Which Colombian drug lord led the Medellin cartel in the 80s?In the 1980s, Colombia’s infamous Medellín Cartel was led by notorious drug lord Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria. Born on December 1, 1949, Escobar grew up in a poor neighborhood of Medellín and began his criminal career smuggling cigarettes and stolen cars before turning to drug trafficking.
Under Escobar’s leadership, the Medellín Cartel became one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the world. The cartel was responsible for the production and distribution of massive amounts of cocaine in the United States and other parts of the world.
Throughout his reign, Escobar was known for his ruthlessness towards rival gangs, Colombian law enforcement, and politicians who attempted to thwart his operations. He was also known for his “plata o plomo” (silver or lead) approach, bribing or threatening officials and police with violence in order to continue his activities undisturbed.
The violence and corruption associated with the Medellín Cartel resulted in countless deaths and made Escobar one of the most wanted criminals in the world. Finally, on December 2, 1993, he was shot dead by the Colombian police during a search operation in Medellín. His death marked the end of the Medellín Cartel, but the legacy of violence and drug addiction has long haunted the region.