Adler Berriman Seal, better known as Barry Seal was an airline pilot who later became a drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel. He then turned against them and joined with the Drug Enforcement Administration as an informant. He testified in many drug trials until his murder in 1986.
Seal had a natural talent for flying and earned a student pilot certificate at the age of 16. Just a year later he achieved a private pilot’s certificate and joined the Louisiana Army National Guard I’m 1961. After six years of service in the National Guard, he joined TWA as a flight engineer. He quickly climbed the ranks and became one of the youngest command pilots.
By 1972 Seal had already started to get involved in the smuggling business. He was fired from his job at TWA after he got arrested for being part of a scheme to smuggle explosives to Mexico.
Seal first came in contact with the cartel through William Reaves. He met Reaves on a plane to the U.S. after his sentence in prison. In 1981 he began work with the cartel, smuggling cocaine.
In 1983 Seal finally got arrested after a long-running undercover operation. The following year he got convicted of all charges of conspiracy and smuggling after a month-long trial.
He attempted to make deals with regional drug task forces but came up empty-handed. He then turned to the Vice president’s task force and eventually became an informant due to his wide network and contacts.
As a result of his testimonies in multiple drug trials, he became an enemy of the cartel. He was shot dead in front of the Salvation Army Center by a hired killer. He was shot six times using a silenced machine gun and died on the spot on February 19, 1986.
Adler Berriman Seal, better known as Barry Seal was an airline pilot who later became a drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel. He then turned against them and joined with the Drug Enforcement Administration as an informant. He testified in many drug trials until his murder in 1986.
Seal had a natural talent for flying and earned a student pilot certificate at the age of 16. Just a year later he achieved a private pilot’s certificate and joined the Louisiana Army National Guard I’m 1961. After six years of service in the National Guard, he joined TWA as a flight engineer. He quickly climbed the ranks and became one of the youngest command pilots.
By 1972 Seal had already started to get involved in the smuggling business. He was fired from his job at TWA after he got arrested for being part of a scheme to smuggle explosives to Mexico.
Seal first came in contact with the cartel through William Reaves. He met Reaves on a plane to the U.S. after his sentence in prison. In 1981 he began work with the cartel, smuggling cocaine.
In 1983 Seal finally got arrested after a long-running undercover operation. The following year he got convicted of all charges of conspiracy and smuggling after a month-long trial.
He attempted to make deals with regional drug task forces but came up empty-handed. He then turned to the Vice president’s task force and eventually became an informant due to his wide network and contacts.
As a result of his testimonies in multiple drug trials, he became an enemy of the cartel. He was shot dead in front of the Salvation Army Center by a hired killer. He was shot six times using a silenced machine gun and died on the spot on February 19, 1986.