy if 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:28.520 he knows a guy who can help put together an 0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:31.760 arms deal for the farc Andy says he has someone 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:36.280 who can make stuff happen. So Andy calls Flavio. Andy 0:02:36.320 --> 0:02:38.359 asks him if he can put together an arms deal 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:45.280 for these Colombians. Flavio says yeah, maybe. Immediately after hanging 0:02:45.320 --> 0:02:50.720 up with Andy, Flavio calls the CIA. Two years past 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:54.880 and in twenty fourteen, Flavio stands up Juan in Rome, 0:02:55.600 --> 0:03:00.280 but he says he can still make a deal Happenavio 0:03:00.320 --> 0:03:03.200 puts one in touch with a guy named Gentaudis, the 0:03:03.360 --> 0:03:06.720 arms dealer who smells a rat. What I haven't told 0:03:06.800 --> 0:03:10.400 you is how gin Taudis got on Flavio's radar, and 0:03:10.440 --> 0:03:15.440 that connection was through this guy, Christian Ventilla. 0:03:16.120 --> 0:03:19.919 I was General Secretary of the State Reserves and then 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:24.639 General Director with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:27.480 By the time Flavio meets him. Christian Ventilla is a 0:03:27.480 --> 0:03:30.800 divorced father of two and a high ranking government minister 0:03:31.000 --> 0:03:34.200 in Romania. He heads an agency that coordinates between the 0:03:34.280 --> 0:03:37.920 Romanian government and the NATO Alliance based in Brussels. 0:03:38.560 --> 0:03:41.160 It's part of my job. I was registered as a 0:03:41.200 --> 0:03:45.080 weapon control for NATO in Brussels, and for this reason 0:03:45.120 --> 0:03:47.000 I was trained in different missions. 0:03:47.920 --> 0:03:50.480 Christian grew up in Baco, a city of about two 0:03:50.600 --> 0:03:55.080 hundred thousand people northeast of Bucharest, the capital. After obtaining 0:03:55.120 --> 0:03:58.960 a doctorate in project management, Christian became a government official 0:03:59.480 --> 0:04:04.360 thanks to his association with a Romanian politician surrounded by 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:10.000 accusations of corruption. Anyway, now I'm going to put Christian 0:04:10.080 --> 0:04:14.880 into this whole timeline. After Flavio decides to get involved 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:17.880 in the arms deal, he starts hunting around for people 0:04:18.120 --> 0:04:21.920 who could connect him with arms dealers, and that's when 0:04:21.920 --> 0:04:25.040 a mutual contact connected Flavio with Christian. 0:04:25.920 --> 0:04:29.520 He introduced Flavi Georgesco as a Romanian American businessman who 0:04:29.560 --> 0:04:31.960 had an order for weapons and ammunition. 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:36.160 This is the first time Flavio and Christian meet. Flavio 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:40.960 drives a Christian's apartment building in Bucharest. Christian comes out front. 0:04:41.640 --> 0:04:44.400 We talked in his car in front of the building. 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:48.159 He explained to me who he is. He showed me 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:51.440 a list of weapons and ammunition on his phone, then 0:04:52.000 --> 0:04:56.000 he sent me that least to my phone. He told 0:04:56.040 --> 0:05:00.760 me that he's very interested, that it is a serious order, 0:05:00.839 --> 0:05:03.720 and to reassure me, he called on the phone and 0:05:03.920 --> 0:05:07.320 the Georgie school and put him on the speaker because 0:05:07.320 --> 0:05:08.239 he speaks Romanian. 0:05:08.279 --> 0:05:12.760 Also according to Christian, and this conversation in Flavio's car 0:05:13.000 --> 0:05:18.160 isn't recorded. Andy, speaking in Romanian, tells Christian and Flavio 0:05:18.360 --> 0:05:18.920 about one. 0:05:19.960 --> 0:05:23.520 The order is coming from some old customers of his 0:05:23.960 --> 0:05:27.039 and it is a very serious order and he's going 0:05:27.120 --> 0:05:32.680 to get implicated by managing the financial side of disorder. 0:05:33.880 --> 0:05:36.560 In the car, Christian tells Andy that based on the 0:05:36.560 --> 0:05:40.520 weapons on One's lists, including AK forty sevens and anti 0:05:40.600 --> 0:05:44.359 aircraft weapons, he believes he can line up a manufacturer 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:45.560 to fill the order. 0:05:48.080 --> 0:05:51.000 I suggested that they should get in touch directly Gin 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:54.880 Totus with the Colombians he knew the products, and he 0:05:54.920 --> 0:05:57.040 knew what he can offer and what not. 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:02.440 As you may remember, flow connects one with gin Taudis. 0:06:03.000 --> 0:06:07.839 Guintaudis pretty quickly and correctly suspects that one is a 0:06:07.880 --> 0:06:11.640 government agent. Gintaudus sends an angry email with a link 0:06:11.680 --> 0:06:14.960 to a news article but a successful deea sting in 0:06:15.040 --> 0:06:18.640 Prague involving informants who claim to be buying weapons for 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:24.080 the farc. That email gets to Christian, who confronts Flavia. 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:28.039 I talked to Georgiesco about this thing, telling him about 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:31.200 the Czech article and explaining to him that Quintotus is 0:06:31.279 --> 0:06:34.120 suspecting that it's the same kind of sting. 0:06:35.200 --> 0:06:36.800 He said, let me tell you something, and he put 0:06:36.880 --> 0:06:40.640 up a paper. He shows thing operation from Czech Republic 0:06:40.640 --> 0:06:44.159 from Prague with same one and everybody said, it's impossible. 0:06:44.160 --> 0:06:45.640 It's the same temple's the same thing. 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:50.719 For Christian, this must have been an enormous red flag, 0:06:51.640 --> 0:06:55.800 but Flavio, in his Flavio way, assures Christian that there's 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:57.240 no reason for concern. 0:06:57.960 --> 0:07:01.240 Isaimeh, just trust me, this is just a coincidence. 0:07:02.200 --> 0:07:05.560 He knows the Colombians and he previously did business with them, 0:07:05.839 --> 0:07:07.400 and I shouldn't worry about it. 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:12.840 Flavio needs to keep Christian in the business deal to 0:07:13.080 --> 0:07:17.880 supposedly gather information for the CIA. But and I have 0:07:17.960 --> 0:07:21.840 to admit this is bizarre. Given what happens later. Flavio 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:27.080 also suspects that one could be with the DEA. 0:07:27.760 --> 0:07:29.880 So what, I didn't care about what's going on over 0:07:29.920 --> 0:07:30.640 here in this side. 0:07:30.960 --> 0:07:33.360 I was caidring what I find in this site using 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:35.320 Juan right now, the goofy clown. 0:07:35.760 --> 0:07:39.240 As far as Flavio is concerned. So what that just 0:07:39.320 --> 0:07:42.320 means he and Juan are both friends of America. 0:07:43.040 --> 0:07:45.440 And I said, you know what, if we don't die, 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:47.320 but at least today and we're gonna have something. 0:07:47.360 --> 0:07:49.920 I didn't care anymore. I was going too far. 0:07:50.320 --> 0:07:54.880 I was so excited and so proud, and still I 0:07:55.000 --> 0:07:58.080 have so many things and I can do so much. 0:07:58.160 --> 0:07:59.840 That means I'm gonna keep going. 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:06.640 Yeah, here we arrive at yet another problem in Flavio's story. 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:13.400 Flavio received these warnings that one could be a US 0:08:13.520 --> 0:08:17.400 government agent. The DEA had been so aggressive in its 0:08:17.400 --> 0:08:22.400 transnational narco terrorism stings that the targets of other stings 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:27.640 were figuring out the DEA's game from news reports. Yet 0:08:27.640 --> 0:08:31.520 Flavio doesn't back out of the deal, and he doesn't 0:08:31.520 --> 0:08:36.760 contact the CIA to report the DEA's possible involvement. He 0:08:36.960 --> 0:08:43.200 just continues, knowing that it's possible, maybe even likely, that 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:46.679 he and Wan are playing for the same team. One 0:08:47.040 --> 0:08:50.440 just doesn't know it yet. So if Flavio can build 0:08:50.440 --> 0:08:53.320 a case, even with Wan mixed up in it, no 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:58.000 big deal. The DEA and CIA would sort everything out 0:08:58.320 --> 0:09:04.320 in the end, So Flavio keeps his suspicions to himself. 0:09:05.160 --> 0:09:08.600 He tells Christian, don't worry about it. He knows one, 0:09:09.160 --> 0:09:13.839 he's done business with one, even though that isn't true. 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:17.440 Flavio's never even met Wan at this point. 0:09:18.520 --> 0:09:20.640 How are you good? 0:09:21.480 --> 0:09:24.360 Yeah, I mean german good. 0:09:24.760 --> 0:09:26.280 I was. I was just at the beach. I just 0:09:26.320 --> 0:09:28.079 get back anyway. 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:32.960 And at the same time, Flavio assures One that they 0:09:32.960 --> 0:09:36.720 don't need this gen toutist guy anyway. I still I. 0:09:36.840 --> 0:09:41.079 Still coming on on the twenty second, and I think 0:09:41.080 --> 0:09:43.160 we all need to meet and see if we can 0:09:43.200 --> 0:09:46.360 come up with a plan either what this gentleman, or 0:09:46.640 --> 0:09:50.200 maybe you can't help me to solve you know that? 0:09:50.880 --> 0:09:54.880 Do you talk to him? I am wanted to look 0:09:55.000 --> 0:09:59.280 for different, different solution. 0:10:00.440 --> 0:10:04.000 By looking for a different solution, Flavio means he and 0:10:04.080 --> 0:10:05.760 Christian are going to find someone else. 0:10:06.880 --> 0:10:07.560 We need to make it. 0:10:07.559 --> 0:10:10.240 We need to talk so that you won't get talk 0:10:10.320 --> 0:10:13.839 to my other Columbian Mexican fellows. But I need to 0:10:13.880 --> 0:10:15.800 know that I made you, and you wanna tell me 0:10:15.840 --> 0:10:18.000 what the plants are you're looking for. I wanna tell him. 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.280 I'm gonna keep everybody happy and then all the doors open, 0:10:20.480 --> 0:10:24.559 otherwise we're gonna lose this altogether. That's a bondle. Please 0:10:24.760 --> 0:10:26.719 Fla Let's let's let's make this happen, bro. 0:10:27.640 --> 0:10:32.240 Please Flavi you let's make this happen bro more after 0:10:32.280 --> 0:10:45.960 the break. 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:54.400 My friends. 0:10:54.600 --> 0:10:58.640 Okay, the company representing tells me they are located, So 0:10:59.120 --> 0:11:02.520 some money for the we're doing that transaction whenever we'll 0:11:02.559 --> 0:11:04.680 get ready. So I just wanted to let you know that. 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:08.480 It's July twenty fourteen. Wan is saying that its Fark 0:11:08.559 --> 0:11:14.840 friends have moved millions of dollars into European bank accounts. 0:11:16.640 --> 0:11:19.400 The money has been earmarked for purchasing the weapons that 0:11:19.440 --> 0:11:24.240 Flavio will help deliver. But at this point there's a 0:11:24.280 --> 0:11:29.920 lot of skepticism and distrust among everyone involved. Wan's already 0:11:29.960 --> 0:11:33.040 been stood up in Rome, and since then, Flavio has 0:11:33.040 --> 0:11:35.439 asked Wuan to come to Romania so that they can 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:38.400 meet for the first time and so that Juan can 0:11:38.440 --> 0:11:42.679 meet Christian Mantilla, but Wan hasn't yet committed to that. 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:45.080 Yeah. 0:11:48.880 --> 0:11:52.479 In August twenty fourteen, Wan calls Andy and Los Angeles, 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:57.920 and Andy, in no uncertain terms, tells him the Romanians 0:11:58.400 --> 0:11:59.880 aren't happy. 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:01.319 Man. 0:12:01.360 --> 0:12:04.280 I got the whole fucking government on my ass all 0:12:04.400 --> 0:12:08.360 honest now, So thell call flap. 0:12:08.480 --> 0:12:10.840 I got a hold fucking Romanian government on my ass 0:12:10.920 --> 0:12:11.520 right now because. 0:12:11.360 --> 0:12:12.319 They think I'm bullshitting. 0:12:13.400 --> 0:12:16.280 What Andy is saying here is that with Juan refusing 0:12:16.320 --> 0:12:19.800 to go to Romania, the Romanian government has been coming 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:23.680 down on him. It's not really that the Romanian government 0:12:23.720 --> 0:12:27.080 is coming down on him. He's referring to Christian, who 0:12:27.160 --> 0:12:29.400 is a government minister in Romania. 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:30.800 Is really bad. 0:12:30.880 --> 0:12:33.840 Call him back, you guys. 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:38.600 Wan's referring to Rome when he got stood up. No, no, 0:12:38.640 --> 0:12:40.839 he called you to go down there. Those guys wanted 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:41.480 to meet donnal Day. 0:12:41.520 --> 0:12:43.400 I cannot, you know, push him around because there's no 0:12:43.400 --> 0:12:44.880 point in fucking pushing him around. 0:12:45.240 --> 0:12:47.120 He's got to be done, you know, at a certain point, 0:12:47.160 --> 0:12:49.320 certain time. I mean the guys are thinking with bullshitting. 0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:51.200 I mean, she's dell up on my ass. 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:55.600 The next day, Juan calls Flavio. 0:12:56.840 --> 0:13:03.360 Hello, Hello, Flavio, how are you saying? Hey? And' they 0:13:03.400 --> 0:13:08.760 asked me to give you a call. I find a siller, 0:13:10.320 --> 0:13:11.880 you find a fellow? Is that what you said? 0:13:13.480 --> 0:13:13.680 Yeah? 0:13:13.679 --> 0:13:14.120 I find it? 0:13:15.400 --> 0:13:16.400 And which a. 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:23.800 Seller? I'm sorry, I find the silver and which you 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:25.800 are the thought can come to Menium. 0:13:26.480 --> 0:13:30.280 Be aware that already twice I have come to Europe 0:13:30.320 --> 0:13:33.720 and I've been unable to accomplish anything. So if I 0:13:33.720 --> 0:13:37.000 if I do come, you need to guarantee me because 0:13:37.040 --> 0:13:39.079 otherwise it's gonna be three times. 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:41.760 I don't looking good a spending money. I don't want 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:44.480 any problems with no one. If I go there, Make 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:49.280 sure that you know these people. Am I gonna be safe? Please? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:50.800 no problem? All right? 0:13:51.720 --> 0:13:54.200 When I come, you must have prices for for for 0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:58.880 the items that I requested that my customers is requested, okay, and. 0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:02.960 Is they do have it on hand? I need to 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:05.400 know how long will tell them to deliver. 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:11.720 One, having been frustrated by Flavio over and over again, 0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:16.240 is reading him the Riot Act. Here, this is your 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:19.760 last chance. If we're going to meet in person, you 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:23.640 better have prices for weapons and a clear timeline for delivery. 0:14:24.600 --> 0:14:28.800 Don't worry, Flavio tells Juan he's got everything under control. 0:14:29.800 --> 0:14:32.960 So one, who's secretly under pressure from his boss is 0:14:33.000 --> 0:14:36.640 at the Dea to make something of this languishing investigation, 0:14:37.720 --> 0:14:44.200 flies to Romania. He's accompanied by another Dea infemant. On 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:49.480 September twenty third, twenty fourteen. One calls Flavio from Bucharest. 0:14:50.720 --> 0:14:54.200 Here I am and in your town, and here I 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:59.960 am to Doc. Okay, I'm not the Mario hotel. 0:15:03.120 --> 0:15:05.400 They decide to meet at the Marriotte for dinner that evening. 0:15:07.120 --> 0:15:09.280 One starts as recording device. 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:11.000 The local time in. 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:18.400 Yes, eight thirty five pm. We are right now in 0:15:18.760 --> 0:15:22.200 the book arrest. 0:15:22.360 --> 0:15:24.000 The other informant whispers to Wan. 0:15:27.480 --> 0:15:29.480 The equipment when we run under we get there. 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:32.320 The equipment is going to be on until we get there, 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:37.160 one says. The other informant stays behind in the hotel room. Well, 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:41.320 Wan heads to the restaurant. One puts the recorder in 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:49.000 a pocket and the tape gets noisy. This walk one 0:15:49.160 --> 0:15:52.920 is making from his room to the hotel restaurant is 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:58.600 two years in the making. All those phone calls have 0:15:58.760 --> 0:16:05.440 led to this. Flavio and Wan finally meet at the 0:16:05.440 --> 0:16:07.760 Marriott in Romania. 0:16:08.520 --> 0:16:11.360 It took a long time to Meetium. How are you great? 0:16:11.600 --> 0:16:11.840 Good? 0:16:11.880 --> 0:16:12.600 Thank you for coming. 0:16:12.600 --> 0:16:16.360 How you been Welcome to Romania, Flavio tell us. Juan 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:21.040 Flavio gives Wan a gift, a souvenir with the Romanian 0:16:21.080 --> 0:16:25.760 flag on it, and Jan hens Flavio a bag of coffee. 0:16:25.880 --> 0:16:31.120 Colombia and Koffey. Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you my wife. 0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:36.320 Flavio laughs, but it's clear that as someone who grew 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:39.320 up in communist Romania, he doesn't really get one's joke. 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:43.240 Juan Valdez was a fictional Colombian coffee being grower in 0:16:43.320 --> 0:16:49.120 American TV commercials from the seventies and eighties. Anyway, Flavio 0:16:49.160 --> 0:16:50.920 and Wan sit down at a table in the restaurant 0:16:51.280 --> 0:16:55.600 and get down to this military grade weapons business. 0:16:55.960 --> 0:16:58.600 Do you have your own plan? I have my own agendas. 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:01.840 I went it too much so it works. If we 0:17:01.880 --> 0:17:03.360 don't match it, it wouldn't want to work. 0:17:03.880 --> 0:17:07.520 Flavio tells One that he can get the weapons. One 0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:10.840 suggests that they meet tomorrow in a private conference room. 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:15.480 Flavio should bring Christian and One will bring a spark colleague. 0:17:16.359 --> 0:17:19.840 But I get a room. Okay, this is important. The 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:24.280 fellow that is comedy. His solo purpose of being here 0:17:25.040 --> 0:17:27.840 is to talk about the weapons because he knows about webbons. 0:17:29.119 --> 0:17:31.040 The people knows what they're talking about. 0:17:31.200 --> 0:17:35.199 This fark guy. One says he's not like him. He 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:39.639 doesn't make jokes. He's a no nonsense guy. He's an 0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:41.560 operative from the jungle. 0:17:42.080 --> 0:17:47.840 Okay, he's from the jungle. Okay, ex military guy. The 0:17:47.880 --> 0:17:51.000 other people never went to school. All they have is 0:17:51.200 --> 0:17:53.600 they sell freaking cocaine. They make money. They think that 0:17:53.600 --> 0:17:55.480 the kings and they want to tell you what to 0:17:55.560 --> 0:17:58.840 do so that you know, So please bear with me. 0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:02.639 Hell me out if we come to that point. So 0:18:02.880 --> 0:18:04.720 you know, I need to explain to you everything when 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:07.200 we alone, because I want this to have I want this. 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:07.720 To go through. 0:18:08.840 --> 0:18:11.240 Wan also makes clear that he and his colleague need 0:18:11.320 --> 0:18:16.040 weapons to protect Fark's cocaine interests and to attack American 0:18:16.080 --> 0:18:18.280 helicopters in Colombia, but. 0:18:18.400 --> 0:18:20.520 They want to buy weapons because they want to fight 0:18:20.600 --> 0:18:24.160 to protect the drug industry, and I want to bring 0:18:24.200 --> 0:18:26.960 down the American helicopters because other enemies. You understand that. 0:18:28.240 --> 0:18:31.719 Wan is being explicit about this for a very specific reason. 0:18:32.280 --> 0:18:37.439 It's critical to the government's narco terrorism case. Flavio needs 0:18:37.480 --> 0:18:41.560 to know that these weapons he's helping want obtain, they're 0:18:41.560 --> 0:18:45.200 going to farc rebels who fund their violence through drug sales. 0:18:46.560 --> 0:18:51.119 Ding Finally, One appears to be happy with Flavio. He 0:18:51.160 --> 0:18:55.240 appears to believe that this deal can happen, and he 0:18:55.320 --> 0:19:00.399 again explains that as fark guys are tough but paranoid. 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:03.480 And I'm happy now that I came here. Me I 0:19:03.480 --> 0:19:07.760 can't come I'm just a simple man. This other guys, 0:19:07.960 --> 0:19:10.200 I'm the one to carry a big bag behind them, 0:19:10.240 --> 0:19:11.920 you know what I mean. I'm convince them to come 0:19:12.560 --> 0:19:17.720 about the situations people can oh, this guy is gonna 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:22.600 rob you. This guy because I understand them, but I'm 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:23.440 saying what they're telling them. 0:19:24.920 --> 0:19:28.240 To celebrate. Flavio and Wan order Yeager meisters to toast. 0:19:29.040 --> 0:19:30.800 One has never had. 0:19:30.640 --> 0:19:36.960 One Jagger Master jack Master Jaggers, Zacher, Jacker, Muster Jagger, 0:19:37.040 --> 0:19:40.320 Myster Jaggers, jagger meister. 0:19:40.480 --> 0:19:42.720 Yes, yes, it's it's. 0:19:42.600 --> 0:19:45.680 A greedy After drinks, Flavia and One agree to meet 0:19:45.680 --> 0:19:48.400 at the hotel the next day, and they'll have two 0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:53.800 more people with them, Flavia's contact, Christian Vntilla, and One's 0:19:53.800 --> 0:20:18.240 colleague from the jungle. That's up to the break again, 0:20:18.640 --> 0:20:20.840 just like the day before when One started his recorder. 0:20:21.520 --> 0:20:24.679 One can't remember where he is today. 0:20:24.680 --> 0:20:29.439 Sday's September twenty fourth, twenty fourteen. Local time in Bulgaria 0:20:29.720 --> 0:20:34.360 is eight twenty seven pm luchs Bukarest, Bulgaria. 0:20:34.640 --> 0:20:40.040 Bucharest, the other dea infemant says. One says, Bucharest, Bulgaria. 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:42.640 He's in Romania. 0:20:43.480 --> 0:20:47.040 We are about to go to a mida with Flavio 0:20:47.040 --> 0:20:49.800 and his friends are the main love at the hotel. 0:20:49.880 --> 0:20:53.960 Mario bring up to the conference to have a meeting 0:20:54.000 --> 0:21:04.160 with them, Bomaria. That's okay. 0:21:05.960 --> 0:21:08.800 Juan and his Dea informat friend head downstairs to the 0:21:08.800 --> 0:21:12.040 hotel lobby. They're waiting for Flavio and Christian. 0:21:16.280 --> 0:21:19.960 He called me in the afternoon of September twenty fourth. 0:21:20.720 --> 0:21:24.520 This is Christian Vintilla. Remember, Christian is being voiced by 0:21:24.520 --> 0:21:28.080 an actor. He's saying that Flavio called him. 0:21:28.600 --> 0:21:31.439 And he told me that the Colombians came to Bucharest 0:21:31.520 --> 0:21:35.200 unexpected and they want to meet him, and they want 0:21:35.240 --> 0:21:39.280 to meet him right away, and because he wouldn't know 0:21:39.359 --> 0:21:42.200 much about this field, he asked me to participate in 0:21:42.280 --> 0:21:45.720 the meeting with him. And he explained to me that 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:48.359 they have a lot of money and he wanted to 0:21:48.400 --> 0:21:51.480 impress them because he's willing to do business in the 0:21:51.520 --> 0:21:54.520 future with them. And he told me to try to 0:21:54.560 --> 0:21:59.000 do my best presentation so I can we can catch 0:21:59.040 --> 0:22:00.440 them as clients. 0:22:02.119 --> 0:22:04.640 I bring Christian because I didn't feel comfortable. 0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:08.640 That I'm and this is Flavio, and I said, I have. 0:22:08.640 --> 0:22:10.840 To be prepared, and I took Christian as an advisor 0:22:10.920 --> 0:22:13.359 to talk to see what's going on. 0:22:15.760 --> 0:22:18.439 So Flavio and Christian head to the Marriott in Bucharest. 0:22:19.119 --> 0:22:23.000 Christian brings with him some catalogs from Romanian arms manufacturers. 0:22:23.840 --> 0:22:26.199 But before Flavio and Christian Meetjan and his colleague in 0:22:26.200 --> 0:22:30.320 the lobby, they dip into the hotel's restaurant. Flavio tells 0:22:30.400 --> 0:22:32.920 Christian to hand him his phone. 0:22:33.200 --> 0:22:37.080 Jorgescu took my phone and his own and gave it 0:22:37.240 --> 0:22:39.560 to the waitress telling her to put it in a 0:22:39.640 --> 0:22:42.800 separate room. 0:22:43.040 --> 0:22:46.720 Why the hell does Flavio do that? The only plausible 0:22:46.760 --> 0:22:49.359 reason that Flavio would ditch their phones is to prevent 0:22:49.400 --> 0:22:52.640 a government spy agency from listening to their Armsteel meeting. 0:22:53.520 --> 0:22:56.439 A little over a year earlier, in June twenty thirteen, 0:22:56.920 --> 0:23:01.119 whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents about the 0:23:01.160 --> 0:23:05.119 extent of global surveillance conducted by the NSA, the National 0:23:05.160 --> 0:23:09.080 Security Agency. So these ideas about the government listening in 0:23:09.160 --> 0:23:11.880 via your phone are very much in the air at 0:23:11.880 --> 0:23:16.199 the time as this meeting is happening. But who is 0:23:16.200 --> 0:23:21.240 Flavio afraid will hear the CIA, which apparently he's working for, 0:23:22.240 --> 0:23:29.480 or the Romedian government, which Christian works for, or both. Besides, 0:23:29.600 --> 0:23:32.000 if Flavia suspects Wan might be working for the DEA, 0:23:32.840 --> 0:23:35.679 why would he care about a spy agency listening in 0:23:35.720 --> 0:23:42.160 on their phones when Wan is likely recording the conversation anyway, 0:23:42.200 --> 0:23:46.120 And yeah, of course Wan's recording this meeting. 0:23:47.320 --> 0:23:50.960 Excuse, how are you bye? 0:23:51.119 --> 0:23:51.399 Thank you? 0:23:52.240 --> 0:23:55.000 One is speaking to Christian for the first time. That's 0:23:55.080 --> 0:23:58.639 Christian's real voice. They're all inside a conference room at 0:23:58.640 --> 0:23:59.040 the hotel. 0:24:00.080 --> 0:24:04.520 This speaks Spanish, No, no English, not very good. 0:24:05.920 --> 0:24:12.160 Spanish English, Spanish, but no English, one says of his colleague, 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:17.800 whose name is Diego. Diego doesn't speak English, or at 0:24:17.880 --> 0:24:23.440 least he's pretending not to speak English. I just want 0:24:23.440 --> 0:24:25.919 to point out how absurd this meeting at the Bucharest 0:24:26.000 --> 0:24:31.679 Marriott is one or Alex Diaz, the DEA informant, is 0:24:31.720 --> 0:24:34.879 with another DEA guy who's pretending to be a Colombian 0:24:35.040 --> 0:24:40.600 farc rebel, the so called Diego. This Diego guy isn't 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:44.000 subtle about a supposed revolutionary work. He's giving off some 0:24:44.080 --> 0:24:49.520 solid cheguo var vibes. Meanwhile, Flavio is in his mind 0:24:49.840 --> 0:24:55.119 a CIA asset, so he's performing his own role. The 0:24:55.200 --> 0:24:59.520 only one without a hidden agenda in all this is Christian. 0:25:00.320 --> 0:25:03.200 I was supposed to explain to them the weapons and 0:25:03.280 --> 0:25:03.960 how they work. 0:25:05.080 --> 0:25:08.359 It's all theater, with each side playing a part for 0:25:08.400 --> 0:25:13.239 the other. Anyway, here's Diego, with one translating. 0:25:15.320 --> 0:25:15.480 And. 0:25:16.920 --> 0:25:24.240 The first we want to thank you coming here. 0:25:25.880 --> 0:25:28.040 From here, Diego gets right down the business. 0:25:28.040 --> 0:25:34.200 Are you familiar with the far Yeah? The the argument 0:25:34.240 --> 0:25:48.399 of the people stanchando. We are a country finding this 0:25:48.840 --> 0:25:52.360 course for six years. Mirida is midbis. 0:25:52.960 --> 0:25:56.440 His life is my life, is my country, Diego tells 0:25:56.440 --> 0:25:59.080 Flavia and Christian as if borrowing from a list of 0:25:59.119 --> 0:26:03.800 cliches for revolutionetionaries. Diego then begins to explain the Flavi 0:26:03.920 --> 0:26:07.960 and Christian why his organization needs these weapons and. 0:26:09.200 --> 0:26:11.159 Problem and this one will have a big problem. 0:26:11.320 --> 0:26:19.400 Yes, americanoicters, black hat attack helicos. 0:26:20.920 --> 0:26:24.399 Diego says, US government attack helicopters now being used in 0:26:24.400 --> 0:26:28.120 Colombia have tipped the balance of the conflict. The FARC 0:26:28.520 --> 0:26:32.200 only has assault rifles, making them largely defenseless against the 0:26:32.240 --> 0:26:36.000 choppers balance. 0:26:40.760 --> 0:26:44.919