After the release, Ross went on speaking tours and talked to young people about his life in the drug trade. In 2001, he allegedly snuck out in a laundry cart; in 2014, he escaped through a secret tunnel beneath a bathtub. She was arrested by authorities one year later while driving a stolen vehicle that held tons of drugs. Leroy "Nicky" Barnes rose to prominence in Harlem in the 1970s after … Later, he illegally immigrated to the US, where he worked as a small-time drug dealer in California before he was deported in the early 1990s after a series of arrests. She was also an underwear entrepreneur, manufacturing lingerie with secret pockets for smuggling drugs. It has been estimated that she was responsible for up to 200 murders while transporting cocaine from Colombia to the US. Leroy "Nicky" Barnes. Think “infamous, filthy rich drug lords” and the names Pablo Escobar and El Chapo might spring to mind. While Juan David and Jorge Luis operated in Colombia, Fabio moved to Florida where he lived in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. The organized crime group has engaged in everything from narcotics to contract killing, working mostly in Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The reason these drug lords have so much power is that their money is also a part of the world economy, and it comes up to a huge amount if added up. October 24, 2018 Leave a Comment. His life was documented in the 2015 film “Freeway: Crack in the System.”. He is well known for his use of sophisticated tunnels to smuggle cocaine from Mexico into the US. Coke, whose father was a drug lord too, is now one of the world’s most powerful kingpins – his drug activities span the Caribbean, North America, and even the United Kingdom. Also known as “Junior Capsula” and “the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean,” Jose Figueroa Agosto was the head of a major drug trafficking organization that made 90% of cocaine in Puerto Rico. These men weren’t just a couple of gangsters – they were the blood-soaked CEOs of illicit business empires, even turning up on the Forbes rich list. Gonzalez’s death was first announced after a 2010 shootout, but no body was found; it was not until another shootout in 2014 when he was really killed in a gunfight with Mexican police. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. There are definitely some familiar faces on this list who have been made famous by big budget Hollywood movies, but there are also some people here who you've probably never even heard of, so click the image below to launch our gallery of the 20 richest drug dealers of all time! Arturo Beltran Leyva’s own downfall was even more unsubtle. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. People gag for anything they can get. He is one of the biggest bosses of the Albanian Mafia, a feared crime organization unmatched for secrecy and brutality. His ingenious operation made him one of the richest outlaws of all time, with billions of dollars to his name. ... “I am so glad that they got this for him. Caveman’s Favorite Products Of 2020 Part 3. A drug lord (also known as drug baron, kingpin, or narcotrafficker) is a person who controls a sizable network of people involved in illegal drug trade. These 7 Drug Dealers Were Caught Red-Handed. That said, stories still swirl that Fuentes actually faked his own death and is still out there somewhere. Known as “The King of Cocaine,” Pablo Escobar was the wealthiest and most successful criminal in history. Think “infamous, filthy rich drug lords” and the names Pablo Escobar and El Chapo might spring to mind. The gang derives its name from “showering” communities with bullets and was blamed for more than 1,000 murders during the 1980’s. In 1997, he was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 6 life sentences. Cartel boss Arturo Beltran Leyva knew the importance of branding. He was sent to the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London for fears of a plan to spring him. And then again about 17 years ago making about $39,000 profit in an 8 month period. A military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989, Manuel Noriega was a prize CIA asset but was also involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. I never got caught, I was clever about business “There was a music festival coming up, which as a drug dealer is a huge opportunity to make a small fortune. His criminal career was dramatized in the 2007 film “American Gangster” starring Denzel Washington. } catch(e) {}. Mysteries Modern History. After serving a long prison stretch, she was eventually shot and killed by an assassin on a motorbike. } At the height of his power in 1989, the Colombian kingpin was the seventh richest man in the world. One of Britain's biggest drug dealers convicted of running £68m into UK. If you want to know more about the ruthless and violent lives of the world’s richest drug lords, the biggest drug dealers who never got caught, and other notable narcotraffickers, check out this post with 25 Most Famous Drug Dealers Throughout History. In 2009, Warren was jailed for 13 years over a massive cannabis plot. Known as “King Larry,” Larry Hoover was the leader of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation in Chicago, which controlled the South Side of the city’s drug trade. The biggest thing to remember is that, if we want you, you’re getting caught. All Rights Reserved. This cartel was an organized crime group that controlled a significant portion of Mexico’s drug trade in northeastern part of the country. Besides drug trade, Los Zetas were involved in smuggling people, kidnapping, extortion, and arms trafficking. 25 Most Famous Drug Dealers Throughout History, Top 25 Best Things to Watch on Apple TV Plus, 25 Best and Surprising Ways To Experience Music, 5 Best Keurig Coffee Makers of 2021 – Review & Buying Guide, 5 Best Enzymatic Cleaners of 2021 – Reviews & Buying Guide, 5 Best Business Strategy Video Games of 2021 – Review & Buying Guide, 5 Best Bladeless Fans of 2021 – Review & Buying Guide, 25 Strangely Unique Schools You Won't Believe Exist, 25 Facts about Griselda Blanco and The Cocaine Cowboys, 25 Oldest Scams in History that People Still Try Today, 25 Craziest Discoveries Made by Ordinary People, 25 Obnoxiously Expensive Celebrity Purchases That Seem Over The Top. Not all drug kingpins are men. _g1.setAttribute('srcset', _g1.getAttribute('data-srcset')); Most drug dealers, in fact, never get caught. In the years following his arrest, the availability of LSD in the US dropped by 95%. US Department of State photo (public domain), 3. She actually began as a police officer before joining up with the drug lords, and eventually became a boss of Los Zetas. Our list of drug lords starts out with Frank Lucas, a former heroin dealer and organized crime boss who operated in Harlem during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The Sunday Times estimated that he, at the height of his power, had a fortune of more than 260 million dollars. Two of the doctors were later found buried in oil drums, encased in concrete, showing signs of having been brutally tortured before execution. “To be in a drug deal, you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up. _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-inverted-source'); if ( localStorage.getItem(skinItemId ) ) { This made him one of the richest drug bosses ever with an estimated fortune of over US $25 billion. Through corruption and intimidation, Leyva even infiltrated numerous political, judicial, and police institutions in the country. Nicknamed “El Mayo,” Zambada is a legendary figure in the Mexican underworld, who has reportedly never spent a day in prison. Alongside producing and moving cocaine, Usuga’s organization also runs extortion rackets and is involved in human trafficking. 9 facts about 'the Anarchy': England's dark period of lawlessness and war, The life and death of Rasputin: part 3: How he met his violent death. She sat behind Antonio, often in tears, as she listened to … "A.L." Nicknamed “Bhai,” Dawood Ibrahim is a notorious drug baron and gangster from Mumbai, India. The slain drug lord also inspired a phrase, the “Felix Paradox”, which describes a situation where the arrest of a major kingpin actually leads to a rise in crime and violence thanks to the power vacuum it creates. Luigi Novi, 11.14.08FrankLucasByLuigiNovi, CC BY 3.0, 24. However, after just 2 years of freedom, he was arrested again as he violated his parole. The 20 Richest Drug Dealers of All Time | Celebrity Net Worth From the 70s onwards, he was the major player when it came to flooding the United States with heroin. Drug lords are usually very rich, ruthless, and powerful. A BRITISH drug lord known as The Voice who runs a secret phone network used by El Chapo has used the service to flood Britain with cocaine. Downfall: His house was raided in 1975 where more than half a million dollars-worth of cash was found at the scene. According to the DEA, “the rumor has as much credibility as the millions of sightings of the late Elvis Presley. But what about the lesser-known, but no less frightening, figures who made a killing during the “war on drugs”? Blanco had a penchant for smoking crack and throwing wild orgies. Instead Of Jail, They Get A Second Chance. He was released after serving 28 years after the Mexican court ruled he should have been tried at a state level rather than on federal charges. One year later, Bruinsma was shot dead by an organized crime member and former police officer Martin Hoogland. The cartel also reportedly maintains strong ties to the feared Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Stephen Rice, Khun Sa (cropped), CC BY-SA 3.0, 2. thequint.com, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 1. wikimedia commons (public domain). _g1.setAttribute('src', _g1.getAttribute('data-src') ); Undergoing secret plastic surgery to radically alter his appearance, Fuentes died while recovering from the procedure. Nicknamed “El Mata Amigos” (The Friend-Killer) after he killed his friend and mentor, Osien Cardenas Guillen was the leader of the Gulf Cartel. When the US invaded Panama in 1989, Noriega was eventually captured as a prisoner of war. Besides his crimes committed in Puerto Rico, Agosto was also wanted in the Dominican Republic for kidnapping, money-laundering, and drug-trafficking. Carlos Lehder: Worthy $2.7 Billion. Photos: 25. Jung’s life story was portrayed in the 2001 biopic (biographical) film “Blow,” starring Johnny Depp. One radio personality compared it to Martin Luther King’s passing. At a certain point in time, the Golden Triangle was responsible for 70% of the world’s opium. Nish242, Curciojung-01, CC BY-SA 4.0, 4. Born in 1952, Rafael Caro Quintero is a Mexican drug trafficker and one of the leaders of the Guadalajara Cartel, a forerunner of the notorious Guzman’s Sinaloa Cartel. Lucas constructed a huge international drug empire that spanned from New York to South East Asia. The Colombian drug Lord was in 1989 declared by Forbes magazine as the seventh wealthiest man… I got caught once in 30 years for personal possession when a cop saw me rolling a joint. A.L. They might also be extremely difficult to bring to justice. He got in the game as an informant, turned into a legend and is now serving life because of his notoriety in the Michigan State system. At the peak of his career he operated in 21 states and supplied drug dealers throughout every region of the country. var _g1; designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. After serving a brief prison term in Colombia, he was arrested and extradited to the US in 1999, where he has been serving a 30-year term in a federal prison. Does an army officer's secret diary reveal new clues to Roswell? By 1973, he was sentenced to 150 to 200 years in prison. These men weren’t just a couple of gangsters – they were the blood-soaked CEOs of illicit business empires, even turning up on the Forbes rich list. Bad news for him, and bad news for the hapless plastic surgeons who administered the scalpels. And, unlike his bad guy brethren, he died not in a hail of bullets, but from natural causes. He was convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. There are many countries with great drug lords who are famous and rich personalities. Reason: To solve his own problems. A teenage drug dealer who boasted he was 'making money like a boss' and bragged he would never get caught was found with deadly M-Cat - TWICE. But now police in Mexico hope to keep hold of Joaquin Guzman, one of the world's most wanted drug barons.. Griselda BlancoNot all drug kingpins are men. Known as the “Cat” after classic cartoon character Felix the Cat, he was a charismatic man-about-town who went from high school dropout to multi-millionaire. If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to check out 25 Most Brilliant Criminals in History! List25® is a registered trademark. El Chapo. Nicknamed “El Senor de los Cienos” (The Lord of the Skies) for his use of converted passenger aircraft to fly cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, Amado Carillo Fuentes took over Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel as well as some other Colombian drug cartels. In 1985, Quintero was convicted of ordering the torture and murder of a US anti-drugs agent and received a 40-year sentence. A shamelessly cocky character, even by the notoriously immodest standards of other drug lords, Khun Sa even offered to sell his entire drugs operation to the United States government. When the feds no longer needed him they cut him loose and busted him for drug trafficking. The leader of Colombia’s largest and most feared cartel, the Urabenos, Usuga is one of the biggest drug lords in the world right now. At a certain point in time, his cartel yielded millions of dollars each day. I usually only procured for friends, never made it a serious profession so that probably helped. However, even while behind the bars, it turns out that he was still running his crime syndicate. Born in 1960, Rick Ross is a convicted drug trafficker best known for the drug empire he established in Los Angeles in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Jamie Simpson was caught carrying the largest ever seizure of cocaine on land in the UK when he was forcibly pinned down on the M6 after undercover police swooped on … try { One of the most ruthless drug “queenpins” of all-time was Griselda Blanco, nicknamed “La Madrina,” or “The Black Widow.” Blanco was one of the key figures in the Medellín Cartel and has been credited with being a mentor to Pablo Escobar (see nr. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms and Conditions, 5 Terrifying Drug Lords You’ve Never Heard Of. Rafael Caro Quintero. After accumulating an incredible fortune, Bruinsma wanted to retire from the criminal world…but only after the last big deal, the “mother of all deals” as he called it. Lamont Coleman, Christopher-Dudus-Coke, CC BY-SA 3.0, 13-12. wikimedia commons (public domain), 11. en.wikimedia, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 10. dailystar.co.uk, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 9. animalpolitico.com, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 8. latinone.com, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 7. dutchprisons.wordpress.com, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 6. listindiario.com, (Fair use: no free images available; illustrative purposes only), 5. Ironic, given that Blanco herself pioneered this method of eliminating rivals in her Miami heyday. By Ryan J. Reilly. Also known as “The Opium King,” Khun Sa was one of the most feared and powerful kingpins in Asia. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) … A drug dealer in Brazil was caught trying to escape from the jail where he was locked up by disguising himself as his 19-year-old daughter. ... you’re name is going to get thrown around a lot. Nicknamed “Boston George” and “El Americano,” George Jung is a former drug trafficker and smuggler who was a major player in the cocaine trade in the US in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. One of Baltimore's biggest ever drug dealers has been jailed for 25 years for shipping a ton of cocaine - and enjoying a life of fast cars, designer clothes and luxury properties with the earnings. In July 1997, Fuentes died of a heart attack in Mexico City’s private Santa Monica hospital after undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery to alter his appearance. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t make it out of that one alive. But he was a little too smart for his own good. I never heard of it,” Margo said. The gang has been said to be involved in contact killing, kidnapping, torture, and human trafficking in Mexico. started because, in his leafy college town, it was legitimately difficult to get the drugs he liked. At a certain point in time, Escobar’s Medellin Cartel was responsible for as much as 80% of the global cocaine market, and it reportedly smuggled about 15 tons of cocaine into the US every day. I was a drug dealer,” he admits. In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Pickard manufactured massive amounts of the drug in a secret superlab located at a shut-down nuclear missile silo near Wamego, Kansas. Ibrahim shares smuggling routes with al Qaeda and has collaborated with both al Qaeda and its South Asian affiliate, Lashkar-e-Taiba, which pulled off the November 2008 Mumbai Attacks. In 2003, he was sentenced to life without parole. He was also regarded as the spiritual leader of its offshoot, the brutal organization Knights Templar. _g1.classList.remove('lazyload'); And fwiw, I've been completely drug-free & sober for six years now. Jung was arrested and received a 60-year sentence in 1994, of which he served 20 years before being released. Or if you want to … The US government is offering a reward of $5 million for information leading to his capture. Pablo Escobar’s successor as one of the world’s major cocaine kingpins, Amado Carrillo Fuentes was dubbed the “Lord of the Skies” thanks to the fleet of jets he used to smuggle the white stuff. He was also a warlord, commanding a Burmese militia group while moonlighting as an international drug smuggler. His product was, in the rather admiring words of the DEA, the “best in the business”. He imported 45 tons of black Pakistani cannabis, but the material was seized by the police. Leyva was killed by the Mexican Marines in December 2009. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. A former bouncer at a Liverpool nightclub, Curtis “Cocky” Warren was once Britain’s most notorious drug boss and Interpol’s Target One. I do know that people involved in drugs frequently give information to the Police. Many many moons ago, over 25 years now, I was a reasonably successful smaller cocaine dealer, making approximately $310,000 profit during a 28 month period. Felix Mitchell was no ordinary West Coast gangster. The US said no thanks, and Khun Sa eventually gave up the criminal overlord business to have a quiet retirement. Never made it a serious profession so that probably helped ( DEA ) … El Chapo, ” Christopher is... That said, stories still swirl that Fuentes actually faked his own death and is still out somewhere! Arturo Beltran Leyva’s own downfall was even more unsubtle institutions in the late 1980 ’ s post, sure... 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