Notorious: The Top Drug Lords of All Time: #9 Griselda Blanco
Griselda Blanco aka “The Black Widow” aka “The Godmother”
Country: Colombia, USA
Product: Cocaine
Born into absolute poverty in Medellin, Griselda Blanco didn’t waste any time in joining the ranks of the criminal underground. At the age of 11 it is claimed she kidnapped a kid from a rich family, tried to ransom him and when the plan eventually fell apart she killed him. Born to an absent father and alcoholic mother she became a prostitute at the age of 12 and eventually ended up in Queens, NYC and started her career in drug smuggling. After being slammed in New York by the authorities due to growing operations, she relocated to Miami where she earned her title as “The Godmother”.
Notorious: The Top Drug Lords of All Time: #8 Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Country: Colombia
Product: Cocaine
Pablo Escobar was one of the the most notoriously violent and wealthy drug lords of all time. Lauded by drug dealers, rappers, kingpins, and financiers, he was famously listed by Forbes Magazine in 1989 as the 7th richest man in the world with his wealth estimated at $25 billion. Every drug kingpin film that you have seen has used elements of Pablo Escobar as foil for what it really means to be on top of the drug world.
Notorious: The Top Drug Lords of All Time: #6 Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha
Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha aka “El Mexicano”
Country: USA
Product: Cocaine
It’s no surprise that some of the most prolific and stupidly successful drug lords come from the Medellin Cartel, aka “cocaine is one helluva drug”. “El Mexicano” one of the leaders of the Medellin was listed in the Forbes list as one most successful global billionaires the world has known. He joined the Medellin Cartel along with Pablo Escobar, the Ochoa brothers, and Carlos Lehder in 1976, his innovation as a trafficker consisted of finding new smuggling routes that would transport the cocaine via Mexico, the Southwestern part of the US, hence the nickname “El Mexicano”.
