The Cocaine Coup: How a Bolivian Dictatorship Was Built on Drug Money Podcast By cover art

The Cocaine Coup: How a Bolivian Dictatorship Was Built on Drug Money

The Cocaine Coup: How a Bolivian Dictatorship Was Built on Drug Money

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In 1980, Bolivia experienced one of the most brazen and brutal takeovers in its history. The so-called "Cocaine Coup" installed General Luis García Meza, whose regime was openly bankrolled by drug traffickers. But how did a national government become a literal cartel, and what role did a fugitive Nazi war criminal play in its security apparatus? This episode uncovers the sordid intersection of politics, crime, and terrorism. We trace the flow of cocaine dollars directly into the coffers of the military junta, funding its repression. We follow the infamous Klaus Barbie, the "Butcher of Lyon," who was hired to train the regime's paramilitary squads in interrogation and torture techniques, creating a perfect storm of corruption and cruelty. Listeners will gain a stark understanding of the "Narco-State" blueprint, seeing how Cold War anti-communist agendas in Washington sometimes turned a blind eye to monstrous allies. It’s a dark chapter of hemispheric history where the war on drugs and the war for power became catastrophically intertwined. When the state itself was the criminal enterprise. #CocaineCoup #Bolivia #GarcíaMeza #KlausBarbie #NarcoState #ColdWarLatinAmerica #DrugTrade Hosted by Ibnul Jaif Farabi. Produced by Light Knot Studios (lightknotstudios.com).
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