The cocaine cowboys era in Miami began in the early 1970s, when Colombian cartels, led by figures such as Pablo Escobar, began to flood the city with cocaine. American gangsters, including the infamous Marielito gang, also became involved in the trade, leading to a surge in violence and crime. The era was marked by brutal murders, kidnappings, and shootouts, as rival gangs fought for control of the market. Law enforcement efforts to combat the trade were initially hampered by corruption and lack of resources, but the creation of the Miami-Dade Police Department's narcotics unit and the DEA's Miami field office helped to turn the tide. The unit, led by detectives such as Al Singleton and Gregory Kehoe, used innovative tactics, including undercover operations and wiretaps, to dismantle the cartels and bring the cocaine cowboys to justice. The era came to an end in the late 1980s, as law enforcement efforts and the collapse of the Colombian cartels led to a decline in the trade.