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Latest News: Sofia Vergara Stars as Griselda Blanco in Netflix’s 2024 Drama Series Griselda
On January 25, 2024, Netflix premiered the limited series Griselda, featuring Sofia Vergara in the titular role. This six-episode drama is inspired by the life of Griselda Blanco, a notorious drug trafficker and murderer who operated a cocaine cartel during the 1970s and ’80s. Blanco’s infamous reputation for brutality and cunning earned her the monikers “Godmother of Cocaine” and “Black Widow.” Known for her comedic performances in Modern Family and her role as a judge on America’s Got Talent, Vergara embraces the opportunity to portray a complex and dark character in this gritty narrative.
Who Was Griselda Blanco?
Griselda Blanco engaged in criminal activities from a young age in her native Colombia and eventually established a significant drug trafficking empire in the United States. Her street smarts and ruthless nature are linked to numerous murders, including those of her husbands, as she facilitated the distribution of cocaine from Miami to Southern California in the 1970s and ’80s. Blanco’s criminal enterprise earned her titles such as the “Queen of Cocaine” and “Godmother of Cocaine.” After years of investigations, she was arrested by federal agents in 1985 and spent nearly two decades in prison on charges of drug trafficking and murder. At the age of 69, Blanco was shot dead in 2012 in Colombia.
Early Life
Griselda Blanco Restrepo was born on February 15, 1943, in Colombia. Sources vary regarding her birthplace, with some identifying Cartagena and others citing Santa Marta. Blanco’s mother was reportedly an alcoholic sex worker who moved to Medellín when Blanco was about three years old. During her childhood, she may have experienced abuse at the hands of her mother’s clients.
Blanco turned to crime early in her life; by the age of 11, she was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy from a wealthy family in the Medellín area. When the family refused to pay the ransom, Blanco purportedly shot the child. In addition to these crimes, she is reported to have engaged in pickpocketing and sex work.
Becoming the “Queen of Cocaine”
Griselda Blanco, often referred to as the “Queen of Cocaine,” became a notorious figure in the drug trade through a series of pivotal events and relationships. Her second husband, Albert Bravo, a drug trafficker, introduced her to the world of narcotics. Initially, Blanco trafficked marijuana but quickly transitioned to cocaine, recognizing its advantages in transport and profit. To facilitate her operations, she employed female couriers who concealed the drug in specially designed bras and girdles, ensuring a discreet entry into the United States.
Blanco’s significant role in distributing Colombian cocaine in New York City soon attracted the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In April 1975, she, along with over 30 associates, was indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges during a comprehensive investigation known as Operation Banshee. However, Blanco eluded capture by fleeing to Colombia. By the late 1970s, she had relocated to Miami, where she established an expansive narcotics network, reportedly trafficking up to 3,400 pounds of cocaine each month. Her reign was marked by a violent approach to maintaining power, eliminating individuals to avoid debts or perceived disrespect.
Blanco gained notoriety for refining the tactic of drive-by shootings executed by hired assassins on motorcycles, enabling quick escapes from crime scenes. According to the 2014 book Drugs in American Society, she was implicated in the majority of South Florida’s homicides between 1979 and 1981, including a tragic incident in 1982 that resulted in the death of a 2-year-old child.
Throughout her criminal career, Blanco acquired several nicknames, including “La Madrina” (the Godmother), “Cocaine Queen,” and “Godmother of Cocaine.” She skillfully evaded law enforcement for years by altering her appearance and utilizing multiple aliases. Her eventual capture occurred in February 1985 in Irvine, California, after the DEA tracked her movements.
Conviction and Prison
Blanco’s trial in New York during June and July of 1985 culminated in her conviction for conspiracy to manufacture, import, and distribute cocaine, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence. During her incarceration, she allegedly plotted to have John F. Kennedy Jr. kidnapped to leverage her freedom.
While still in federal custody, Blanco faced murder charges in Miami, where she risked the death penalty. However, the prosecution’s case faltered due to unforeseen circumstances, particularly the conduct of their key witness, Jorge “Rivi” Ayala. After Ayala’s misconduct, prosecutors offered a plea deal, leading Blanco to plead guilty to three counts of second-degree murder in 1998. She was released in June 2004 and subsequently deported to Colombia.
Financial Empire
At the peak of her drug trafficking operations, Blanco’s income reached an astounding $80 million per month, with estimates of her total net worth soaring as high as $2 billion. She owned a luxurious mansion in Miami and frequently traveled via private jet. However, her lifestyle significantly changed upon her return to Colombia; while she resided in an upscale gated community and maintained some real estate investments, it was a far cry from her previous opulence.
Personal Life
Blanco’s personal life was as tumultuous as her criminal career. She was married three times and had four sons. Her first marriage was to Carlos Trujillo, a forger, with whom she had three sons: Dixon, Uber, and Osvaldo. Following their divorce in the late 1960s, Blanco is suspected of orchestrating Trujillo’s murder in the early 1970s.
Her second marriage to Alberto Bravo ended in violence; Blanco suspected him of stealing from her and ultimately killed him in a shootout in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1975. This led to her being dubbed the “Black Widow.”
With her third husband, Dario Sepulveda, Blanco had another son, Michael Corleone, named after the iconic character from The Godfather. Sepulveda was killed in Medellín in 1983, an incident suspected to have been orchestrated by Blanco herself.
Her three eldest sons followed in her criminal footsteps, becoming drug traffickers and serving time in federal prison. After their release, they returned to Colombia, where both Uber and Osvaldo were killed, and Griselda herself was murdered in 2012. Michael Corleone faced legal troubles as well, being arrested for cocaine trafficking in 2011 but completed his probation by 2018.
Death and Legacy
On September 3, 2012, at the age of 69, Blanco was murdered in Medellín, Colombia. A gunman on a motorcycle shot her as she exited a butcher shop, mirroring the very tactics she had employed during her reign in Miami. Following her death, estimates of her alleged involvement in homicides ranged from 40 to 250. She was interred in Jardines Montesacro cemetery, sharing a final resting place with her rival, Pablo Escobar.
Blanco’s life has continued to captivate audiences posthumously, inspiring various portrayals in literature and film. She was the subject of Richard Smitten’s 1990 book The Godmother and featured prominently in Billy Corben’s documentaries Cocaine Cowboys (2006) and Cocaine Cowboys 2 (2008). HBO announced a film about her life in 2016, with Jennifer Lopez attached to star, although the project remains incomplete. In 2017, Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayed her in the Lifetime biopic The Cocaine Godmother. Most recently, Sofia Vergara starred in Griselda, a Netflix series based on Blanco’s life, sparking legal action from her son Michael regarding the use of his likeness without consent.