Miguel

Background

Miguel is a co-leader of the Colombian Cartel in Grand Theft Auto III and Catalina's partner after she abandons Claude. He is a smooth-talking, well-dressed criminal who manages the Cartel's business in Liberty City while Catalina sets its direction.

Within the Cartel, Miguel handles day-to-day business such as protecting shipments, dealing with partners like the Uptown Yardies and moving SPANK into the city. He sits in the background of most of the story, which makes his capture by the Yakuza and his rapid collapse under torture all the more striking.

Events of GTA III

Miguel first appears in the opening heist, driving the getaway car. He watches as Catalina shoots Claude and then drives away with her and the money.

Through the middle of the game Miguel stays behind the scenes as the Cartel spreads SPANK, takes the Old Oriental Gentleman hostage and fights the Yakuza and the Leones. His luck runs out when the Yakuza capture him. After Grand Theft Aero, Asuka Kasen holds him at the Panlantic construction site in Fort Staunton and tortures him for information.

Under pressure, Miguel gives away the Cartel's secrets. He tells Asuka about the three death squads sent after Claude, which leads to Bait; the espresso stands used as SPANK fronts, which leads to Espresso-2-Go!; and the plane carrying SPANK into Francis International Airport, which leads to S.A.M.

Catalina takes revenge for this betrayal. In Ransom, Claude returns to the construction site to find both Asuka and Miguel dead, Miguel impaled on a pole with Catalina's ransom note.

His confession is what lets Claude take the fight to the Cartel in the final act. Each of Asuka's last missions comes from something Miguel has revealed, which turns him, unwillingly, into one of Claude's most useful sources of information. His death in Ransom shows that Catalina punishes betrayal even from her closest partner.

Personality

Miguel is vain, self-assured and loyal to Catalina until he is captured. Once tortured, he talks quickly, showing he values his own life above the Cartel. His fate shows how little loyalty Catalina has to anyone.

Relationships

• Catalina: his partner and lover in the Cartel, who kills him.
• Claude: the man he helped betray, and the one who later dismantles his business.
• Asuka Kasen: his captor and torturer.

• The Uptown Yardies: business partners of the Cartel.

Trivia

• Miguel is voiced by Al Espinosa.
• He is one of the few people in the opening cutscene who never fights Claude directly.

• Miguel is one of only a handful of characters who appear in both the opening cutscene and the final act of the story.