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 international 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 working with authorities, the feds said.
In meetings held from Asia to Africa, the fearsome unit was caught on surveillance casually discussing killing the DEA agent and informant and similar executions they had coldly committed in the 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-terrorism expert Slawomir Soboroski, and former German military sniper Michael Filter, authorities said.
Like any corporate recruiter, Hunter – who served nearly two decades in the military and rose to rank of sergeant first-class while in the army – allegedly solicited actual resumes for the hit squad in late 2011 by e-mail.
The job description was simple: to perform potentially lethal but wildly 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 killings.
“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 he 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 allegedly 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, according 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, officials said.
Specifically, the informants told Hunter that they needed a DEA agent and an informant boat captain rubbed out in Africa, authorities said.
“My guys will handle it,” he replied coolly, according to the indictment.
Vamvakias was allegedly assigned to lead the murderous mission set to take place somewhere in Africa.
The crew began setting up the complicated plot in minute detail. Vamvakias and Gogel brainstormed about the best way to conduct the kills and suggested machine guns, cyanide and grenades as possible options, the feds said.
“I was thinking that if we hit the agent first, it would be better than hitting the snitch first,’ Vamvakias was recorded as saying,” according to the complaint.
Back in Asia, Hunter allegedly sent several 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 Concealment 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.
“You 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 – one 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 said. “The job’s not the headache, it’s getting in and out.”
After obtaining latex masks that would obscure their races, Gogel told an undercover agent that he reveled in his line of work, the indictment said.
“That’s fun, actually for me that’s fun. I love this work,” he allegedly said.
Gogel and Vamvakias arrived in Africa this week and were arrested. The other crewmembers were busted elsewhere.