The son of Pablo Escobar, Juan Pablo Escobar, has shaken the world with an impactful confession: his father, the feared leader of the Medellín Cartel, hatched a plan to kidnap Michael Jackson. This revelation exposes the excessive ambitions of the Colombian narco-trafficker during the 80s and 90s, when his empire moved billions of dollars in cocaine towards the United States.
Origins of the supposed plot
According to the testimony of the son of Pablo Escobar, the plan emerged in the context of the open war against the Colombian State. Pablo Escobar, known for attacks like the 1989 Avianca flight that left 107 dead, sought high-profile targets to negotiate his extradition. Michael Jackson, at the height of his fame with Thriller –the best-selling album in history with 70 million copies–, represented an international trophy that could force government concessions.
Historical context of the Medellín Cartel
Direct testimony and credibility
The son of Pablo Escobar, who changed his name to Sebastián Marroquín, has documented these anecdotes in books like Pablo Escobar: My Father. Experts in narco-trafficking, such as journalist Mark Bowden, author of Killing Pablo, corroborate the pattern of extreme strategies by the capo, who offered rewards for police and judges. Although there are no official documents confirming the specific kidnapping, Escobar’s record includes real kidnappings, such as those of politicians’ relatives in 1981 to pressure for legal reforms.
- Escobar controlled 80% of the global cocaine market at its peak.
- Michael Jackson visited Colombia in 1980, which may have inspired the idea.
- The son of Pablo Escobar lives in exile in Argentina, away from crime.
Reactions and expert analysis
Analysts like former DEA agent Javier Peña, who pursued Escobar, see plausibility in the story due to the narco’s theatrical style. “Escobar loved publicity; a celebrity like Jackson would have been his masterstroke”, comments Peña in past interviews. This revelation resurges at a time when documentaries like Narcos keep the legend alive, attracting global interest. The son of Pablo Escobar seeks to demythologize the paternal figure, emphasizing his excesses beyond the romantic myth.
Ultimately, this confession by the son of Pablo Escobar illustrates how narco-trafficking touched unimaginable spheres, merging crime and pop culture in a dark chapter of Colombian history.
