History of Pablo Escobar in Timeline

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord and the leader of the Medellín Cartel. Known as the "King of Cocaine," he became one of the wealthiest criminals in history, controlling a significant portion of the cocaine trade into the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s. His cartel's activities and immense wealth made him a notorious and influential figure.

Sections (5)

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

1948: Construction of Miami Beach Mansion

In 1948, a waterfront mansion was built at 5860 North Bay Road in Miami Beach, Florida. Escobar later owned this property under his own name.

December 1949: Pablo Escobar's Birth

In December 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born in Rionegro, Antioquia Department, Colombia, belonging to the Paisa ethnic subgroup with Spanish and Italian roots.

Others born on this day/year

December 1949: Birth of Pablo Escobar

In December 1949, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was born. He later became a notorious Colombian drug lord, narcoterrorist, and politician, ultimately leading the Medellín Cartel.

Others born on this day/year

1966: Escobar leaves High School

In 1966, Pablo Escobar left high school just before his 17th birthday, marking a shift in his life away from formal education.

1971: Kidnapping of Diego Echavarria

In the summer of 1971, Escobar kidnapped businessman Diego Echavarria, eventually killing him and receiving a $50,000 ransom from the Echavarria family, marking a significant event in Escobar's early criminal career.

March 1976: Escobar marries María 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; the pair eloped.

May 1976: Escobar's Arrest for Drug Trafficking

In May 1976, Escobar was arrested on his return from drug trafficking in Ecuador when DAS agents found 39 kg of cocaine in his car; he later bribed the judge to be released.

1976: Founding of the Medellín Cartel

In 1976, Escobar founded the Medellín Cartel, which distributed powder cocaine and established the first smuggling routes from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador through Colombia and into the US.

1976: Investigation of Escobar's Arrest

In 1976, Escobar's arrest was investigated by subordinates of Rodrigo Lara-Bonilla, who later became Escobar's opponent in Congress.

April 1978: Meeting with Drug Lords

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

1978: Development of Norman's Cay as a Trans-shipment Point

From 1978, Escobar and Carlos Lehder developed Norman's Cay in the Bahamas as a trans-shipment point for cocaine, which was used as a central smuggling route for the Medellín Cartel until 1982.

1982: Purchase of Land and Construction of Hacienda Nápoles

In 1982, Escobar purchased 20 square kilometers of land in Antioquia for millions of dollars, where he built the Hacienda Nápoles, a luxurious estate with various amenities.

1982: Entry into Colombian Congress

In 1982, Escobar successfully entered the Colombian Congress as an alternate, gaining parliamentary immunity and a diplomatic passport, while also becoming known as the "Paisa Robin Hood" for his charitable work.

1982: Election to the Chamber of Representatives

In 1982, Pablo Escobar was elected as an alternate member of the Chamber of Representatives as part of the Liberal Party, allowing him to initiate community projects.

January 1984: Escobar Announces Retirement from Politics

In January 1984, Pablo Escobar announced his retirement from politics after being expelled from the Liberal party and facing opposition from Rodrigo Lara-Bonilla.

November 1985: Escobar requests Conditional Surrender

In the fall of November 1985, Escobar requested the Colombian government to allow his conditional surrender without extradition to the United States; after the proposal was rejected, he founded the Los Extraditables Organization.

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

In 1985, Escobar financed the Palace of Justice siege committed by M-19. The army was blamed for the killings of more than 100 people, including 11 Supreme Court magistrates, M-19 members, and employees of the cafeteria, according to Vallejo's account.

1986: Supreme Court Declares Extradition Treaty Illegal

In late 1986, Colombia's Supreme Court declared the previous extradition treaty illegal, marking a short-lived victory for Escobar.

August 1989: Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán and Bombing of Avianca Flight 203

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

1991: Escobar's Surrender

In 1991, Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities after negotiating a reduced sentence and preferential treatment in exchange for ceasing all criminal activity.

1991: Escobar's Surrender and Imprisonment

In 1991, Escobar surrendered to authorities and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, striking a deal that ensured no extradition and allowed him to be housed in his self-built prison, La Catedral.

July 1992: Escobar's Escape from La Catedral

On 22 July 1992, Escobar escaped from his luxurious private prison, La Catedral, after the government attempted to move him to a more conventional jail, leading him to evade the police for the remainder of his life.

1992: Escobar's Escape from La Catedral

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

December 1993: Death of Pablo Escobar

In December 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed by the Colombian National Police in his hometown of Medellín, a day after his 44th birthday, marking the end of a significant chapter in the war on drugs.

December 1993: Escobar's Death in Medellín

On December 2, 1993, Pablo Escobar was found and killed in a house in Medellín by Colombian special forces, with the assistance of technology provided by the United States.

1993: Escobar Killed in Medellín

In 1993, Pablo Escobar was killed in his hometown of Medellín by the Colombian National Police, marking the end of his reign.

1995: Escobar's family flees Colombia

In 1995, Escobar's widow (María Henao), son (Juan Pablo) and daughter (Manuela) fled Colombia after failing to find a country that would grant them asylum, following Escobar's death.

July 2006: Vallejo Taken to United States for Safety

On 18 July 2006, Virginia Vallejo was taken to the United States by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for "safety and security reasons" due to her cooperation in high-profile criminal cases. On 24 July, a video of Vallejo accusing Santofimio of instigating Escobar to eliminate Galán was aired on RCN Television of Colombia.

July 2006: Virginia Vallejo offers testimony in Alberto Santofimio trial

On 4 July 2006, television anchorwoman Virginia Vallejo, who was romantically involved with Escobar from 1983 to 1987, offered Attorney General Mario Iguarán her testimony in the trial against former Senator Alberto Santofimio, who was accused of conspiracy in the 1989 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán. On 4 July, Iguarán acknowledged that Vallejo had contacted his office, but the judge closed the trial on 9 July.

October 2006: Escobar's Body Exhumed

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

2007: Hippo population grows

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

2007: Publication of 'Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar'

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 his links 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: Two Major Feature Films on Escobar Announced

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

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2008: Reopening of Palace of Justice siege case

In 2008, prompted by Vallejo's statements regarding Escobar's role in the 1985 Palace of Justice siege, the case was reopened. Vallejo was asked to testify, and events described in her book and testimonial were confirmed by Colombia's Commission of Truth.

2009: Release of 'Sins of My Father' documentary

In 2009, Argentinian filmmaker Nicolas Entel's documentary 'Sins of My Father' chronicles Sebastián Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, on behalf of his father, from the sons of Rodrigo Lara and Luis Carlos Galán, who were assassinated in 1984 and 1989 respectively.

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2009: Escaped Hippos Attack Humans and Cattle

In 2009, two adult hippos 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.

2009: Release of 'Escobar' Film

The feature film 'Escobar' was released in 2009.

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

In October 2010, the documentary 'Sins of My Father', which chronicles Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, premiered in the U.S. on HBO after being shown at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

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August 2011: Santofimio sentenced to prison for Galán's assassination

On 31 August 2011, Alberto Santofimio was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the 1989 crime of instigating Escobar to eliminate presidential candidate Galán.

2011: Release of 'Killing Pablo' Film

The feature film 'Killing Pablo' was released in 2011.

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2014: Hippo population reaches 40

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 Escobar's Miami Beach Mansion

In 2014, Christian de Berdouare, proprietor of the Chicken Kitchen fast-food chain, bought Escobar's dilapidated waterfront mansion at 5860 North Bay Road in Miami Beach, Florida.

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.

2014: Publication of 'Pablo Escobar, My Father'

In 2014, Sebastián 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.

2016: Projected Hippo Population Growth

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

2017: Release of 'Loving Pablo' Movie

The movie 'Loving Pablo' inspired by the book 'Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar' by Virginia Vallejo, was released in 2017.

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June 2018: Accusation of Money Laundering in Argentina

On 5 June 2018, Argentine federal judge Nestor Barral accused María Isabel Santos Caballero (Escobar's widow) 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: Differing Opinions on Impact of Hippos

In 2018, National Geographic published an article which found disagreement among environmentalists on whether the hippos 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 six-story Edificio Mónaco apartment complex where Escobar planned some of his attacks. It was demolished to erect a park honoring cartel victims.