Pablo Escobar – The King of Cocaine

Pablo Escobar was born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, a town in Colombia. He grew up in Medellín, a large city. His family was poor. His father was a farmer and his mother was a schoolteacher.

From a young age, Pablo wanted to be rich. He didn’t want to struggle like his parents. As a teenager, he began doing small crimes. He sold fake lottery tickets, stole cars, and smuggled goods. People said he was smart, fearless, and always thinking big.

In the 1970s, Pablo found something that would change his life: cocaine.

The Rise of the Cocaine Empire

Cocaine was a new drug that was becoming popular in the United States. It was made from coca plants that grew in South America. Pablo saw a chance to make huge money.

He started small. He worked with farmers in the jungle to grow coca leaves. Then he built hidden labs to make cocaine. He used planes, boats, and even submarines to send the drug to the U.S. He hid it in clothes, food, and everyday products.

In just a few years, Pablo became one of the richest men in the world. He created the Medellín Cartel, one of the most powerful drug groups in history. By the 1980s, he was smuggling over 70 tons of cocaine into the U.S. every month.

Pablo made billions of dollars. At one point, he was reportedly earning $420 million a week.

He bought big houses, private planes, and hundreds of cars. He built his zoo with lions, giraffes, and hippos. He also gave money to the poor—building houses, football fields, and schools. Many people in Medellín loved him and called him "Robin Hood."

But behind the good deeds was a lot of violence.

Blood and Power

Pablo used his money to control everything. He bribed police officers, judges, and even politicians. His famous phrase was:

“Plata o plomo?” — which means "Silver or lead?"

Take the bribe or take a bullet.

If someone refused to help him, he had them killed. Pablo ordered thousands of murders—police, journalists, judges, and anyone who stood in his way. His cartel also planted bombs in buildings, buses, and even airplanes.

The government of Colombia and the U.S. tried to stop him. But Pablo was always one step ahead. He had many hideouts, loyal workers, and strong security.

His Own Prison

In 1991, Pablo made a surprising offer to the government. He said he would go to jail if he could build his own prison.

The government agreed, hoping the violence would stop. Pablo built a prison called La Catedral outside Medellín. But it was more like a hotel. It had a soccer field, a bar, and a Jacuzzi. He continued to run his drug business from inside.

When the government found out, they tried to move him to a real prison.

But Pablo escaped in July 1992—and disappeared.

The Final Hunt

After his escape, the Colombian government, with help from the U.S., began a full search. A special police unit called the Search Bloc was created just to find him. They were joined by CIA agents, DEA, and even a secret group of enemies known as Los Pepes.

Pablo went into hiding. He moved from house to house, using trusted friends and family to protect him. But his power was shrinking. Many of his workers were arrested or killed. People were turning against him.

On December 2, 1993, a day after his 44th birthday, Pablo made a phone call to his son. The police traced the call. They found him hiding in a house in the Los Olivos neighborhood of Medellín.

As the police surrounded the house, Pablo ran to the roof. There was a short gunfight. He was shot and killed. Some say it was a police bullet. Others believe he shot himself to avoid capture.

Legacy

Pablo Escobar's story is one of power, fear, and tragedy. He was once one of the richest men in the world and controlled 80% of the global cocaine trade. But he also caused the deaths of thousands of people, including innocent civilians.

Today, people still argue about who he was. Some see him as a hero who helped the poor. Others call him a monster who brought pain and destruction.

His life is a lesson: Crime may bring money, but it often ends in death.