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entity talks medellin cartelPhoto by @/histo_lines via Twitter

Pablo structured the Medellin cartel like a monarchy, with himself at the top. Second-in-command were his most trusted associates, including Jorge Ochoa, Vásquez, Carlos Lehder, José Gonzalo and Rodrígues Gacha. Then, at the bottom of the hierarchy were his footmen; these were the men who made his drug runs and created the cocaine.

LA Times and multiple other news outlets have tons of articles about Pablo and the Medellin cartel. Others have created documentaries about this community, such as “Pablo Escobar: King of Coke” and “The True Story of Killing Pablo.”

And since those sources are saturated with pieces, we want to give you some quick and fun Medellin Cartel facts – the little stuff that not many people currently know about the “Narcos” protagonist.

1 “Narcos'” Blackie was Real.

entity talks medellin cartel

Photo @ahc_tv by Twitter

For accuracy’s sake, his name wasn’t Blackie. However, his nickname was just as on-the-nose.

El Heraldo explains that as one of the very few black members of the Medellin Cartel, Afro-Latino Juan Matta-Ballesteros was called “El Negro.” This was a common way to identify Latin Americans that were mixed with Black. Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Juan was a foreigner to Colombia. However, this reflects the closeness between Pablo and Juan, because the cartel had very few foreigners on his team.

2 The Medellin Cartel Had Many Means of Transportation.

entity talks medellin cartel

Photo by @BobbyMidTex via Twitter

Seeing as many news outlets cited Pablo as the controller of up to 80 percent of the cocaine industry, he had to have something to transport all the product and funds. So, of course, his Learjet, countless cars, trucks and boats were necessary for the business. However, this wasn’t enough to transport Pablo Escobar’s his obscene amounts of coke and money.

Therefore, as Ati reports, he decided to invest in two submarines that transported his cocaine to the U.S. This would not only add diversity to his transportation services and make it harder for his enemies to track his movements, it’s also great because it’s transported in a nearly invisible way, deep under the blue waters.

3 Prison or a Resort? Who Knows Anymore.

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Photo by @loribrumat via Twitter

Pablo decided that if he was going to live in prison, he would live in style. Therefore, in agreement with the Colombian government, he created a prison called “La Catedral.”

The Cathedral was guarded by his loyal members and his handpicked prison guards. The prison/resort had a spa, casino, nightclub and internet access. Apparently, as told by Ati, this place acted as the headquarters for the Medellin cartel while he was there. Pablo continued to make his drug deals and put out hits on people from inside the “prison.”

The life of a cartel kingpin: If you’re going to do it, you must do it big.

4 He had 99 problems, but Money Wasn’t One.

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Photo by @livingluxurylifestyle_ via instagram

The fact that Pablo was a billionaire is pretty much common knowledge by now. Whether you’re well-versed on the Medellin cartel or you’ve watched “Narcos,” literally tonnes of money came through the Medellin cartel. Ati cites that the cartel smuggled almost 15 tonnes of cocaine on a daily basis. This amounted to about $420 million a week. That’s a lot of cash. In fact, they had so much extra cash flow that they didn’t bat an eye at losing millions due to rats eating through the cash. They even spent $2,500 a month on rubber bands. No big deal.

If the Medellin cartel was functioning in today’s economy, their income would be more than double what they made in the ’80s. Adjusting for inflation, the Medellin cartel net worth for 2016 would be $936,830,297.40. Cue jaw drop.

5 He had his Own Lethal Version of Good Cop/Bad Cop.

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Photo by @farid.khan.m via Instagram

An aspect that “Narcos” did a great job portraying stems from Pablo’s motto: silver or lead. For anyone who stood in his way, he offered a choice. They could either accept his money to keep quiet and aid in his endeavors, otherwise known as a bribe, or they could take a lead bullet to the head.

Ati estimates that Pablo Escobar ordered the deaths of over 200 judges, 1,000 police officers, dozens of journalists, a justice minister, an attorney general, a presidential candidate of Colombia and upwards of 110 civilians.

6 He was the Colombian people’s Robin Hood.

entity talks medellin cartel

Photo deshy_nirvana via Instagram

As thoroughly explained in a previous article about Pablo Escobar, he was revered by his Colombian people. Although the Cali cartel, Los PEPES and government officials had their own reasons to hate the man, the people saw him as their benefactor.

Ati explains that he built parks, houses, soccer stadiums, churches, hospitals and schools, and he even paid off many people’s medical bills. He had no care for the law or the lives of the people who stood in the way of his cartel business, but he did care about the Colombian citizens.

7 If You See it, Want it, Buy it, Own it.

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Photo by @karo_linaaaa by Twitter

According to the PBS documentary, “Frontline: The Godfather of Cocaine,” Escobar asked one of his trusted associates, Carlos Lehder, to buy Norman’s Cay, an island in the Bahamas. This purchase turned out to be a fruitful one for the Medellin cartel.

It served two purposes: a secluded trade route and a tropical getaway. The island had a lot that came with it as well. The cartel gained more transportation necessities, such as an airstrip, an aircraft and boats. On top of that, the deal also included houses and a hotel. After the purchase, the Medellin cartel even built more things to do on the island. They formed a lake, built a zoo and added other vacation must-haves for their families.

Did any of the facts shock you? Do you have any fun facts to add about the infamous, bloody cartel? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or tweet us at @entity_mag.

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