Italian mafia kingpin and Pablo Escobar fan arrested in cocaine capital Colombia after four years on the run
Who was Pablo Escobar?
PABLO Escobar was a notorious Colombian drug lord and the leader of the Medellín Cartel, one of the most powerful and violent criminal organisations in history.
Born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Colombia, Escobar rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest and most feared men in the world through the illegal cocaine trade.
During the 1980s, Escobar controlled the majority of the cocaine entering the United States, making billions of dollars.
He was known for his ruthless tactics, including bribery, intimidation, and murder, to maintain power and influence.
His cartel was responsible for thousands of deaths, including those of government officials, judges, police officers, and civilians.
Escobar's influence extended beyond the drug trade.
He used his wealth to fund social programs in his hometown of Medellín, building houses, schools, and sports facilities, which earned him some support among the local population.
But his reign of terror also led to significant violence and instability in Colombia.
The Colombian government, with support from the United States, launched a massive manhunt to capture Escobar.
He was eventually killed by the Colombian National Police on December 2, 1993, in Medellín.