Plomo o plata?

Imagine you're a police officer in the Colombian Police Force patrolling the highways. Increased narco-trafficking necessitated the government to increase surveillance. Suddenly, a large suspicious truck appears and you stop it to check for illegal drugs. But there's a twist, one of the passengers on the truck is the notorious drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar. He gets down from the truck and confronts you with a simple question "Plomo o Plata?" (lead or silver?). If you choose the former and honor your duty, you will be shot dead. But if you fear for your life and choose the latter, you will be paid a heavy bribe to let the truck full of cocaine pass. What do you choose? 

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug dealer born in 1949 in a small Colombian town called Rionegro. From his early teen years, his delinquency earned him a criminal reputation.  The lucrative narcotics business attracted him and he steadily established the Medellin cartel. He partnered with the Ochoa brothers and made billions of dollars yearly. At the peak of his life, 90% of the world's cocaine supply was controlled by his cartel. Cocaine was exported to many countries including the United States. He owned several palatial residences in Colombia but perhaps the most famous one was the Hacienda Napoles. This vast estate consisted of a private airstrip, a tennis court, a soccer field, and a grand mansion. The entrance to this estate was decorated by the airplane used by Escobar for his first drug supply trip to the USA. However, Escobar didn't spend all of his money on embellishing his life. He was locally known as "Robin Hood" as he overtly distributed bundles of cash amongst the poor people and built several houses and stadiums. He was also the patron of many local football teams. 

Escobar also had political ambitions. His philanthropic actions garnered the support of the villagers and he won a seat in the Colombian legislature. Nonetheless, his political stint did not last long. While everyone in the parliament was aware of Escobar's ruthless nature, nobody had the courage to publicly chastise him. However, upon being publicly humiliated by the Law Minister, Escobar was forced to resign. Soon the law minister was shot dead by 2 men on a motorcycle. Another opponent candidate was gunned down during a public address. Members of the Cali cartel, politicians, cops, and civilians- all were his targets. A bomb was placed aboard a plane to kill an informant. Escobar's affinity for violence further tarnished his image. He transformed into a terrorist who was not afraid to tackle the government. 

This is a photo of him along with his son in front of the White House while being hunted by Government Officials.

The Colombian government had to negotiate a deal with Escobar to cease his criminal activities. An anti-extradition law was passed in the parliament as Escobar had wanted. Escobar had always been emphatic of his mantra "rather a grave in Colombia than a jail cell in the United States". Negotiations with the Colombian culminated in both the parties acquiescing. The Colombian stopped the extradition but handed over a 5 year home arrest to Pablo. His house arrest was no less than regal. He was isolated in a prison that was built on his specifications. La Catedral, as it was called, had a football pitch, jacuzzi, bars, and tunnels. Escobar easily managed to control his drug trade from within his palatial prison. The Colombian government overlooked all his actions until one day the reports of his killing and burning of the bodies of two bodyguards started arriving. The Colombian National Army surrounded the prison but Escobar slithered away through one of the tunnels. Thus ensued an eighteen-month long manhunt. 

Did you know: Escobar had a rare inherited fetal myasthenic disease. And, it got its name as Escobar syndrome as Escobar prepared an extensive report on this disease in 1978 along with his associates.

The Colombian police force and the army cracked down heavily on the drug outlets controlled by Escobar. As trade was hampered and a significant amount of money was being spent on artillery, finances flustered. The violence also claimed the lives of thousands of sicarios who worked under Escobar. Escobar's army of bodyguards depleted rapidly with many of them betraying him. In the end, only one bodyguard remained with whom Escobar took refuge in a middle-class locality in Medellin. The weakened druglord made a phone call to his son on his birthday which was eventually traced by the Colombian forces. They surrounded his domicile. As they stormed the hideout, Escobar and his bodyguard rushed to the roof. Firing commenced from both sides and Escobar was finally shot dead on 2nd December 1993 at the age of 44 years. Another version of the story claims that Pablo committed suicide. This narrative is even supported by his son who recounts in an interview how his father would often tell him about shooting himself through the ear if he were to ever commit suicide. 

This is a photo of Pablo Escobar along with his bodyguard on the right.

The richest criminal in history, Pablo Escobar epitomized mercilessness and barbarism. It has been estimated that he killed more than 4,000 people while he lived. His overt display of cruelty not only tarnished his reputation as a saint for the poor but also brought countless challenges for his family. His actions gave unforgettable pain to the families of the victims for which his own family has to bear the brunt. Even his monetary legacy has vanished as most of it had to be paid to the government and the victims. Only the memories of his deplorable actions remain. 

Text by Vaibhav Jain and Veertej Singh

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