Pablo Escobar, a name synonymous with the Colombian drug trade in the late 20th century, was one of the most notorious and wealthy drug lords in history.

Early Life

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Colombia, and raised in Medellín, a city that would later become the base for his vast criminal enterprise.

Escobar’s criminal activities began in his youth, ranging from stealing gravestones and selling counterfeit high school diplomas to stealing cars.

Rise in the Drug Trade

In the 1970s, Escobar began to establish himself in the cocaine trade. Recognizing the growing demand for cocaine in the U.S., he organized smuggling routes to meet this demand.

By the 1980s, Escobar led the Medellín Cartel, which controlled a significant majority of the cocaine shipped to the U.S. It’s estimated that at the height of its operation, the Medellín Cartel smuggled several tons of cocaine each week into the U.S.

Wealth and Power

The immense profits from the drug trade made Escobar one of the richest men in the world. At one point, he was listed by Forbes magazine as the seventh-richest man on the planet.

With vast resources at his disposal, Escobar attempted to influence Colombian society and politics. He invested in social projects, such as housing for the poor, earning him the nickname “Robin Hood” among some segments of Colombian society.

At one point, he was even elected as an alternate member of the Colombian Congress, though his ties to criminal activities led to his ousting.

Violence and Intimidation

Escobar’s rise was marked by intense violence. He was responsible for the deaths of numerous police officers, judges, civilians, and rival drug traffickers.

His philosophy was “plata o plomo” (silver or lead), implying that officials and law enforcement had the choice of taking a bribe or facing assassination.

His cartel was also responsible for several high-profile acts of terrorism, such as the bombing of Avianca Flight 203 and the DAS Building bombing in Bogotá in 1989.

Downfall

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Colombian government, under significant pressure from the U.S., intensified its efforts to combat drug cartels.

In 1991, Escobar negotiated a deal that allowed him to reside in a luxurious private prison called “La Catedral” in exchange for his “surrender” to authorities.

However, in 1992, when it became evident that Escobar was continuing his criminal activities from inside La Catedral, the government attempted to move him to a more conventional jail. This led to his escape.

How did Pablo Escobar die?

After 16 months on the run, Escobar was tracked down in a Medellín safe house. On December 2, 1993, he was killed in a shootout with Colombian National Police.

Legacy

While Pablo Escobar is long gone, his legacy lingers on in pop culture, media, and the continued challenges related to the global drug trade.

His life story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and the popular TV series “Narcos”.

It’s crucial to understand that while Escobar is sometimes romanticized in media and popular culture, his reign caused immense suffering, leading to the deaths of thousands and the destabilization of Colombia’s socio-political fabric.