Inside the Rise and Fall of Pablo Escobar, the ‘King of Cocaine’

Pablo Escobar was the Colombian drug lord who transformed the global cocaine trade in the 1970s and 1980s. At the height of his power, his Medellín Cartel supplied 80% of the cocaine entering the United States and made him one of the world’s richest men. Born in 1949 near Medellín, Escobar moved from petty crime to large-scale smuggling. He built his empire through bribery, violence and the motto “plata o plomo” – take a bribe or face deadly consequences. He funded housing projects and sports fields in poor communities, earning local support despite the bloodshed. His reign was marked by bombings, kidnappings and assassinations that terrorized Colombia. After surrendering under a deal in 1991, he escaped a luxury prison and sparked one of Colombia’s biggest manhunts. Killed in a Medellín rooftop shootout in 1993, his story still fuels debates about crime, corruption and the global war on drugs.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.