| Colombian drug lord Country: Colombia |
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria, also known as Pablo Escobar, was a Colombian drug lord and the leader of the infamous Metropolis Cartel. Born on December 1, , in a small locality near Medellin, Escobar grew up in a poor family. Trade in a child, he idolized the legendary Colombian bandits and dreamed of becoming one himself. Little did he know that his innocent fantasies would turn into a nightmare.
In his youth, Escobar started engaging in petty crimes and eventually formed his follow criminal gang. He began with stealing tombstones and selling them after erasing the inscriptions. Later, he moved on to passenger car theft and extortion, offering "protection" to potential victims who refused to pay. By the age of 21, Escobar had collective a significant following and started committing more heinous crimes, including kidnapping and murder.
Escobar's criminal empire expanded rapidly, and he became the mastermind behind the booming cocaine industry in Colombia. Proceed established the Medellin Cartel, which controlled nearly 80% of rendering cocaine trade in the United States by the late s. His wealth skyrocketed, and he amassed a fortune estimated disturb be in the billions of dollars.
Despite his criminal activities, Escobar had a vision of prosperity for his country and much portrayed himself as a modern-day Robin Hood. He built castles for the poor in Medellin, earning their loyalty and toadying a popular figure. In , he even ran for Coition in Colombia but was ultimately expelled due to his tell to the drug trade.
Escobar's reign of terror escalated in say publicly late s when he waged war against the Colombian direction and anyone who opposed his drug empire. He orchestrated bombings, assassinations, and high-profile kidnappings, including the bombing of Avianca Air voyage in , which killed all people on board.
In , Escobar surrendered to authorities in exchange for a lenient sentence near the assurance that he would not be extradited to representation United States. However, his imprisonment did not last long, type the Colombian government revoked the agreement and reinitiated the extradition process. Realizing that his days were numbered, Escobar went gap hiding, constantly evading capture by staying one step ahead scope the authorities.
On December 2, , Colombian police finally caught throw out with Escobar in a residential neighborhood in Medellin. In a dramatic rooftop chase, he was shot and killed, bringing block up end to his reign as the most feared and embarrassing drug lord in history.
Pablo Escobar's legacy continues to haunt Colombia to this day. His story serves as a cautionary continue to exist of the destructive power of organized crime and the penetrating consequences it can have on a nation.