Escobar, Griselda Blanco and 9 more of the richest and most brutal drug lords in the world
On January 25, Netflix released the crime-drama series “Griselda,” which is based on the life of drug baroness nicknamed “Godmother” Griselda Blanco. And this is an excellent occasion to remember the stories of the richest and most brutal drug lords.
These figures are known not only for the vast wealth they amassed through illegal means, but also for their incredible brutality and the influence they had on the underworld. Their stories are full of power, violence and intrigue, and still haunt the minds of people around the world.
Net worth: $50 million.
Frank Lucas is still alive and 87 years old, which is extremely uncharacteristic for a criminal of his stature. He made his fortune by transporting kilograms of heroin from Asia to the United States during the Vietnam War, hiding drugs in the coffins of dead American soldiers. In the 70s, he was arrested and sentenced to 70 years in prison, but he was able to turn in his accomplices, which led to more than a hundred arrests. After serving 5 years, Lucas was released, but a year later he was caught again, this time buying cocaine. Released in 1991.
The film “Gangster” was made based on his biography (stills from the film above).
Net worth: $100 million.
Jose Figueroa Agosto, also known as Junior Capsule and Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean, controlled the supply of Colombian cocaine to the United States through Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. As befits a real drug lord, in 1999 Jose escaped from prison when he was sentenced to 209 years in prison, changed his appearance several times and paid large bribes to the police so that he would not be put behind bars again. Currently, Jose is serving his sentence, and his 100 million are in a secluded place known only to him.
Net worth: $105 million from heroin sales.
Like many drug dealers, Barnes himself was not averse to being on drugs. He began using heroin at a young age. Then he finally decided that it was better to sell drugs than to buy them. And so began his stormy career.
In the 70s, he personally proclaimed himself Mr. Untouchable due to numerous arrests that led to nothing, he always managed to get out. This greatly angered the police and American President Jimmy Carter.
Barnes was jailed for life. The drug dealer helped justice by working as an informant for a long time. For his length of service, he was pardoned and released in 1998.
Net worth: 170 million from selling cocaine.
Paul Lear Alexander, or simply El Parito Loco, worked at one time as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. At that very time, he was actively expanding his business, selling out competitors and establishing strong connections for his own business.
In 2010, he escaped from a Brazilian prison and is still wanted.
Net worth: more than 600 million dollars.
In the 80s, he sold crack and earned more than half a million dollars. In 1996, he was sentenced to life, which was initially reduced to 20 years. As a result, he was released after 10 years for “exemplary behavior.”
He is best known for suing rapper Rico Ross for using his pseudonym.
Net worth: over $650 million.
Rafael Caro Quintero is the founder of the Mexican drug cartel Guadalajara, operating in the 80s. During his criminal activities, he killed several people, including a pilot and a federal agent. He was arrested for murder in 1985 and released from a Mexican prison in 2013. However, the US government was not pleased that Quintero was released and asked for his re-arrest. Quintero is currently wanted in Mexico, America and several other countries.
Net worth: $1 billion.
Joaquin Guzman, or as he is popularly known, El Chapo, is the leader of the Sinaloa cartel. His main activity was the supply of cocaine, heroin and marijuana between America and Mexico.
Known for becoming the world's most wanted fugitive after the death of Osama bin Laden. The Drug Enforcement Administration considers Guzman the most powerful drug trafficker in history, surpassing Pablo Escobar himself.
Despite the fact that El Chapo escaped from prison several times, he is currently in custody. The drug lord was jailed in 2016 after he met with American actor Sean Pen. This meeting helped law enforcement agencies get on the trail of El Chapo.
Net worth: $2 billion.
Griselda Blanco was among the pioneers of the drug business, building her empire in the 70s. She was popularly called the godmother of cocaine and was the head of the criminal Medellin cartel.
She is also known for the fact that she was married three times; she buried all three husbands (it is believed that she shot her second husband herself). Blanco also allegedly liked to make love to men while pointing a gun at them.
In 2012, she was shot dead by a passing motorcyclist (who remained unknown). Moreover, it was she herself who once came up with this method of murder during the fight against competitors.
Earned: $2.7 billion.
One of the founders of the Medellin cartel, known for numerous innovations in the drug business. I came up with a marketing campaign - “the first dose is free.” At some point, Leder wanted to legalize his business and suggested that the President of Colombia fully pay off the country’s entire external debt.
According to official data, he is currently serving a sentence of 135 years in an American prison. Since the exact location of his imprisonment is unknown, there are rumors that he was placed under the witness protection program and has been at large for a long time.
Net worth: more than 25 billion dollars.
Amado Fuentes received the nickname Lord of the Skies for transporting cocaine in airplanes. Despite the fact that Fuentes always tried to keep a low profile, the American police did their best to catch the criminal. Because of this, the drug lord had to change his appearance through plastic surgery. However, Fuentes died during the operation, apparently due to a lethal mixture of painkillers.
Net worth: $30 billion.
The name Pablo Escobar always comes to mind when someone nearby says the word “cocaine.” Forbes magazine estimates that Escobar controlled 80 percent of the world's cocaine business.
Considered one of the most dangerous and brutal criminals in history. He is responsible for the murders of politicians, judges, journalists, police officers and even the bombing of a civilian aircraft.
The drug lord's son Sebastian Marroquin (Juan Pablo Escobar) said that somehow, once again hiding from government agents, Escobar, along with his son and daughter, ended up in a high-mountain shelter. The night turned out to be extremely cold, and while trying to warm his daughter and cook food, Escobar burned about $2 million in cash.