They’re real-life Rambos gone bad.
A squadron of former elite military personnel from the US and Germany plotted to assassinate a DEA agent and an informant — both undercover agents — who were interfering with a cocaine distribution ring, according to a Manhattan federal court indictment released Friday.
Led by former US Army Sgt. Joseph “Rambo” Hunter, the int🌄ernational crew of veteran snipers and ex-counter-intelligence officers formed a security detail and hit squad for a supposed crew of heavyweight Colombian drug smugglers, who were worki𓂃ng with authorities, the feds said.
In meetings held from Asia to ꦫAfrica, the fearsome unit was caught on surveillance casually discussing killing the DEA agent and informant and similar executions they had coldly committed in tಞhe past.
In addition to Hunter, the bloody band of brothers included former US Army Sgt. Timothy Vamvakias, former German corporal and deadly sniper Dennis “Nico” Gogel, former Polish counter-te𒆙rrorism expert Slawomir Soboroski, and former German m🉐ilitary sniper Michael Filter, authorities said.
Like any corporate recruiter, ꦜHunter – who served nearly two decades in the military and rose to rank of sergeant first-class while in the army – alle♌gedly solicited actual resumes for the hit squad in late 2011 by e-mail.
The job description was simple: to perform poꦑtentially lethal but wildly𓃲 lucrative security and surveillance for a Colombian drug cartel that was moving thousands of kilos of cocaine across the world.
After he assembled his cadre, Hunter allegedly arranged for a meeting 🌊with confidential informants posing as the South American drug kingpins somewhere in Asia this March.
Hunter’s crew was told that they could expect to see “a lot of dope going back and forth, thousands of kilos,” the indictment said.
Hunter later allegedly told his unit that there would be plenty of opportunity to supplement their income with side contract killings𒆙.
“Most of the work is up close…because in the cities…you don’t get long-range shots,” he said, according to the 🎉feds.
The dirty sergeant was later caught on tape casually describing the way h⭕e previously arranged for the murder of two female real-estate agents, authorities said.
“They did the job, but they did it sloppy, and I fired them,” Hunter all𝄹eg𒆙edly said.
After conducting some surveillance of a drug boat on behalf of the fake cartel, the hit squad moved its center of operations to Africa, where they conducted security for posed weapons and drug deals, acco🦹rding to the indictment.
In May, Hunter and his gang were told that there had been a leak in the drug operation and that some killings – called “bonus 🎉jobs” – were on the horizon, offic🐟ials said.
Specifically, the informants told Hunter that they neede🔥d a DEA a♍gent and an informant boat captain rubbed out in Africa, authorities said.
“My guys will handle it,” he replied c🤪oolly, according to the indictment.
Vamvakias was allegedly assigned to lead the murderous mission set to take place somewhere in A▨frica.
The crew began setting up the complicated plot in minute detail. Vamvakias and Gogel brainstormed about the best way to conduct the k🌼ills and suggested machine guns, cyanide an♔d grenades as possible options, the feds said.
“I was thinking that if we hit the agent first, it would be better thanꦍ hitting the snitch first,’ Vamvakias was recorded as saying,” according to the complaint.
Back in Asia, Hunter allegedly sent severa♈l e-mails finalizing plans for the job.
He compiled a list of weapons required to pull it off, including “two submachine guns with silencers (Mac 10, MP5, P90, MP7,,,something small),” “Two .22 pistols with Silencers (these are a must),” “One 308 Rifle with Scope and Case for it,” “Two Level 3A Conceal𓆉ment Vests,” officials said.
Vamvakias noted that he and Gogel were♊ “probably gonna have to get up close to them. You know what I mean, to make sure it gets done,” the indictment said.
“Y🍌ou know, we gotta do this, hit it hard, hit it fast, make sure it’s done and get the fuck out of there,” he allegedly said. “That’s all that’s to it. If we get the right equipment, we’re good to go.”
The unit budgeted two weeks to pull off the slayings – o🌳ne week for surveillance and one week to pinpoint the right time to strike. They also planned to use a private plane 🧸to leave the country.
“That’s the biggest headache,” Vamvakias allegedly said๊. “The job🅺’s not the headache, it’s getting in and out.”
After obtaining latex masks that would obscure their races, Gogel told an undercove൩r agent that he reveled in his line of work, the indictme♎nt said.
“That’s fun, actually for me that’s fun. I love this work,” he allegedly said.
Gogel and Vamvakias arrived in Afr💮ica this week and were arrested. The🔥 other crewmembers were busted elsewhere.