Carlos Lehder says He Ran a Cocaine Empire from a Private Island in The Bahamas

Carlos Lehder says he paid former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling 150,000.00 monthly via his agent, Everette Bannister

Brought to you by: Michael Franzese Wines

Carlos Lehder, a former associate of Pablo Escobar and one of the original co-founders of the Medellín cartel, sits down with Michael Franzese to talk about how he built and ran a cocaine empire from Norman’s Cay — a private island in The Bahamas. In this rare interview, Lehder breaks down the myths of the Medellín cartel, shares how he pioneered new smuggling routes into the U.S., and explains why the idea of a unified cartel is more Hollywood than reality.

0:00 – Carlos Lehder and his rise to the top 0:47 – Day in the life of a c*caine smuggler 1:30 – The truth about the Medellín Cartel’s structure 4:38 – Why Carlos bought a private island in the Bahamas 5:00 – Norman’s Cay and smuggling routes to the U.S. 6:00 – The Bahamas government transition and its impact 6:55 – How Lehder viewed the U.S. as his empire's

Nassau, The Bahamas - The Governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) PRESS STATEMENT on Carlos Lehder Interview

www.yourplp.org

Statement From the Progressive Liberal Party on Headline About Money Paid to Sir Lynden

For Immediate Release

The headline of 1 September 2025 on the front page of The Tribune, I PAID PINDLING 150K PER MONTH", is incorrect and misleading. It is also salacious and defamatory. However, because the law does not recognize defamation of the deceased, that outrageous allegation can be printed without legal consequences.

If one reads the story, a convicted drug trafficker, Carlos Lehder, who served time in prison for running cocaine into the United States, claims that he paid $150,000 a month to an intermediary whom he alleged was an agent for the late Prime Minister.

At no point does the story say that the drug trafficker ever paid anything to Sir Lynden. It is all after-the-fact, third-party hearsay nothing more than "he said, she said."

The larger point is that the source of the information is manifestly unreliable. The accusations cannot be tested because all the individuals against whom the allegations are made are deceased.

They cannot defend themselves. Sir Lynden is dead. Everett Bannister is dead. Gorman

Bannister is dead. These allegations, therefore, reflect cowardice, not truth-telling.

In The Bahamas, we often say, "Mouth can say anything." Around the world, it is said that paper will stand still for anything to be written on it. Convicted criminals often make self-serving statements. Newspapers, in turn, often print whatever will sell.

These allegations belong exactly where all other untested claims belong - in the garbage bin of history.

1 September, 2025