Gustavo Gaviria was a drug trafficker and right-hand man of Pablo Escobar, he controlled the Medellin cartel’s trade finances and routes. Though they had been well collaborated as early as the 70s and are comparable in their wealth, Gaviria is not as well known as Pablo Escobar. Much of what is known about him is related to his business transaction with the drug lord.
He has been attributed to be the real brain of the Medellin cartel while Pablo Escobar is the kingpin. There is so much to learn about him and the Medellin cartel.
Biography Of Gustavo Gaviria
They played with Pablo as children and maintained a close relationship in their adulthood. Despite having gained considerable wealth, Gaviria lived quietly and never flaunted his wealth to avoid assassination.
He allegedly opposed Pablo’s political aspirations in the 80s saying he could never be a politician.
These Are 10 Unknown Facts You Should Know About Gustavo Gaviria
1. Gaviria And Pablo Deliberately Decided To Pursue A Life Of Crime
Both men grew up in Envigado with parents who were well-educated and part of the middle class. With their background, they decided to leave their studies and go into a life of crime.
From an early age, both men were always looking forward to engaging in any enterprise even if it was to commit crimes to make extra money.
They started from petty crimes like stealing before moving into smuggling goods and stealing headstones to kidnapping people for ransom. In the 1970s, the attention of the authorities was drawn to them and they were arrested.
In the 1980s’ the demand for cocaine in the US was high and they plunged themselves into the business. They were ready to expand their business to other fronts, Gaviria became the financial thinker and brain behind operations while Pablo remained the leader of the cartel.
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2. He Allegedly Had An Affair With Marina Ochoa
Gaviria was allegedly having an affair with Marina, sister, to the Ochoa brothers and collaborators with members of the Cali cartel despite his denials.
To spite Pablo Escobar and get back at Gaviria, the Ochoa brothers ratted on Gaviria to the Search Bloc who in turn laid a trap for his capture.
3. Gustavo Gaviria Was The Frontman For Some Of Escobar’s Businesses
Gaviria and Escobar were not just acquainted but very close partners. Apart from being the main partner in the Medellin cartel, Gaviria was the frontman for numerous businesses owned by Pablo Escobar.
Several properties and businesses were registered in Gaviria’s name. In later years he went into money laundering for his cousin.
4. He Is Alleged To Have Been Killed By The Police
Police report after the death of Gustavo Gaviria was halted. The police chief, col. Jorge Ferrero in an interview made it public that details will not be revealed.
However, it was alleged that the police had a hand in his killing during a raid on the place he was staying in.
Other accounts allege he was followed by the Search Bloc to the motel Leonora in Medellin where he would have a tryst with Marina. He was put in a truck and taken to a parking garage and tortured.
He refused to reveal Pablo’s whereabouts and ended up dead and his body was dumped in the Sabaneta neighborhood while his death was tied to a police shootout.
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5. Pablo Escobar Listened To The Funeral Through A Radio
Gustavo’s funeral mass was not attended by Escobar despite their close affiliation, however, Escobar listened to the service through a recorder his assistant had taped to the priest.
Escobar was really hit by the death of his cousin, close ally, and business partner.
6. Gustavo Gaviria’s Death Had Pablo Weighing His Options
After the death of his cousin, Pablo Escobar decided to turn himself in but on his own condition. He wanted to stay at his own jail at La Catedral and be guarded by his own security forces.
7. There Was Political Backlash After Gaviria’s Dead
Gustavo Gaviria’s death occurred a few days after President Cesar Gaviria took office, his administration faced destabilization as a result.
Moreover, many people thought the president had a hand in the death through his policy of extraditing drug criminals to the US to serve sentences and a clampdown on drug trafficking.
8. Horacio Carrillo Claimed Gustavo Gaviria Died In A Shootout To Avoid Arrest
Carrillo was allegedly deeply involved in the capture and torture of Gaviria. He was said to have brought relatives of the Medellin cartel’s brutality to torture him. One was a brother to a 17-year-old girl who had been killed in a bookstore bombing coordinated by Gaviria while the other was the brother of a policeman that Escobar had killed. They participated in beating Gaviria before he was finally shot.
Carrillo reported Gaviria died in a police shootout to avoid arrest for wrongful detention and killing. He was later killed in the 9th street ambush by the Medellin cartel in 1992.
9. Gaviria’s Death Weakened The Medellin Cartel
The death of Gaviria sent shock waves across Colombia but marked the beginning of the end for the Medellin cartel and Pablo Escobar.
He was the brain of the cartel and his death showed the fracture within the cartel. Pablo was eventually killed in 1993 like his cousin. It was also the same day that Gustavo “Gustavito” Gaviria Restrepo, Gaviria’s son was murdered.
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10. What Is The Net Worth Of Gustavo Gaviria
When he died his net worth was not known, he was worth millions of dollars.
