The agents behind the Netflix hit Narcos are making their way to New Zealand, and hope to tell the story about taking down the world's biggest drug lord.

Former American drug control agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña were the lead investigators, assigned to hunt Pablo Escobar.

DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña told Mike Hosking they went though a lot of difficult times with the investigation.

"The citizens were probably expecting the government to take care of it, but he had introduced a level of violence which we had never seen before. The operation was unbelievably sophisticated, Escobar had a lot of different people working for him. If you didn't follow his rules, he would honestly have your family killed"

When asked what it was like mixing with regular citizens of the country, an important task of a DEA agent, Murphy said they were nothing like the stereotypes often associated with Colombians. 

"They are very accepting and very proud people in Colombia. You must have a open personality, kind smile, and really make an effort to get to know them for things to pay off."

Central America is known as one of the most dangerous regions in the world, with drug cartels often being on a level playing field with the local police.

"Colombia is one of the most violent places on earth, we had never seen some of the tactics which the drug cartels used, it was just so violent."

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist. His cartel supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States

LISTEN ABOVE AS STEVE MURPHY AND JAVIER PENA SPEAK TO MIKE HOSKING