7. Let's Make This Happen, Bro

Soundcheck one, two three.

Okay, what's your name?

Alex Delesco.

My colleague Nicole McNulty is getting set up with Alex, who's about to read from a script we've put together. And what do you do for a living?

I'm a professional actor here in London. I am originally from Romania.

Can you read that top line?

We talked in his car in front of the building. He explained to wait, I've flubbed that. Let me try again. We talked in his car in front of the building. He explained to me who he is. He showed me a list of weapons and ammunition on his phone. Then he sent me that list to my phone.

Alex is reading lines of court testimony given by a guy named Christian Vntilla. So in this episode and future ones, Alex will be the voice of Christian. Everything you'll hear comes verbatim from Christians testimony in court. The words are all Christians. After the armsteel goes sideways and Christian turns against Flavio.

Okay, okay, I'm ready to start.

Christian wanted nothing to do with me or this show. Here's what he told me in an email.

I don't care about what flav you said or did? They are a lot of lights and fakes.

I'm Trevor Aronson from Western Sound to My Heart podcast. This is Alphabet Boys, Episode seven. Let's make this happen. Bro. Before we get going with this episode, I want to give you a quick recap because the story of Flavio, Juan and the supposed arms deal can get a little confusing. Back in twenty twelve, Juan asks Flavio's friend Andy if he knows a guy who can help put together an arms deal for the farc Andy says he has someone

I was General Secretary of the State Reserves and then General Director with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

By the time Flavio meets him. Christian Ventilla is a divorced father of two and a high ranking government minister in Romania. He heads an agency that coordinates between the Romanian government and the NATO Alliance based in Brussels.

It's part of my job. I was registered as a weapon control for NATO in Brussels, and for this reason I was trained in different missions.

Christian grew up in Baco, a city of about two hundred thousand people northeast of Bucharest, the capital. After obtaining a doctorate in project management, Christian became a government official thanks to his association with a Romanian politician surrounded by accusations of corruption. Anyway, now I'm going to put Christian

He introduced Flavi Georgesco as a Romanian American businessman who had an order for weapons and ammunition.

This is the first time Flavio and Christian meet. Flavio drives a Christian's apartment building in Bucharest. Christian comes out front.

We talked in his car in front of the building. He explained to me who he is. He showed me a list of weapons and ammunition on his phone, then he sent me that least to my phone. He told me that he's very interested, that it is a serious order, and to reassure me, he called on the phone and the Georgie school and put him on the speaker because he speaks Romanian.

Also according to Christian, and this conversation in Flavio's car isn't recorded. Andy, speaking in Romanian, tells Christian and Flavio about one.

The order is coming from some old customers of his and it is a very serious order and he's going to get implicated by managing the financial side of disorder.

In the car, Christian tells Andy that based on the weapons on One's lists, including AK forty sevens and anti aircraft weapons, he believes he can line up a manufacturer to fill the order.

I suggested that they should get in touch directly Gin Totus with the Colombians he knew the products, and he knew what he can offer and what not.

As you may remember, flow connects one with gin Taudis. Guintaudis pretty quickly and correctly suspects that one is a government agent. Gintaudus sends an angry email with a link to a news article but a successful deea sting in Prague involving informants who claim to be buying weapons for the farc. That email gets to Christian, who confronts Flavia.

I talked to Georgiesco about this thing, telling him about the Czech article and explaining to him that Quintotus is suspecting that it's the same kind of sting.

He said, let me tell you something, and he put up a paper. He shows thing operation from Czech Republic from Prague with same one and everybody said, it's impossible.

It's the same temple's the same thing.

For Christian, this must have been an enormous red flag, but Flavio, in his Flavio way, assures Christian that there's no reason for concern.

Isaimeh, just trust me, this is just a coincidence.

He knows the Colombians and he previously did business with them, and I shouldn't worry about it.

Flavio needs to keep Christian in the business deal to supposedly gather information for the CIA. But and I have to admit this is bizarre. Given what happens later. Flavio also suspects that one could be with the DEA.

So what, I didn't care about what's going on over here in this side.

I was caidring what I find in this site using Juan right now, the goofy clown.

As far as Flavio is concerned. So what that just means he and Juan are both friends of America.

And I said, you know what, if we don't die, but at least today and we're gonna have something.

I didn't care anymore. I was going too far.

I was so excited and so proud, and still I have so many things and I can do so much.

That means I'm gonna keep going.

Yeah, here we arrive at yet another problem in Flavio's story. Flavio received these warnings that one could be a US government agent. The DEA had been so aggressive in its transnational narco terrorism stings that the targets of other stings were figuring out the DEA's game from news reports. Yet Flavio doesn't back out of the deal, and he doesn't contact the CIA to report the DEA's possible involvement. He just continues, knowing that it's possible, maybe even likely, that

How are you good?

Yeah, I mean german good.

I was. I was just at the beach. I just get back anyway.

And at the same time, Flavio assures One that they don't need this gen toutist guy anyway. I still I.

Still coming on on the twenty second, and I think we all need to meet and see if we can come up with a plan either what this gentleman, or maybe you can't help me to solve you know that? Do you talk to him? I am wanted to look for different, different solution.

By looking for a different solution, Flavio means he and Christian are going to find someone else.

We need to make it.

We need to talk so that you won't get talk to my other Columbian Mexican fellows. But I need to know that I made you, and you wanna tell me what the plants are you're looking for. I wanna tell him. I'm gonna keep everybody happy and then all the doors open, otherwise we're gonna lose this altogether. That's a bondle. Please Fla Let's let's let's make this happen, bro.

Please Flavi you let's make this happen bro more after the break.

My friends.

Okay, the company representing tells me they are located, So some money for the we're doing that transaction whenever we'll get ready. So I just wanted to let you know that.

It's July twenty fourteen. Wan is saying that its Fark friends have moved millions of dollars into European bank accounts. The money has been earmarked for purchasing the weapons that Flavio will help deliver. But at this point there's a

Yeah.

In August twenty fourteen, Wan calls Andy and Los Angeles, and Andy, in no uncertain terms, tells him the Romanians aren't happy.

Man.

I got the whole fucking government on my ass all honest now, So thell call flap.

I got a hold fucking Romanian government on my ass right now because.

They think I'm bullshitting.

What Andy is saying here is that with Juan refusing to go to Romania, the Romanian government has been coming down on him. It's not really that the Romanian government is coming down on him. He's referring to Christian, who is a government minister in Romania.

Is really bad.

Call him back, you guys.

Wan's referring to Rome when he got stood up. No, no, he called you to go down there. Those guys wanted to meet donnal Day.

I cannot, you know, push him around because there's no point in fucking pushing him around.

He's got to be done, you know, at a certain point, certain time. I mean the guys are thinking with bullshitting.

I mean, she's dell up on my ass.

The next day, Juan calls Flavio.

Hello, Hello, Flavio, how are you saying? Hey? And' they asked me to give you a call. I find a siller, you find a fellow? Is that what you said?

Yeah?

I find it?

And which a.

Seller? I'm sorry, I find the silver and which you are the thought can come to Menium.

Be aware that already twice I have come to Europe and I've been unable to accomplish anything. So if I if I do come, you need to guarantee me because otherwise it's gonna be three times.

I don't looking good a spending money. I don't want any problems with no one. If I go there, Make sure that you know these people. Am I gonna be safe? Please? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, no problem? All right?

When I come, you must have prices for for for the items that I requested that my customers is requested, okay, and.

Is they do have it on hand? I need to know how long will tell them to deliver.

One, having been frustrated by Flavio over and over again, is reading him the Riot Act. Here, this is your last chance. If we're going to meet in person, you better have prices for weapons and a clear timeline for delivery. Don't worry, Flavio tells Juan he's got everything under control. So one, who's secretly under pressure from his boss is at the Dea to make something of this languishing investigation, flies to Romania. He's accompanied by another Dea infemant. On

Here I am and in your town, and here I am to Doc. Okay, I'm not the Mario hotel.

They decide to meet at the Marriotte for dinner that evening. One starts as recording device.

The local time in.

Yes, eight thirty five pm. We are right now in the book arrest.

The other informant whispers to Wan.

The equipment when we run under we get there.

The equipment is going to be on until we get there, one says. The other informant stays behind in the hotel room. Well, Wan heads to the restaurant. One puts the recorder in a pocket and the tape gets noisy. This walk one is making from his room to the hotel restaurant is two years in the making. All those phone calls have led to this. Flavio and Wan finally meet at the Marriott in Romania.

It took a long time to Meetium. How are you great?

Good?

Thank you for coming.

How you been Welcome to Romania, Flavio tell us. Juan Flavio gives Wan a gift, a souvenir with the Romanian flag on it, and Jan hens Flavio a bag of coffee.

Colombia and Koffey. Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you my wife.

Flavio laughs, but it's clear that as someone who grew up in communist Romania, he doesn't really get one's joke. Juan Valdez was a fictional Colombian coffee being grower in American TV commercials from the seventies and eighties. Anyway, Flavio and Wan sit down at a table in the restaurant and get down to this military grade weapons business.

Do you have your own plan? I have my own agendas. I went it too much so it works. If we don't match it, it wouldn't want to work.

Flavio tells One that he can get the weapons. One suggests that they meet tomorrow in a private conference room. Flavio should bring Christian and One will bring a spark colleague.

But I get a room. Okay, this is important. The fellow that is comedy. His solo purpose of being here is to talk about the weapons because he knows about webbons. The people knows what they're talking about.

This fark guy. One says he's not like him. He doesn't make jokes. He's a no nonsense guy. He's an operative from the jungle.

Okay, he's from the jungle. Okay, ex military guy. The other people never went to school. All they have is they sell freaking cocaine. They make money. They think that the kings and they want to tell you what to do so that you know, So please bear with me. Hell me out if we come to that point. So you know, I need to explain to you everything when we alone, because I want this to have I want this.

To go through.

Wan also makes clear that he and his colleague need weapons to protect Fark's cocaine interests and to attack American helicopters in Colombia, but.

They want to buy weapons because they want to fight to protect the drug industry, and I want to bring down the American helicopters because other enemies. You understand that.

Wan is being explicit about this for a very specific reason. It's critical to the government's narco terrorism case. Flavio needs to know that these weapons he's helping want obtain, they're going to farc rebels who fund their violence through drug sales. Ding Finally, One appears to be happy with Flavio. He appears to believe that this deal can happen, and he again explains that as fark guys are tough but paranoid.

And I'm happy now that I came here. Me I can't come I'm just a simple man. This other guys, I'm the one to carry a big bag behind them, you know what I mean. I'm convince them to come about the situations people can oh, this guy is gonna rob you. This guy because I understand them, but I'm saying what they're telling them.

To celebrate. Flavio and Wan order Yeager meisters to toast. One has never had.

One Jagger Master jack Master Jaggers, Zacher, Jacker, Muster Jagger, Myster Jaggers, jagger meister.

Yes, yes, it's it's.

A greedy After drinks, Flavia and One agree to meet at the hotel the next day, and they'll have two more people with them, Flavia's contact, Christian Vntilla, and One's colleague from the jungle. That's up to the break again, just like the day before when One started his recorder. One can't remember where he is today.

Sday's September twenty fourth, twenty fourteen. Local time in Bulgaria is eight twenty seven pm luchs Bukarest, Bulgaria.

Bucharest, the other dea infemant says. One says, Bucharest, Bulgaria. He's in Romania.

We are about to go to a mida with Flavio and his friends are the main love at the hotel. Mario bring up to the conference to have a meeting with them, Bomaria. That's okay.

Juan and his Dea informat friend head downstairs to the hotel lobby. They're waiting for Flavio and Christian.

He called me in the afternoon of September twenty fourth.

This is Christian Vintilla. Remember, Christian is being voiced by an actor. He's saying that Flavio called him.

And he told me that the Colombians came to Bucharest unexpected and they want to meet him, and they want to meet him right away, and because he wouldn't know much about this field, he asked me to participate in the meeting with him. And he explained to me that they have a lot of money and he wanted to impress them because he's willing to do business in the future with them. And he told me to try to do my best presentation so I can we can catch them as clients.

I bring Christian because I didn't feel comfortable.

That I'm and this is Flavio, and I said, I have.

To be prepared, and I took Christian as an advisor to talk to see what's going on.

So Flavio and Christian head to the Marriott in Bucharest. Christian brings with him some catalogs from Romanian arms manufacturers. But before Flavio and Christian Meetjan and his colleague in the lobby, they dip into the hotel's restaurant. Flavio tells Christian to hand him his phone.

Jorgescu took my phone and his own and gave it to the waitress telling her to put it in a separate room.

Why the hell does Flavio do that? The only plausible reason that Flavio would ditch their phones is to prevent a government spy agency from listening to their Armsteel meeting. A little over a year earlier, in June twenty thirteen, whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents about the extent of global surveillance conducted by the NSA, the National Security Agency. So these ideas about the government listening in via your phone are very much in the air at

Excuse, how are you bye?

Thank you?

One is speaking to Christian for the first time. That's Christian's real voice. They're all inside a conference room at the hotel.

This speaks Spanish, No, no English, not very good.

Spanish English, Spanish, but no English, one says of his colleague, whose name is Diego. Diego doesn't speak English, or at least he's pretending not to speak English. I just want to point out how absurd this meeting at the Bucharest Marriott is one or Alex Diaz, the DEA informant, is with another DEA guy who's pretending to be a Colombian farc rebel, the so called Diego. This Diego guy isn't subtle about a supposed revolutionary work. He's giving off some

I was supposed to explain to them the weapons and how they work.

It's all theater, with each side playing a part for the other. Anyway, here's Diego, with one translating.

And.

The first we want to thank you coming here.

From here, Diego gets right down the business.

Are you familiar with the far Yeah? The the argument of the people stanchando. We are a country finding this course for six years. Mirida is midbis.

His life is my life, is my country, Diego tells Flavia and Christian as if borrowing from a list of cliches for revolutionetionaries. Diego then begins to explain the Flavi and Christian why his organization needs these weapons and.

Problem and this one will have a big problem.

Yes, americanoicters, black hat attack helicos.

Diego says, US government attack helicopters now being used in Colombia have tipped the balance of the conflict. The FARC only has assault rifles, making them largely defenseless against the choppers balance.

Because of that, the government has given it was jo is armamento and ti a.

Los helicopters North Americanos.

All he is is weapons to fight the error fight again the airplace of the Americans.

Los los Americanos.

Americans laugh of us, look criminal, you have to fight the air fight we can use He says that if we fight and we'll destroyed two or three of the helicopters and we kill two or three people, I want to think twice before they keep on doing this, can spider, what do you have that might help? Was defense?

Christian pulls out a weapons catalog. These are the type of weapons they can obtain. Diego flips through the pages and then taps his finger down repeatedly on one item.

This is what he's talking about.

Diego is interested in something called a ZU twenty three, an anti aircraft cannon that mounts to a small two wheel trailer. The canon, designed by the Soviet Union in the nineteen fifties, is so effective and adaptable that it's still in use around the world today seventy years later. It's perfective hell, but Diego says, they're not picky. It doesn't have to be the ZU twenty three. They just need a weapon system that can take down American helicopters.

The idea is that whatever you give was, then we can show this was down to take it out of.

But any arm steel for an anti aircraft system has a big obstacle, the ends user certificate to buy and ship the weapons. Christian tells one in Diego that they need that document.

If you want to get it, then you past probably way said ask him, what do you think about not rush, take your time on and once that launch of time we're taking together.

Flavio explains that he and Christian needs some time to obtain the document and once they have it, everyone should meet again in person to finalize the weapons order.

Wow, nothing, it's not the The problem is not the mention. The problem is the induser. So as soon as you find it.

Next day, okay, okay.

The four men then get up from the table, which I asked us. It's the deal is finally coming together for everyone, or so it seems. One is gathering evidence for the DEA, and Flavio believes he's gathering information for the c i A, including information about Christian Vintilla and Christian's network of arm suppliers.

Myself, I always have the feeling just to put every on the table. In what you do as a government, that one is not my business because I know behind the curtains it's a different stories and now what you see on TV or what you hear in the radio. By myself, I did the JEB. I did my part.

And Flavio has one more contact. He's hoping to deliver a guy who can help them get that ends user certificate. He's someone well known in Europe, someone with connections, someone accustomed to navigating the halls of power. He's a politician, a flamboyant former member of the Italian Parliament Karamichi jail Redici. His name is Massimo Romagnoli. That's in the next episode. This is up in arms, season two of Alphabet Boys. Alphabet Boys is a production of Western Sound and iHeart Podcasts.