The Life Story of Pablo Escobar – Part 3
Colombia Declares War on Escobar
By the late 1980s, Colombia was essentially living under the shadow of Pablo Escobar’s war. The country’s government was torn apart by corruption, fear, and violence. Judges resigned in fear, politicians hid behind armored cars, and ordinary citizens lived with the constant threat of bombings and assassinations.
Escobar’s power reached its zenith during this period, but it also marked the beginning of his decline. His war against the state had created too many enemies. He had declared himself untouchable, but the cost was turning an entire nation—and the international community—against him.
The Colombian government, under President Virgilio Barco and later César Gaviria, could no longer tolerate Escobar’s reign of terror. With strong backing from the United States, Colombia formed a special Search Bloc, an elite police unit dedicated to capturing Escobar. The DEA, CIA, and U.S. Special Forces also became heavily involved, providing intelligence, equipment, and training.
Escobar’s Tactics: Narco-Terrorism
Escobar responded with a brutal campaign of narco-terrorism designed to terrorize the state into submission. He believed that by inflicting enough chaos, the government would abandon extradition and negotiate with him.
His assassinations grew bolder. In 1989, Escobar ordered the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, who had been leading the polls on an anti-cartel platform. Galán was shot dead at a campaign rally in Soacha, just outside Bogotá. The killing shocked the nation and symbolized the extent of Escobar’s control: even a man poised to be president was not safe.
That same year, Escobar ordered the bombing of Avianca Flight 203, killing all 110 passengers and crew. His target had been César Gaviria, who was scheduled to fly on the plane but canceled at the last moment. The indiscriminate nature of the bombing outraged Colombians and drew fierce condemnation worldwide.
In Bogotá, Escobar also bombed the headquarters of the DAS intelligence agency, killing more than 50 people and injuring hundreds. Each act of violence deepened the government’s resolve to destroy him.
Negotiating with the Devil
Despite his terrorism, Escobar still believed he could negotiate his way out of trouble. He used his influence over the poor, the corrupt, and even some politicians to push for a deal.
In 1991, under President César Gaviria, the Colombian government offered a controversial agreement: if drug traffickers surrendered, they would not be extradited to the United States. Instead, they would serve their sentences in Colombian prisons. This deal was designed to reduce violence and bring traffickers under state control.
For Escobar, this was a golden opportunity. He announced his surrender, not out of weakness but because the terms were in his favor. He would never face a U.S. courtroom, and he could even design his own prison.
La Catedral: Escobar’s “Prison”
On June 19, 1991, Escobar officially surrendered to Colombian authorities. But instead of being taken to a standard prison, he was sent to a luxurious facility of his own making, nicknamed La Catedral.
La Catedral was more of a private fortress than a prison. Perched on a hill outside Medellín, it was surrounded by guards loyal to Escobar, not the government. Inside, the prison had a soccer field, a nightclub, a bar, hot tubs, a waterfall, and lavish suites. Escobar continued to live like a king, hosting parties, watching soccer games, and managing cartel business from behind bars.
The Colombian government initially defended the deal, claiming that Escobar was at least under control. But it quickly became clear that Escobar was running his empire as freely as before. He continued ordering hits, smuggling cocaine, and managing cartel finances.
The final straw came in 1992 when Escobar tortured and murdered two cartel lieutenants inside La Catedral. Their dismembered bodies were found later, proving that Escobar had turned his prison into an execution chamber. International outrage followed, and the Colombian government could no longer ignore the scandal.
Escobar Escapes
In July 1992, the government announced plans to transfer Escobar to a more secure prison. Escobar, furious at what he saw as betrayal, simply walked out of La Catedral with the help of his loyal guards.
His escape was a national humiliation for Colombia. Escobar was once again free, and the manhunt resumed with greater intensity. The Colombian state, backed by the United States, declared all-out war.
Los Pepes: Escobar’s New Enemy
Escobar’s escape also led to the rise of a new and dangerous enemy: Los Pepes (People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar). This shadowy vigilante group was composed of former cartel members, paramilitaries, and rivals, many of them allied with the Cali Cartel—Escobar’s biggest competitors.
Los Pepes began systematically targeting Escobar’s empire. They assassinated his associates, burned his properties, and attacked his financial networks. While officially “illegal,” many Colombians suspected that Los Pepes operated with quiet support from Colombian authorities and even U.S. intelligence agencies, who saw them as a useful weapon against Escobar.
This two-front war—against the government and Los Pepes—strained Escobar’s resources and eroded his once-invincible power.
The Net Tightens
By late 1992 and 1993, Escobar was increasingly isolated. His cartel had fractured, many of his allies had turned against him, and his fortune was harder to access as Los Pepes destroyed his hidden assets. The Colombian Search Bloc, aided by U.S. intelligence, intensified their pursuit.
Escobar’s once-loyal network of informants began crumbling. The same poor communities that once shielded him were now caught in the crossfire of bombings and massacres. Many turned against him, feeding information to authorities.
Escobar, once the untouchable king of Medellín, was now reduced to a fugitive, constantly moving from one safe house to another. He lived in fear, sleeping in different locations each night, growing a beard, and changing appearances to avoid detection.
The Death of Pablo Escobar
On December 2, 1993, a day after his 44th birthday, Escobar’s luck finally ran out. Colombian intelligence, working with U.S. agencies, tracked a phone call Escobar made to his son. The call was traced to a modest house in the Los Olivos neighborhood of Medellín.
The Search Bloc immediately surrounded the area. Escobar, along with his bodyguard Álvaro de Jesús Agudelo (a.k.a. El Limón), attempted to escape across the rooftops. A firefight broke out. Escobar was shot multiple times in the leg and torso before receiving a fatal shot to the head.
To this day, some speculate that Escobar may have committed suicide with his own pistol, unwilling to let his enemies claim the satisfaction of killing him. His family has long maintained this theory, while official reports credit the Search Bloc with the kill.
Escobar’s bloodied body was photographed and displayed for the public, symbolizing the end of his reign. Crowds gathered in Medellín, some celebrating his death while others wept, mourning a man they considered a benefactor.
More than 25,000 people attended his funeral, a testament to the complex legacy he left behind: both loved and hated, both feared and admired.
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