Medellin struggles with narco tourism, cheap drugs, and crime linked to Pablo Escobar’s legacy, with 80 foreign deaths in three years
Drug Trade and Tourism in Medellin
The sun has barely set, and dealers are already working the tree-lined avenues. They offer wraps of cocaine for as little as 5,000 pesos, about £1.
Pink cocaine, or ‘tusi’, a mix of ketamine and MDMA powder, is being sold in what is called the ‘largest open-air brothel in the world’. The shadow of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar looms large over the city.
Tourists visit Medellin for cheap drugs and prostitution. The Sun found that in the El Poblado party district, young peddlers approach with offers of cocaine.
Modern-Day Medellin
This is modern-day Medellin, a city once ruled by Pablo Escobar. It still struggles with its past, attracting ‘danger tourists’ drawn to its dark allure.
Mayor Federico Gutiérrez is fighting against narco tourism, a decade after the Netflix series Narcos became popular. A local guide explained, “Tourists come here for cheap hookers and cheap drugs.”
Drug Prices and Popularity
| Item | Price (Pesos) | Price (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Cocaine (1 gram) | 50,000 | £10 |
| Lower Quality Cocaine | 5,000 | £1 |
| Sex Services | 40,000 | £8 |
“Cocaine and prostitutes are easy to find. You can party all night for a fraction of the price back home,” the guide added. Most visitors are from the U.S., with some from the UK. The association with Escobar has put Medellin on the map for the wrong reasons.
Risks for Tourists
However, Medellin has a darker side. A Channel 4 documentary reported that since Escobar’s death in 1993, criminal gangs have expanded into trafficking women.
Guillermo Galdos, a correspondent, stated that Medellin is now the “largest open-air brothel in the world.” Many foreign visitors are male, and gangs profit from young women, some underage.
In the last three years, 80 foreigners were killed, many after being drugged and robbed. Some deaths are linked to prostitutes using scopolamine, known as Devil’s Breath. Galdos noted, “This year alone, there has been a tourist death every six days on average.”
Devil’s Breath
Devil’s Breath is odorless and can leave victims in a zombie-like state. It has been used in crimes against tourists. American tourists have been robbed after meeting women on dating apps like Tinder.
Alessandro Coatti, a 38-year-old Italian tourist, was murdered, and his body was dismembered. Medellin’s mayor is trying to combat these issues, stating, “We are fighting it, but it’s an issue.”
Escobar’s Legacy
Roberto Escobar, Pablo’s brother, runs a museum that glamorizes his sibling. Authorities have tried to shut it down but have not succeeded. Roberto, 78, said, “I will open it back up again.”
The museum attracts up to 30 visitors a day, many fans of the Narcos series. Tourists come to learn the truth about Escobar’s story.
Pablo Escobar’s Background
Pablo Escobar was born on December 1, 1949, in Colombia. He began his cocaine smuggling operation in 1975. By the mid-1980s, he was one of the wealthiest men, making an estimated $420 million a week.
Escobar was on the Forbes list of billionaires for seven years. He supplied 80% of the world’s cocaine by the end of the 1980s. In 1991, he made a deal to serve time in a self-designed prison.
He was responsible for thousands of deaths and was known for his violent methods. Escobar died in 1993 after a gunfight with authorities.
Conclusion
Roberto Escobar now runs a museum that tells his brother’s story. Tourists can buy memorabilia and hear his version of events. The legacy of Pablo Escobar continues to attract visitors, despite the dangers.
