Editing Pablo Escobar (section)

== Aftermath of his death ==
Soon after Escobar's death and the subsequent fragmentation of the Medellín Cartel, the cocaine market became dominated by the rival Cali Cartel until the mid-1990s when its leaders were either killed or captured by the Colombian government. The [[Robin Hood]] image that Escobar had cultivated maintained a lasting influence in Medellín. Many there, especially many of the city's poor whom Escobar had aided while he was alive, mourned his death, and over 25,000 people attended his funeral. Some of them consider him a saint and pray to him for receiving divine help. Escobar was buried at the Monte Sacro Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25183649| title=Drug boss Pablo Escobar still divides Colombia| work=BBC News| date=2 December 2013| last1=Wallace| first1=Arturo| access-date=21 June 2018| archive-date=14 August 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814173647/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25183649| url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Virginia Vallejo's testimony ===
{{See also|Virginia Vallejo|Alberto Santofimio|Alfonso López Michelsen|Ernesto Samper|Álvaro Uribe}}
On 4 July 2006, [[Virginia Vallejo]], a television anchorwoman romantically involved with Escobar from 1983 to 1987, offered Attorney General [[Mario Germán Iguarán Arana|Mario Iguarán]] her testimony in the trial against former Senator [[Alberto Santofimio]], who was accused of [[List of political conspiracies|conspiracy]] in the 1989 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán. Iguarán acknowledged that, although Vallejo had contacted his office on 4 July, the judge had decided to close the trial on 9 July, several weeks before the prospective closing date. The action was seen as too late.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virginiavallejo.com/Attorney-General-on-VV-testimony.pdf|title=Colombian Attorney General on Virginia Vallejo's offer to testify against Santofimio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301025436/http://virginiavallejo.com/Attorney-General-on-VV-testimony.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Back to jail for Colombia ex-minister |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/back-to-jail-for-colombia-ex-minister-1129325 |work=Independent Online |location=Bogotá |date=1 September 2011 |access-date=19 October 2017 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403181540/https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/back-to-jail-for-colombia-ex-minister-1129325 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 July 2006, Vallejo was taken to the United States on a special flight of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) for "safety and security reasons" due to her cooperation in high-profile criminal cases.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717210828/http://www.virginiavallejo.com/herald-0716-2006.html|archive-date=17 July 2011|url=http://www.virginiavallejo.com/herald-0716-2006.html|title=Virginia Vallejo takes refuge in United States|publisher=Virginia Vallejo}} reprinted and translated from {{cite news|title=Virginia Vallejo|date=16 July 2006|work=El Nuevo Herald|author=Gonzalo Guillen}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Jul18/0,4670,ColombiaEscobarapossLover,00.html|title=Pablo Escobar's Ex-Lover Flees Colombia|publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=1 April 2009|archive-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117001134/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Jul18/0,4670,ColombiaEscobarapossLover,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 July, a video in which Vallejo had accused Santofimio of instigating Escobar to eliminate presidential candidate Galán was aired by [[RCN Television]] of Colombia. The video was seen by 14 million people, and was instrumental for the reopened case of Galán's assassination. On 31 August 2011 Santofimio was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the crime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radionizkor.org/colombia/vallejo.mp3|title=Testimony of Virginia Vallejo in 2006|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=11 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911111859/http://www.radionizkor.org/colombia/vallejo.mp3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radionizkor.org/colombia/index.html#vallejo|title=Radio Nizkor: Colombia.|website=www.radionizkor.org|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222060101/http://www.radionizkor.org/colombia/index.html#vallejo|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Role in the Palace of Justice siege ====
[[File:Policía de antaño (5580817176).jpg|thumb|Escobar funded the [[19th of April Movement|M-19 communist guerrilla]] for the assault of the Colombian Palace of Justice.]]
Among Escobar's biographers, only Vallejo has given a detailed explanation of his role in the 1985 [[Palace of Justice siege]]. She stated that Escobar had financed the operation, which was committed by [[19th of April Movement|M-19]]; she blamed the army for the killings of more than 100 people, including 11 Supreme Court magistrates, M-19 members, and employees of the cafeteria. Her statements prompted the reopening of the case in 2008; Vallejo was asked to testify, and many of the events she had described in her book and testimonial were confirmed by Colombia's Commission of Truth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caracol.com.co/oir.aspx?id=659517|title=Virginia Vallejo testificó en el caso Palacio de Justicia|date=27 August 2008|publisher=Caracol Radio |access-date=3 May 2011|archive-date=14 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214094901/http://www.caracol.com.co/oir.aspx?id=659517}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/truth-commission-blames-state-for-palace-of-justice-tragedy/|title=Truth Commission Blames Colombian State for Palace of Justice Tragedy|date=17 December 2009|publisher=UNREDACTED|author=Michael Evans|access-date=3 May 2011|archive-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505103942/http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/truth-commission-blames-state-for-palace-of-justice-tragedy/|url-status=live}}</ref> These events led to further investigation into the siege that resulted with the conviction of a high-ranking former colonel and a former general, later sentenced to 30 and 35 years in prison, respectively, for the [[forced disappearance]] of the detained after the siege.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10280727|title=Colombia ex-officer jailed after historic conviction|date=10 June 2010|publisher=BBC News|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411004957/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10280727|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13245859|date=29 April 2011|title=Colombian 1985 Supreme Court raid commander sentenced|work=BBC News|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410094006/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13245859|url-status=live}}</ref> Vallejo would subsequently testify in Galán's assassination.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=12393&ArticleId=337887|title=Galan Slaying a State Crime, Colombian Prosecutors Say|newspaper=Latin American Herald Tribune|access-date=17 November 2009|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184215/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=12393&ArticleId=337887}}</ref> In her book, ''Amando a Pablo, odiando a Escobar'' (''[[Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar]]''), she had accused several politicians, including Colombian presidents [[Alfonso López Michelsen]], [[Ernesto Samper]], and [[Álvaro Uribe]] of having links to drug cartels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/world/americas/03colombia.html?ex=1349150400&en=5b0977a0af0df0c6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|title=Colombian Leader Disputes Claim of Tie to Cocaine Kingpin|last=Romero|first=Simon|date=3 October 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|page=1|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809183805/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/world/americas/03colombia.html?ex=1349150400&en=5b0977a0af0df0c6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Relatives ===
Escobar's widow (María Henao, now María Isabel Santos Caballero), son (Juan Pablo, now [[Sebastián Marroquín|Sebastián Marroquín Santos]]) and daughter (Manuela) fled Colombia in 1995 after failing to find a country that would grant them asylum.<ref name="BBCNovember1999">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/524276.stm|title=Drug lord's wife and son arrested|date=17 November 1999|work=BBC News|access-date=13 February 2010|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403181540/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/524276.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite Escobar's numerous and continual infidelities, Maria remained supportive of her husband. Members of the Cali Cartel even replayed their recordings of her conversations with Pablo for their wives to demonstrate how a woman should behave.{{sfn|Escobar|2014|p=466}} This attitude proved to be the reason the cartel did not kill her and her children after Pablo's death, although the group demanded and received millions of dollars in reparations for Escobar's war against them. Henao even successfully negotiated for her son's life by personally guaranteeing he would not seek revenge against the cartel or participate in the drug trade.{{sfn|Escobar|2014|pp=468–495}}

[[File:Juan Pablo Escobar.png|thumb|left|[[Sebastián Marroquín]] (born as Juan Pablo Escobar) is an outspoken critic of the violent deeds of his father.]]
After escaping first to [[Mozambique]], then to [[Brazil]], the family settled in [[Argentina]].<ref>{{cite news|work=XPat Nation|url=http://xpatnation.com/a-look-at-pablo-escobars-family-21-years-after-his-death/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120213954/http://xpatnation.com/a-look-at-pablo-escobars-family-21-years-after-his-death|archive-date=20 January 2016|title=A Cursed Family: A Look at Pablo Escobar's Family 21 Years After His Death|author=King, Julie|date=15 June 2015}}</ref> Living under her assumed name, Henao became a successful real estate entrepreneur until one of her business associates discovered her true identity, and Henao absconded with her earnings. Local media were alerted, and after being exposed as Escobar's widow, Henao was imprisoned for eighteen months while her finances were investigated. Ultimately, authorities were unable to link her funds to illegal activity, and she was released.{{sfn|Escobar|2014|pp=521–537}} According to her son, Henao fell in love with Escobar "because of his naughty smile [and] the way he looked at [her]. [He] was affectionate and sweet. A great lover. I fell in love with his desire to help people and his compassion for their hardship. We [would] drive to places where he dreamed of building schools for the poor. From [the] beginning, he was always a gentleman."{{sfn|Escobar|2014|p=68}} María Victoria Henao de Escobar, with her new identity as María Isabel Santos Caballero, continues to live in [[Buenos Aires]] with her son and daughter.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 April 2018 |title=Se conoce foto de la hija de Pablo Escobar en Buenos Aires |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/foto-manuela-escobar-de-la-hija-de-pablo-escobar-209500 |work=El Tiempo |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074227/https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/foto-manuela-escobar-de-la-hija-de-pablo-escobar-209500 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 June 2018, the Argentine federal judge Nestor Barral accused her and her son, [[Sebastián Marroquín|Sebastián Marroquín Santos]], of money laundering with two Colombian drug traffickers.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 November 2017 |title=Pablo Escobar's widow and son in Argentina money laundering probe |url=https://www.dw.com/en/pablo-escobars-widow-and-son-in-argentina-money-laundering-probe/a-41191181 |work=Deutsche Welle |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114546/https://www.dw.com/en/pablo-escobars-widow-and-son-in-argentina-money-laundering-probe/a-41191181 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JfM_kx5S7M|title=Pablo Escobar's widow and son held on money laundering charges in Argentina|date=5 June 2018|via=YouTube|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526132641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JfM_kx5S7M&gl=US&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lam |first=Katherine |date=6 June 2018 |title=Pablo Escobar's widow, son charged with money laundering in Argentina |url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/06/06/pablo-escobar-s-widow-son-charged-with-money-laundering-in-argentina.html |work=Fox News |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074338/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/06/06/pablo-escobar-s-widow-son-charged-with-money-laundering-in-argentina.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The judge ordered the seizing of assets for about $1m each.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 June 2018 |title=Pablo Escobar's widow and son held on money laundering charges in Argentina |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/05/pablo-escobar-widow-son-money-laundering-victoria-henao-argentina |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074443/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/05/pablo-escobar-widow-son-money-laundering-victoria-henao-argentina |url-status=live }}</ref>

Argentinian filmmaker Nicolas Entel's documentary ''[[Sins of My Father (film)|Sins of My Father]]'' (2009) chronicles Marroquín's efforts to seek forgiveness, on behalf of his father, from the sons of Rodrigo Lara, Colombia's justice minister who was assassinated in 1984, as well as from the sons of Luis Carlos Galán, the presidential candidate who was assassinated in 1989. The film was shown at the 2010 [[Sundance Film Festival]] and premiered in the U.S. on [[HBO]] in October 2010.<ref name="CNNDecember2009">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/12/11/colombia.escobar.son/index.html|title=Drug lord's son seeks forgiveness|date=12 December 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=13 February 2010|archive-date=6 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406083517/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/12/11/colombia.escobar.son/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, Marroquín published ''Pablo Escobar, My Father'' under his birth name. The book provides a firsthand insight into details of his father's life and describes the fundamentally disintegrating effect of his death upon the family. Marroquín aimed to publish the book in hopes to resolve any inaccuracies regarding his father's excursions during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shepherd|first1=Jack|title=Narcos season 2: Pablo Escobar's son labels Netflix show 'insulting', lists 28 historical errors|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/narcos-season-2-pablo-escobar-s-son-labels-netflix-show-insulting-lists-28-historical-mistakes-a7236836.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/narcos-season-2-pablo-escobar-s-son-labels-netflix-show-insulting-lists-28-historical-mistakes-a7236836.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=Independent|date=12 September 2016}}</ref>

Escobar's sister, Luz Maria Escobar, made multiple gestures in attempts to make amends for the drug baron's crimes. These include making public statements in the press, leaving letters on the graves of his victims, and, on the 20th anniversary of his death, organizing a public memorial for his victims.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pablo Escobar's sister trying to pay for the sins of her brother (Luz Maria Escobar), the sister of Colombian cartel boss Pablo Escobar, has told how she is trying to make amends for her murderous brother|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/11270006/Pablo-Escobars-sister-trying-to-pay-for-the-sins-of-her-brother.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/11270006/Pablo-Escobars-sister-trying-to-pay-for-the-sins-of-her-brother.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author=Alexander, Harriet |date=3 December 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Escobar's body was exhumed on 28 October 2006 at the request of some of his relatives in order to take a [[DNA]] sample to confirm the alleged paternity of an illegitimate child and remove all doubt about the identity of the body that had been buried next to his parents for 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-3317670|title=Familiares exhumaron cadáver de Pablo Escobar para verificar plenamente su identidad|work=El Tiempo|language=es|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214214/http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-3317670|url-status=live}}</ref> A video of the exhumation was broadcast by [[RCN Televisión|RCN]], angering Marroquín, who accused his uncle, Roberto Escobar, and cousin, Nicolas Escobar, of being "merchants of death" by allowing the video to air.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/la-exhumacion-pablo/81946-3|title=La exhumación de Pablo|work=Semana|language=es|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=23 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123040953/http://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/la-exhumacion-pablo/81946-3|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Hacienda Nápoles===
After Escobar's death, the ranch, zoo and citadel at [[Hacienda Nápoles]] were given by the government to low-income families under a law called ''Extinción de Dominio'' (Domain Extinction). The property has been converted into a [[Amusement park|theme park]] surrounded by four luxury hotels overlooking the zoo.<ref name="BBCJune2008"/>

=== Escobar Inc ===
In 2014, Roberto Escobar founded [[Escobar Inc]] with Olof K. Gustafsson and registered Successor-In-Interest rights for his brother Pablo Escobar in [[California]], United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/cgi-bin/sii_search.cgi | title=California Business Portal: Successor-In-Interest | date=28 April 2015 | access-date=9 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221193958/http://www.sos.ca.gov/cgi-bin/sii_search.cgi | archive-date=21 February 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Hippos ===
{{main|Hippopotamuses in Colombia}}
Escobar kept four hippos in a private menagerie at Hacienda Nápoles. They were deemed too difficult to seize and move after Escobar's death, and hence left on the untended estate. By 2007, the animals had multiplied to 16 and had taken to roaming the area for food in the nearby [[Magdalena River]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hippos20dec20,0,5373140.story |title=A hippo critical situation |access-date=27 March 2008 |first=Chris |last=Kraul |date=20 December 2006 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324015829/http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-hippos20dec20-story.html |archive-date=24 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=baron/> In 2009, two adults and one calf escaped the herd and, after attacking humans and killing cattle, one of the adults (called "Pepe") was killed by hunters under authorization of the local authorities.<ref name=baron>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8145676.stm|title = Colombia kills drug baron hippo|work = BBC News|access-date=11 July 2009|date=11 July 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150105105021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8145676.stm|archive-date= 5 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> As of early 2014, 40 hippos have been reported to exist in Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia Department, from the original four belonging to Escobar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elespectador.com/opinion/editorial/hipopotamos-bravos-articulo-487824|title=Hipopótamos bravos|date=24 June 2014|newspaper=[[El Espectador]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509133359/http://www.elespectador.com/opinion/editorial/hipopotamos-bravos-articulo-487824|archive-date=9 May 2014|url-status=live|access-date=28 June 2014}} [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elespectador.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorial%2Fhipopotamos-bravos-articulo-487824&edit-text= English translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221173452/https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elespectador.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorial%2Fhipopotamos-bravos-articulo-487824&edit-text= |date=21 February 2021 }} at Google Translate</ref> As of 2016, without management, the population size is likely to more than double in the next decade.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Howard, B.C. | url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160510-pablo-escobar-hippos-colombia/ | title=Pablo Escobar's Escaped Hippos Are Thriving in Colombia | date=10 May 2016 | magazine=National Geographic | access-date=26 February 2018 | archive-date=27 February 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227035033/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160510-pablo-escobar-hippos-colombia/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[National Geographic Channel]] produced a documentary about them titled ''Cocaine Hippos''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://natgeotv.com/asia/cocaine-hippos/about|title= The Invaders: Cocaine Hippos|publisher= [[National Geographic Channel]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130626213741/http://natgeotv.com/asia/cocaine-hippos/about|archive-date= 26 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> A report published in a Yale student magazine noted that local environmentalists are campaigning to protect the animals, although there is no clear plan for what will happen to them.<ref name="Zoo Gone Wild">{{cite web|last1=Nagvekar|first1=Rahul|title=Zoo Gone Wild: After Escobar, Colombia Faces His Hippos|url=http://thepolitic.org/zoo-gone-wild-after-escobar-colombia-faces-his-hippos/|website=The Politic|access-date=25 August 2017|date=8 March 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913210620/http://thepolitic.org/zoo-gone-wild-after-escobar-colombia-faces-his-hippos/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, National Geographic published another article on the hippos which found disagreement among environmentalists on whether they were having a positive or negative impact but that conservationists and locals – particularly those in the tourism industry – were mostly in support of their continued presence.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilcox|first=Christie|title=Could Pablo Escobar's Escaped Hippos Help the Environment?|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/09/colombia-cocaine-hippos-rewilding-experiment-news/|website=National Geographic|date=26 September 2018|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011082105/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/09/colombia-cocaine-hippos-rewilding-experiment-news/|url-status=dead}}</ref> By October 2021, the Colombian government had started a program of chemically sterilizing the animals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pablo Escobar: Colombia sterilises drug lord's hippos |work=BBC News |date=16 October 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58937415 |access-date=16 October 2021 |archive-date=18 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018195913/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58937415 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Apartment demolition ===
On 22 February 2019, at 11:53 AM local time, Medellín authorities demolished the six-story Edificio Mónaco apartment complex in the [[El Poblado]] neighborhood where, according to retired Colombian general [[Rosso José Serrano]], Escobar planned some of his most brazen attacks. The building was initially built for Escobar's wife but was gutted by a Cali Cartel [[car bomb]] in 1988 and had remained unoccupied ever since, becoming an attraction to foreign tourists seeking out Escobar's physical legacy. Mayor [[Federico Gutierrez]] had been pushing to raze the building and erect in its place a park honoring the thousands of cartel victims, including four presidential candidates and some 500 police officers. Colombian President [[Ivan Duque]] said the demolition "means that history is not going to be written in terms of the perpetrators, but by recognizing the victims", hoping the demolition would showcase that the city had evolved significantly and had more to offer than the legacy left by the cartels.<ref>{{cite news|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/pablo-escobars-six-floor-apartment-demolished-in-medellin-as-symbol-of-rebirth|title=Pablo Escobar's six-floor apartment demolished in Medellin as symbol of rebirth|date=22 February 2019|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301123844/https://www.foxnews.com/world/pablo-escobars-six-floor-apartment-demolished-in-medellin-as-symbol-of-rebirth|url-status=live}}</ref>