Drug Deal Gone Bad

The airplane in the photo as well as a few bullet holes in the buildings on the south side of the island are all that is left of the empire of Carlos Lehder, a Columbian of German ancestry, who bought the island of Norman's Cay in the 1970's to use in the Medellin Cartel's drug smuggling operations. He first appeared in the area in 1977, buying up as much property as he could, often intimidating people into selling. He then sank over $5 million into Norman's Cay, enlarging the airstrip and lengthing the dock.

Subsequently, boaters like us who just like to anchor near an island for the evening and enjoy the scenery, were chased off by gun-toting guards. This, understandably, was met by some suspicion by boaters (a generally bright group), and the Bahamian police as well as the USDEA were notified. The DEA began surveillance of the island and Lehder's comings and goings, and in September of 1979, a raid by Bahamian police netted 33 Germans, Americans and Colombians. Lehder was, at the time, on a nearby island, and was captured attempting to flee in a small boat. He claimed he thought the police and DEA were coming to kidnap him. However, a corrupt Bahamian official had warned Lehder of the raid and Norman's Cay was spotless! Even though Lehder was arrested, he was released with no charges after turning over a suitcase containing $250,000 to Bahamian officials. He and his men were back in business within 48 hours!

Finally, in January of 1981, a 39 count indictment was handed down in US court naming Lehder and 13 others. By this time, Lehder was hiding out mostly in Columbia. The new plane designed to smuggle drugs crashed into the shallow water about 100 yards off the runway, and things generally began to look bleak for old Carlos. He was finally captured by Columbian authorities in February of 1987, just outside Medellin, and extradited to the United States. In May of 1988, Carlos was convicted and sentenced to life without parole plus 135 years.

We have been to Norman's Cay twice, now, and both times have eaten at the great little restaurant there. The restaurant is very simple, but truly elegant. The grouper dinner that John ate was caught by the restaurant manager that morning. It is the kind of place where the customers come to feel so much at home that when the manager or the server (who are also the cooks) are back in the kitchen, the 'regulars' get up and start serving the customers. Reservations are 'required', but if you don't have one, that's okay, too. Also, they don't start serving until 7:00, but if you want to eat at 6:00, that, again, is okay. (Very Bahamin). This time we met a guy who is about our age who has been cruising the Caribbean since the 1970's. He was in college in upstate New York, went to the Florida Keys for spring break, met some cruisers, and decided this was the life for him. He was here to reclaim his 39 foot boat, which had silted in (after having left it here 7 years ago) just behind the airplane. He is a musician, and has spent the last 35-40 years roaming the Caribbean, playing music, making friends, and generally living a very simple, pleasant life onboard.

As for Norman's Cay now, there are a few permanent residents, three cute vacation cottages (without bullet holes) and a lovely restaurant. The airstrip is still there and so are the docks, but both are decaying, and I think that's just the way the residents like it.