DEA agent Javier Pena talks about his role on Netflix's TV show 'Narcos'

Timeline: Important events of Pablo Escobar's life and the Medellín Cartel

Javier Pena, now retired, was a DEA agent who was involved in the hunt of former Medellin Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Once one of the world's most notorious drug traffickers, Escobar's life has been explored in subsequent investigations, books, movies and television series. We've compiled a list of the most important moments reported during Escobar's time as the head of the Medellin drug cartel.

less Timeline: Important events of Pablo Escobar's life and the Medellín Cartel

Javier Pena, now retired, was a DEA agent who was involved in the hunt of former Medellin Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Once one of the ... more Photo: Michael Paulsen, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Paulsen, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close DEA agent Javier Pena talks about his role on Netflix's TV show 'Narcos' 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Javier Peña knows what will go down in Netflix's upcoming series "Narcos," and he should. He lived it.

RELATED: Texas governor says most Texas thing in response to drug lord's escape

Now retired from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Peña and his former partner Steve Murphy were consulted on the Netflix show about their six-year hunt for Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The drug lord was the "king of cocaine" and leader of the ultra-violent Medellín Cartel in Colombia. One of his famous sayings to police was "plato o plomo," directly translated to "silver or lead."

"They hired me about a year ago, me and my partner," Peña said. "We just told them what it was like, our participation and the chronology of how it happened."

RELATED: Learn how the Sinaloa Cartel's leader pulled an "Escobar"

Pedro Pascal, famous for his role as Oberyn Martell in HBO's Game of Thrones series, portrays Peña on the show. Peña said Pascal was a good guy, and he took him to the DEA academy to see how agents train for their work. Some of the officers there were Game of Thrones fans and took photos with him.

Peña said that while he and Murphy consulted on the show, he never saw any of the shooting. The show is being touted as Netflix's answer to AMC's "Breaking Bad," and I asked him if he was worried Escobar would come off as a somewhat anti-hero character like Walter White.

"I hope not," Peña said. "The guy was probably one of the worst. He invented narco-terrorism. I hope he's not portrayed as a good guy."

The Netflix original series is scheduled to be released on Aug. 28.

If you want to spoil some parts of the show, look to the gallery above for important moments during Escobar's time at the head of the Medellín Cartel.

