Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez Alias “Popeye” in Medellin.
Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez Alias “Popeye” in Medellin.
BEFORE POPEYE
Jhon Jairo and his brother, in Yarumal. Photo circa 1966
Before he was “Popeye” Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez age 13
Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vaquez serving in the Colombian Navy, where he got his nickname “Popeye”
THE START OF THE DRUG WAR
Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, former DEA special agent who was abducted on February 7, 1985, and then tortured and murdered, while on assignment in Mexico. His death sparked Ronald Reagan’s war on drugs.
November 7, 1985. The cover of Time Magazine bringing the nation’s attention to the War on Drugs.
YOUNG PABLO
Pablo’s Cedula or ID card.
A young Pablo Escobar with his Mother, and wife.
JHON JAIRO ARIAS TASCON ALIAS “PININA”
Jhon Jairo Arias Tascón alias Pinina. Born Medellin, Colombia, 22 April 1961. Died 14 June 1990. Up until his death in 1990, he was Pablo Escobars most trusted sicario. Pinina was responsible for introducing Popeye to Pablo.
An early police mug shot of Jhon Jairo Arias Tascon alias “Pinina” originally printed in the El Colombiano newspaper.
Rare photo of Pablo Escobar and Jhon Jairo Arias Tascon, “alias Pinina” Date unknown.
SICARIOS AT HACIENDA NAPOLES
Three of Pablo’s Sicario’s- (from Left to Right) Carlos “El Arete” Alzate, Jorge “El Negro” Pabon, Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez Alias “Popeye” circa 1988
Pablo’s sicarios from Left to right Unknown, Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez alias “Popeye”, Unknown, Gonzalo Antonio Restrepo Henao, alias “Chalo”, Carlos Alzate Urquijo alias ““El Arete”, Jorge Eli Pabón, alias “El Negro Pabón”, Otoniel de Jesús Gonzalez Franco, alias “Otto” at Hacienda Napoles. Circa 1988.
Jorge “El Negro” Pabon, Carlos “El Arete” Alzate, and Unidentified man (middle) pose with their girlfriends or wives (names unknown) at Hacienda Napoles circa 1988.
Popeye smiles for the camera @ Hacienda Napoles circa 1988.
Pablo’s sicario’s relaxing poolside. From Left to Right Carlos “El Arete” Alzate, unknown, unknown, Otoniel de Jesús Gonzalez Franco, alias “Otto” , Unknown, Unknown, Jorge “El Negro” Pabon"
THE ENTERPRISING PAISA
1982 Pablo Escobar (and his wife Maria Victoria Henao) arrive in Bogota, to serve his government as an elected representative to the Colombian Congress.
October 1987 - Forbes Magazine “The Forbes List” issue, feat. all 96 billionaires of the world including Pablo Escobar and The Ochoa Bros of Medellin. A significant moment in the history of global narco-culture.
A helicopter hovers above the pool at Hacienda Napoles, Pablo Escobar’s luxury country estate. During the period of 1980 to 1985, Pablo’s wealth grew at an exponential rate.
Rare Photo of Pablo Escobar with his mother, Hermilda,and father-in-law, Carlos. Circa 1987
Influence and fear. As Pablo’s reputation grew, people began to fear him. Above is an actual note he wrote for his sister, Alba Marina Escobar, to keep in her car, in case thieves (ladrones) tried to steal it. It says:
“Este carro pertenece a mi hermana Alba Marina Escobar. Si usted se lo roba, favor entre garlo y asi se envitara molestias.”
“This car belongs to my sister Alba Marina Escobar. Do yourself a favor and don’t steal it.”
Pablo Escobar speaks to reporters in 1982.
THE MEDELLIN CARTEL
Co-founders of the Medellin Cartel. Los Hermanos Ochoa (The Ochoa Brothers) L to R: Fabio Ochoa Jr., Juan David Ochoa, Jorge Luis Ochoa . Photo circa 1985
José Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha (May 14, 1947 – December 15, 1989), also known by the nickname “El Mexicano”, former capo of the Medellin Cartel, enjoying some cocktails in Medellin. Photo circa 1985.
Newspaper ad offering reward for the return of Martha Nieves Ochoa (sister of the Ochoa Brothers)
Two capos of the Medellin Cartel, Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder. Circa 1985.
Following Pablo’s entry into politics, in 1982, Medellin Cartel Capo, Carlos Lehder entered politics in Qundio. He formed a party rooted in Neo-Nazi ideology called, the National Latin Movement. In addition to promoting neo-Nazi rhetoric throughout Colombia, his party was staunchly against Colombia's extradition treaty.
A fax from from “Los Extraditables” (The Extradtables), the self proclaimed group speaking on behalf of the cartel bosses, outlining their demands. The heading says “We prefer a grave in Colombia than a prison cell in the United States”.
Colombian Police storm the whereabouts of Medellin Cartel Sicario chief, Jhon Jairo Arias Tascon, “alias Pinina”.
Close up of Popeye on the wanted poster.
Pablo Escobar’s mobile phone. Pablo knew that the Search Bloc was tracking his phone calls, thus he had to limit the length of his calls to 30 seconds
Photo credit: James Mollison.
Pablo Escobar and popular Colombian priest, Father Garcia Herreros meet right after he turned himself into authorities, in La Catedral Prison.
On October 8, 1992, Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez alias “Popeye”, Otoniel De Jesus Gonzalez alias “Otto”, and Pablo’s bother, Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gavira alias “El Osito” (shielding his face), turned themselves into the Colombian authorities and were immediately taken to Itagui Prison in Medellin. Popeye was sentenced to 30 years in prison, on charges of terrorism, drug trafficking, conspiracy for terrorist purposes and murder. Marcela Duran of Noticera Nacional managed to get an exclusive interview with two of the men in the backseat of the car as the three men were enroute to surrender to the authorities. SEE VIDEO BELOW.
LA CATEDRAL AND THE END OF THE CARTEL
Pablo Escobar’s jail cell. He lived in a three bedroom luxury suite at the prison, La Catedral, which he constructed and staffed with all guards from Antioquia.
Rare photo taken inside La Catedral Prison of Popeye raising hs beer for camera, Date circa 1992. (Other man unidentified)
Popeye and Pablo Escobar. Photo believed to be taken while in La Catedral Prison circa 1992.
NARCO WAR (POST LA CATEDRAL)
The release of Andres Pastrana Arango. from kidnappers. Pastrana was kidnapped on January 18, 1988 in Bogota by Popeye and several other Medellin Cartel associates, acting on orders of Pablo Escobar. At the time he was running for Mayor of Bogota. The act was meant to pressure the Colombian government into preventing the extradition of Escobar and other drug lords to the United States. He was released a week later, and in March he was elected Mayor of Bogota,. a position he held until 1990. Pastrana was the 30th President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002. He is the son of Misael Pastrana Borrero, who was president from 1970 to 1974.
Carlos Mauro Hoyos Jiménez (Born July 26, 1939, Died January 25, 1988)
Carlos Mauro Hoyos Jiménez was the Inspector General of Colombia from September 1987 until he was kidnapped and assassinated by Popeye under orders from Pablo Escobar. Mauro Hoyos was travelling along the road from the municipality of El Retiro in Antioquia to José María Córdova Airport close to Medellín,. when his car was ambushed by members of Los Extraditables. He was later taken to a safe house in Antioquia, and personally killed by Popeye. Mauro Hoyos was big supporter of extradition to the United States.
November 28, 1989. Newspapers from the day after the bombing of Avianca Airlines flight 203. Sicario’s acting on the orders of Pablo Escobar placed a bomb inside the Boeing 727 plane, bound for Cali. The bomb was intended to kill then Presidential candidate Cesar Gaviria.
December 7, 1989. The El Espectador Newspaper headline, the day after the Das Building was blown up by narco-terrorists.
January 13, 1988. Pablo Escobar’s daughter’s crib after sustaining extensive damage from an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Pablo’s life. A car bomb detonated outside of the cartel leader’ s apartment building. This event would mark the start of a brutal war between rival drug cartels in Colombia.
The DAS Building bombing was a truck bomb attack in Bogotá, Colombia, at 7:30 am on December 6, 1989, targeting the Administrative Department of Security headquarters. A truck parked near the building exploded, killing 63 people and injuring about 1,000. General Marquez Maza, whom the bomb was intended to kill ,was unharmed in the attack.
Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento (b. 29 September 1943 – d. 18 August 1989). The hope for a better future. Galán declared himself an enemy of the cartels. He was the leader of the New Liberalism Movement political party. In his bid to become a member of the Colombian House of Representatives, Pablo Escobar was rebuked by Galan’s party when he tired to become a member of the New Liberalism Movement. Galán was shot to death by assassins hired by the Medellin Cartel during a campaign rally in the town of Soacha, Cundinamarca. At the time, Galán was leading in the polls for the 1990 presidential election. His death sent shockwaves through Colombia.
Excerpt of the coroner’s report after examining the body of slain Colombian presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan.
Colombian Authorities created a chart in their investigation of the assassination of Luis Carlos Galan. Medellin Cartel capo’s Pablo Escobar and Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha are at the top of the chart.
41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993, George Herbert Walker Bush. In February of 1990, there was a cartel plot to assassinate the President during a Summit Meeting on the control of illicit drug trafficking, held in Colombia attended by the Presidents of Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.
Cuban President Fidel Castro and Acclaimed Colombian novelist, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. According to Popeye, Pablo Escobar had Popeye deliver a letter to Garcia Marquez, who would in turn give the letter to Fidel Castro. The contents of the letter contained a business proposal for the Cuban leader. Over the years, substantial evidence has emerged linking Cuba and Colombian narcos, including the testimony of Carlos Lehder.
December 3, 1993- Headline in the El Espectador Newspaper announcing the death of Pablo Escobar.
December 3, 1992 Prensa Libre newspaper “Colombian Police Kill Pablo Escobar”
Diego Fernando Murillo Bejarano, alias” Don Berna” , or alias “Adolfo Paz” Prudent, Tactical, Cunning, and Clever are some of the words used to describe the man who essentially took over control of the Medellin Cartel after Pablo Escobar. He started out as a bodyguard for Medellin cartel Capo, Fernando Galleano, and eventually was put in charge of “La Officina De Envigado”, a collection office for the Medellin Cartel. After Pablo’s death, Don Berna ran cime in Medellin for over 20 years. During that time he became a top leader of the AUC , a feared paramilitary. In 2008 he was extradited to the US where he faced multiple counts of drug trafficking and
November 2017. Popeye during an animated moment while being interviewed for The Sicario Effect.
A screen shot of Narcotour.co, a website project created by senior students at EAFIT University in Medellin. The project was to tell the stories of the victims of narco-trafficking rather than focus on Pablo Escobar. According to Professor Mauricio Builes, he wanted his students to focus on the “B” side of history, the stories not told in popular media.
Popeye holds up the wanted poster, .Pablo is the most wanted (at the top) with his men underneath, including Popeye on the far left. Photo Medellin 2017 (© Exclave Media)