He isn't alone however, he is together with his best friend Manny. They are released from the camp and given green cards. However the green cards come with a cost. They get the cards in exchange for killing a former Cuban political official, at the demand of a powerful drug dealer named Frank Lopez. Frank's henchman Omar Suarez, gives Tony and Manny the opportunity to purchase cocaine from some Columbians, but the deal goes terribly wrong. Tony and Manny get the cocaine for Frank and personally want to deliver it to him. Despite Omar being hesitant at letting them do this, he gives in.
After having heard of the life threatening drug deal and receiving the cocaine, Frank Lopez is surprisingly impressed with their work. Tony especially receives recognition for his courageousness and dedication towards Frank. Tony and Manny earn Frank's respect and they are accepted into his inner circle. After some time Tony is sent to Bolivia, where he makes a cocaine importation deal, with big time Bolivian drug lord named Sosa. Nonetheless Frank never approved the deal, which Tony had sealed in Bolivia. The dispute caused by the Bolivian deal, causes Frank's and Tony's relationship to dissolve and finally end. Now that Tony and Manny are on their own, Tony decides to build his own drug empire. .
While sitting in a club Tony stumbles upon detective Mel Bernstein, who is causing complications for his drug business. In the club, later the same evening, while thinking about the earlier occurrences with Mel, two hitmen try to kill Tony. He manages to escape and goes to Frank's house, in suspicion that Frank's is behind the two, hired hitmen. Upon his arrival Tony sees that detective Mel is having a meeting with Frank. Both Frank and Mel end up being killed. With less completion on the drug market and no complications from Detective Mel, tony builds a multi million-dollar drug empire. Although his hopes of achieving his view of the American dream have come true, it still isn't enough.