The cocaine cowboys era in Miami began in the early 1970s, when a group of smugglers, led by figures such as Griselda Blanco and Carlos Lehder, started bringing large quantities of cocaine into the city. The trade was fueled by the demand for the drug in the United States, and the smugglers used a variety of methods to bring it into the country, including boats, planes, and even submarines. The cocaine cowboys were known for their brutality and cunning, and their operations were often marked by violence and bloodshed. The group's activities were also marked by a sense of flamboyance and excess, with many of the smugglers flaunting their wealth and living lavish lifestyles. The cocaine cowboys era came to an end in the late 1980s, when law enforcement efforts, led by the DEA and the Miami-Dade Police Department, began to crack down on the smugglers. Many of the key figures were arrested and convicted, and the city began to recover from the devastating impact of the cocaine trade. The legacy of the cocaine cowboys continues to be felt in Miami, with the city still struggling to overcome the social and economic problems caused by the trade.