Law Enforcement Crackdowns: The 1980s saw intense law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking in Miami. Operations like the DEA's Operation Swordfish in December 1980 led to significant indictments and seizures of drugs and assets. This operation alone resulted in the indictment of 67 people and the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs, along with substantial cash and assets
Cartel Dynamics and Violence: The violence between cartels and law enforcement was extreme. The Miami drug war involved numerous murders and acts of brutality, with the city morgue even having to rent a refrigerated truck to store bodies due to the overwhelming number of dead This level of violence and the resulting law enforcement response disrupted the operations of major cartels like the Medellín Cartel.