Early Criminal Steps

Lehder initially sold stolen cars and smuggled them to Medellín, where his brother trafficked them, bypassing customs. At age 24, he became an expert pilot, mastering several air routes that formed the basis of his future criminal enterprise. His career started with small-quantity marijuana trafficking between the United States and Canada.

While incarcerated for car theft in Danbury, Connecticut, Lehder planned to exploit the cocaine market upon release, enlisting his bunkmate, George Jung, as a partner. Lehder meticulously gathered information on money laundering and smuggling from fellow inmates, aiming to revolutionize cocaine transport using small aircraft.