Pablo Escobar Biography | Drug Lord

Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a notorious Colombian drug lord and leader of the Medellin Cartel, one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the world during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Born in Rionegro, Colombia, on December 1, 1949, Escobar grew up in a poor family and was forced to drop out of school in the ninth grade to support his family. He started out as a small-time thief and smuggler before getting involved in the drug trade in the 1970s.

With the help of his cousin Gustavo Gaviria and other associates, Escobar built a vast empire based on the production and distribution of cocaine, amassing a fortune estimated to be worth billions of dollars. He became known for his ruthless tactics, including bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations, and was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including law enforcement officials, politicians, and innocent civilians.

At the height of his power, Escobar was one of the most wanted men in the world, with a $2.7 million bounty on his head. He managed to evade capture for many years by hiding in safe houses and using bribery and intimidation to stay one step ahead of the authorities.

In 1991, Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities on the condition that he would be allowed to build his own prison, which he named La Catedral. However, he continued to run his criminal empire from inside the prison, and eventually escaped in 1992.

A massive manhunt was launched to capture Escobar, and he was finally tracked down and killed by Colombian authorities on December 2, 1993, while trying to flee across rooftops in Medellin.

Despite his brutal legacy, Escobar remains a controversial figure in Colombia and beyond, with some regarding him as a Robin Hood-like figure who used his wealth to help the poor, while others see him as a monster responsible for untold violence and suffering.