Roberto Escobar (1) (1947–)

I had read this book hoping to learn more about an infamous man that affected the United States history. Even though there were some facts I gathered there were a couple things that caused the book to be a long and arduous read for me.

For one, I felt some of the timelines of events were mixed up and I was confused when try to follow when something actually happened. The book went in chronological order but within each chapter there were flashbacks or future events told to commingle with the story line. Which lead to another quibble I had in which there were a couple facts or even that were repeated multiple times throughout the book. For instance, I heard multiple times how they lost 10% of their money due to rats or water damage.

Overall, I understand it was the opinion of Pablo’s brother, but I felt the US and the extradition policy was blamed too much for the actions of the drug lords in the book and it almost angered me to read it.

It was interesting in you are into Pablo’s life and drug trafficking but it was boring at times and you cannot rely too heavily on the factual accuracy of his brother's recalling of events.… (mehr)

At his top of the famous Pablo Emilio Escobar's drug trade, he was roughly estimated to have a worth of $30 billion dollars per year. His cartel was noted as responsible for at least 80% of the cocaine trade smuggled into the United States.

Delivered at first by a small airplane wherein the cocaine was hidden in the wheels, as time went on and he could never in his wildest dreams imagined just how profitable this illegal trade would bring him, later he even had submarines built to go underwater to the United States.

Paste made in Peru was used to produce the cocaine cooked and produced in the jungles of Medellin, Columbia. Rich soil, a country of poverty and crime, governmental corruption was not something he invented. Long the bane of the poor, those in power were rich and it was increasingly difficult for the poor to get out of povery.

Pablo Escobar paid well, and from the producers of the cocaine through those in high ranks in both the government and police force, this was an incredible win/win situation for all. All but, those in the United States who became addicted. It is true that Escobar could never have been as successful if he wasn't such a savvy businessman, and if the demand in the United States was ever higher than he could produce.

The wealthiest criminal in history was listed in Time magazine as one of the 7th top wealthiest men. By the 1970's, approximately 80 tons were shipped to the United States Monthly. His problem became that of laundering the money and hiding it. Approximately 10% of the money made was lost to rats who ate it when packed in the ground, or water seepage that destroyed the currency.

He began his career as a small time hood with criminal activities in selling contraband items. Not above kidnapping he all too soon became know not only for his cocaine distribution, but for the way in which he violently meeted death to any who crossed him. He paid well, and he demanded loyalty.

Distributing bundles of money to the poor, building houses, schools, playgrounds, and paying college tuitions, he became a folk hero.

Told from the perspective of his younger brother, who was on the lamb with Pablo many years when it all started to fall apart as a result of other cartels becoming stronger, and the government of Columbia seeking the assistance of the United States to curb the violence and to bring him to his final act, the one he could not escape, death on the rooftop of a building in his home town of Medellin.

There is much to know of this story. It is true that if the United States had not ever increasingly demanded the product, at the time in history, Pablo Escobar perhaps could have remained a small town hood, making a living above the standard of most.

Reaching far heights, he was brought down, only to be replaced to a more deadly Cali Cartel that gladly took his place.… (mehr)