Rise of a Cocaine Queen: Griselda Blanco’s Dominance in the 70s and 80s
Netflix’s miniseries ‘Griselda’ takes us on a gripping journey through the life of Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord who defied gender norms to dominate the US cocaine trade in the 1970s and ’80s. Her net worth, reportedly in the billions, was a testament to her influence in the drug world, with her reign causing a significant spike in Miami’s murder rate.
Sofia Vergara Embodies Blanco’s Grit and Power
Sofia Vergara steps into the role of Blanco, capturing the essence of her life from her move to Medellín, Colombia, to her eventual imprisonment in the US. The series intriguingly omits her death in 2012, focusing instead on the depth and complexity of her character.
Executive producer Doug Miro explained this decision to TODAY: “Emotional truth [was more important]. When I say ‘truth,’ what we want is the essence of who the characters are emotionally, what their experience was, what it’s like to put on their shoes. To do that, you need to go past what’s written, past what’s published.”
The Mysterious End of a Drug Lord
Griselda Blanco’s life came to a tragic end on September 3rd, 2012, in Medellín, Colombia, at the age of 69. The manner of her death was ironically reflective of her own methods – she was shot twice in the head by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle.
🔴Así fueron los crímenes y la historia de vida de la viuda negra Griselda Blanco ⬇️https://t.co/tZGGhyE3Oj pic.twitter.com/RrVPAEy9E7
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) January 19, 2024
Professor Bruce Bagley, author of ‘Drug Trafficking in the Americas’ and head of the University of Miami’s department of international studies, remarked to The Guardian, “It’s some kind of poetic justice that she met an end that she delivered to so many others… She might have retired to Colombia and wasn’t anything like the kind of player she was in her early days, but she had lingering enemies almost everywhere you look. What goes around comes around.”
A Life Marked by Crime and Retribution
Blanco’s criminal career saw her serving approximately two decades in a US prison for drug trafficking and second-degree murder charges. She was implicated in up to 200 murders. In a turn of fate, Blanco was deported back to Colombia in 2004, where she reportedly distanced herself from organized crime.
Remembering Blanco: A Son’s Perspective
Michael Corleone Blanco, her surviving son, reflected on his mother’s legacy in a 2020 interview with The Mirror: “My mother was no saint… But at the end of the day, she was my mother. I will forever honour and respect her. I love her.” His father, Dario Sepúlveda, was Blanco’s third husband.
Michael recalls the harrowing moment he learned of her death: “It was a call I had been dreading for years… Even right now it brings tears to my eyes because I was with my boys when I got that phone call. I was teaching my youngest one how to swim. I said, ‘I’m not going to let these kids live the life that I lived.'”
A Resting Place Amongst Notorious Figures
Blanco’s final resting place is reported to be in the Jardines de Montesacro cemetery, alongside another notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar.
Netflix’s ‘Griselda’ is more than just a biographical series; it’s a complex portrayal of a woman who rose to power in a dangerous world, showing both her strength and vulnerability. This gripping narrative invites viewers to delve deep into the life of Griselda Blanco, a figure whose legacy continues to resonate in the world of crime and beyond.
