How did Pablo Escobar have so much power?

At the height of its power, the Medellín cartel dominated the cocaine trade, earning an estimated $420 million a week and making its leader one of the wealthiest people in the world. With a reported worth of $25 billion, Escobar had ample money to spend—and he did.

How did Pablo Escobar impact Colombia?

During the Medellín Cartel’s zenith in the 1980s and early 1990s, Escobar controlled nearly the entire cocaine supply chain. He oversaw the import of large, multi-ton shipments of coca base from Andean nations Peru and Bolivia into Colombia, where it was processed into cocaine in jungle labs.

Why is Pablo Escobar a hero?

While seen as an enemy of the United States and Colombian governments, Escobar was a hero to many in Medellín, especially to the poor. He was a natural at public relations, and he worked to create goodwill among the poor of Colombia.

How many deaths is Pablo Escobar responsible for?

Depending on the source, Pablo Escobar is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 4,000 people and possibly more (via Britannica). Judges, journalists, politicians, and police were all fair game if they came anywhere close to threatening his cartel’s business.

How did Pablo Escobar affect the economy of Colombia?

At the time of his death in 1992, Pablo Escobar was worth approximately 30 billion USD. In his quest to build the largest cocaine empire, Pablo not only wreaked havoc on the Colombian people, but also the Colombian economy. During this decade, Colombia’s GDP grew by nearly 5\% every year.

What happened to all of Pablo Escobar money?

A huge chunk of Pablo Escobar’s money went to the Colombian government. They also forced Escobar’s family to sign over whatever liquid assets were left behind by the government.

What was Pablo Escobar’s impact on Columbia?

Pablo Escobar’s impact on the country Columbia is vast and diverse ranging from social, political and economic effects on the country. Although most of the impacts were negative, some of the economic effects had long lasting bearing on the people of Columbia.

What was Pablo Escobar’s “Plata o plomo?

Escobar’s way of handling problems was “plata o plomo,” meaning “silver” (bribes) or “lead” (bullets). While he preferred the former, he had no qualms about the latter option, earning a reputation for ruthlessness. He reportedly killed some 4,000 people, including numerous police officers and government officials.

What was Escobar’s bomb?

Escobar had a bomb that contained an estimated 500kg of dynamite, and when it went off it leveled several city blocks. Not only did it kill a lot of people, but it destroyed more than 300 commercial properties.

Who was Pablo Escobar’s right-hand man?

Escobar’s right-hand man was called Popeye, and he had a lot of blood on his hands. In his career with Escobar, he killed over 300 people and ordered the deaths of 3,000 to ensure that Escobar’s reign of terror continued. Vasquez was another hitman employed by Escobar, and he was in charge of murder and torture.