When you look at the stories of people who lived on the edge of the law and state interests, you understand how much more complex reality is than any film. Barry Seal is one of the brightest examples of such a double life.

This guy started flying when he was still a teenager. At 16, he already had a pilot’s license, which meant he understood that the sky was his element. But instead of an ordinary aviation career, Barry Seal chose a far more dangerous path. First, he smuggled weapons; then he got drawn into the orbit of the Cuban revolution, helping Castro. It seemed extreme enough for one person.

By the end of 1970-е, Barry Seal was already working with the Medellín cartel, having earned the nickname “El Gordo.” The scale of his operations was enormous—he transported tons of cocaine, and revenues reached $3-5 billion. It was a system that worked like clockwork.

But this is where the story gets even more tangled. In 1984, Barry Seal begins secretly cooperating with the CIA and DEA. He helps document Pablo Escobar’s operations and photographs key moments. The deal is simple—information in exchange for a reduced sentence. But such cooperation has a price.

In February 1986, when Barry Seal was only 46 years old, he was killed. Apparently, the cartel’s killers decided to get rid of the traitor. His story did not go unnoticed—Hollywood directors saw the potential of this plot and created the film “American Made” in 2017, with Tom Cruise starring in the lead role. The film showed how one person can be pulled into a vortex of big money, big risks, and big government interests.