Stephen Murphy

Stephen Murphy is a retired Special Agent in Charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).1 He is best known for his role in the takedown of Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel alongside his partner Javier Peña.12 Murphy's career in law enforcement spanned 37 years, beginning as a police officer in Bluefield, West Virginia, and culminating in his position as Deputy Assistant Administrator of the DEA.3

Murphy joined the DEA in 1987 and served until 2013.2 During his tenure, he was stationed in various locations, including Miami, Bogotá, and Greensboro.1 His efforts in Colombia, working with Colombian National Police and U.S. military units, led to the dismantling of the Medellín Cartel.1

After retirement, Murphy founded a private company providing specialized training for the U.S. Department of Defense.1 He and Peña now conduct presentations on their experiences, focusing on leadership, conflict management, and succeeding against overwhelming odds.1 They also serve as technical consultants for the Netflix series "Narcos," which is based on their activities in Colombia.12

Murphy co-authored the book "Manhunters: How We Took Down Pablo Escobar" with Javier Peña.2 He is also involved in "The Game of Crimes" podcast, where he shares stories from lesser-known cases with significant consequences.3 Currently, Murphy and Peña are working on investigating a cold case related to a missing Pan Am Airways flight from 1938.3