History of Pablo Escobar in Timeline

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord and the leader of the Medellín Cartel, dominating the cocaine trade to the US during the 1980s and early 1990s. Known as the "King of Cocaine," he amassed immense wealth, becoming one of history's richest criminals. Escobar's operations involved narcoterrorism and significant political influence, making him a notorious and impactful figure in Colombia and international drug trafficking until his death.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1948: Construction of Miami Beach Mansion

In 1948, the four-bedroom estate was built on Biscayne Bay, later to be owned by Escobar.

December 1949: Pablo Escobar's birth

In December 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born in Rionegro, Antioquia Department, Colombia. He belonged to the Paisa ethnic subgroup and grew up in poverty in Medellín.

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1966: Escobar leaves high school

In 1966, Pablo Escobar left high school just before his 17th birthday, marking a shift in his life towards criminal activities.

1971: Kidnapping of Diego Echavarria

In the summer of 1971, Pablo Escobar's gang kidnapped and killed businessman Diego Echavarria, receiving a $50,000 ransom. This event made his gang well known for kidnapping.

March 1976: Escobar Marries Maria Victoria Henao

In March 1976, the 26-year-old Escobar married María Victoria Henao, who was 15. The relationship was discouraged by the Henao family, who considered Escobar socially inferior.

May 1976: Escobar's arrest for drug trafficking

In May 1976, Pablo Escobar was arrested by the Colombian Security Service (DAS) for drug trafficking in Ecuador, with 39 kg of cocaine found in his car. He bribed the second judge in the lawsuit and was released, and the agent who arrested him was assassinated the following year.

1976: Escobar founded the Medellín Cartel

In 1976, Pablo Escobar founded the Medellín Cartel, which distributed powder cocaine. He established smuggling routes from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, through Colombia, and into the US, marking a significant step in his criminal career.

1976: Investigation of Escobar's arrest

In 1976, Pablo Escobar's arrest was investigated by Rodrigo Lara-Bonilla's subordinates, marking the beginning of a conflict between them.

April 1978: Escobar meets drug lords

In April 1978, Pablo Escobar met several drug lords on a farm, leading to the expansion of the Medellín Cartel. By the end of 1978, they had transported approximately 19,000 kilograms of cocaine to the United States.

1978: Development of Norman's Cay

From 1978, Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder developed Norman's Cay in the Bahamas as a trans-shipment point for the Medellín Cartel, establishing a central smuggling route.

1982: Escobar Enters Colombian Congress

In 1982, Pablo Escobar entered Colombian Congress, gaining parliamentary immunity. He became known as "Paisa Robin Hood" due to his charitable work, including developing Medellín's poorest neighborhoods.

1982: Purchase of land for Hacienda Nápoles

In 1982, Pablo Escobar purchased 20 square kilometers of land in Antioquia to build the Hacienda Nápoles, a luxury house with amenities for his family and the cartel.

January 1984: Escobar retires from politics

In January 1984, Pablo Escobar announced his retirement from politics, following his expulsion from the Liberal Party and increasing scrutiny.

November 1985: Attack on the Colombian Judiciary Building

On November 6, 1985, The Los Extraditable Organization, implicitly supported by Escobar, supported the far-left guerrilla movement that attacked the Colombian Judiciary Building. Half of the justices of the Supreme Court were killed.

1985: Escobar's role in the Palace of Justice siege

In 1985, Escobar financed the Palace of Justice siege, which was committed by M-19. According to Vallejo, the army was responsible for the killings of over 100 people.

1986: Supreme Court declares extradition treaty illegal

In late 1986, Colombia's Supreme Court declared the previous extradition treaty with the United States illegal due to it being signed by a presidential delegation, not the president, marking a short-lived victory for Escobar.

August 1989: Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán

On August 18, 1989, Luis Carlos Galán was assassinated at Pablo Escobar's orders. Subsequently, Escobar planted a bomb on Avianca Flight 203 in an attempt to assassinate Galán's successor, César Gaviria Trujillo, resulting in the deaths of 107 people.

1991: Escobar surrenders to Colombian authorities

In 1991, Pablo Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence and preferential treatment during his captivity. The extradition of Colombian citizens to the United States was prohibited by the newly approved Colombian Constitution of 1991.

July 1992: Government attempts to move Escobar to a conventional jail

On July 22, 1992, the government attempted to move Pablo Escobar to a more conventional jail. Escobar escaped, spending the remainder of his life evading the police.

1992: Escobar escapes from La Catedral

In July 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped from La Catedral when authorities attempted to move him to a more standard holding facility, leading to a nationwide manhunt.

December 1993: Pablo Escobar's death

In December 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in Medellín by the Colombian National Police. This event marked the end of his reign as the "King of Cocaine".

December 1993: Escobar killed in Medellín

On December 2, 1993, Pablo Escobar was found and killed in a house in Medellín by Colombian special forces, after they traced his location using technology provided by the United States. He was shot while trying to escape from the roof.

1993: Escobar killed in Medellín

In 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in his hometown by the Colombian National Police, a day after his 44th birthday, marking the end of the Medellín Cartel.

1995: Escobar's family flees Colombia

In 1995, Escobar's widow, son, and daughter fled Colombia after failing to find a country that would grant them asylum.

July 2006: Virginia Vallejo Offers Testimony

In July 2006, Virginia Vallejo offered her testimony to Attorney General Mario Iguarán in the trial against former Senator Alberto Santofimio, who was accused of conspiracy in the 1989 assassination of Luis Carlos Galán. Although Vallejo contacted his office in July 2006, the judge decided to close the trial before Vallejo could testify.

July 2006: Vallejo Taken to US by DEA

On 18 July 2006, Virginia Vallejo was taken to the United States on a special flight of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for "safety and security reasons" due to her cooperation in high-profile criminal cases.

October 2006: Escobar's Body Exhumed

On 28 October 2006, Escobar's body was exhumed at the request of some of his relatives in order to take a DNA sample and remove all doubt about the identity of the body that had been buried next to his parents for 12 years.

2007: Hippos Multiply

By 2007, the hippos at Hacienda Nápoles had multiplied to 16 and had taken to roaming the area for food in the nearby Magdalena River.

2007: Virginia Vallejo publishes her memoir

In 2007, the journalist Virginia Vallejo published her memoir Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar (Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar), in which she describes her romantic relationship with Escobar and the links of her lover with several presidents, Caribbean dictators, and high-profile politicians.

Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar / Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar (MTI) (Spanish Edition)

Check it on Amazon

2007: Announcement of Escobar Films

In 2007, two major feature films on Escobar, Escobar (2009) and Killing Pablo (2011), were announced.

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2008: Reopening of the Palace of Justice siege case

In 2008, the Palace of Justice siege case was reopened following Vallejo's statements. Vallejo was asked to testify, and many of the events she had described in her book and testimonial were confirmed by Colombia's Commission of Truth.

2009: Release of 'Sins of My Father'

In 2009, Argentinian filmmaker Nicolas Entel's documentary Sins of My Father chronicles Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, on behalf of his father, from the sons of Rodrigo Lara, Colombia's justice minister who was assassinated in 1984, as well as from the sons of Luis Carlos Galán, the presidential candidate who was assassinated in 1989.

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2009: Release of Escobar (2009)

In 2009, one of the two major feature films on Escobar, titled Escobar (2009), was released.

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2009: Hippos Escape and Attack

In 2009, two adults and one calf escaped the herd and, after attacking humans and killing cattle, one of the adults (called "Pepe") was killed by hunters under authorization of the local authorities.

October 2010: 'Sins of My Father' premieres on HBO

In October 2010, the film "Sins of My Father" premiered in the U.S. on HBO.

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August 2011: Santofimio Sentenced

In August 2011, Alberto Santofimio was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán.

2011: Release of Killing Pablo (2011)

In 2011, one of the two major feature films on Escobar, titled Killing Pablo (2011), was released.

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2014: Hippo Population Reported

As of early 2014, 40 hippos have been reported to exist in Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia Department, from the original four belonging to Escobar.

2014: Chicken Kitchen Proprietor Buys Mansion

In 2014, Christian de Berdouare, proprietor of the Chicken Kitchen fast-food chain, bought the dilapidated property that was once owned by Escobar.

2014: Marroquín publishes 'Pablo Escobar, My Father'

In 2014, Marroquín published "Pablo Escobar, My Father" under his birth name. The book provides a firsthand insight into details of his father's life and describes the fundamentally disintegrating effect of his death upon the family.

2014: Roberto Escobar founds Escobar Inc

In 2014, Roberto Escobar founded Escobar Inc with Olof K. Gustafsson and registered Successor-In-Interest rights for his brother Pablo Escobar in California, United States.

2016: Hippo Population Expected to Double

As of 2016, without management, the population size is likely to more than double in the next decade.

2017: Release of 'Loving Pablo'

In 2017, the movie Loving Pablo was released, inspired by Virginia Vallejo's book.

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June 2018: Accusation of money laundering

On 5 June 2018, the Argentine federal judge Nestor Barral accused Maria Henao and her son, Sebastián Marroquín Santos, of money laundering with two Colombian drug traffickers. The judge ordered the seizing of assets for about $1m each.

2018: Article on Hippos Published

In 2018, National Geographic published an article on the hippos which found disagreement among environmentalists on whether they were having a positive or negative impact but that conservationists and locals were mostly in support of their continued presence.

February 2019: Demolition of Edificio Mónaco

On 22 February 2019, Medellín authorities demolished the Edificio Mónaco apartment complex where Escobar planned some of his most brazen attacks. A park honoring cartel victims was to be erected in its place.