75. The Hunt for Pablo Escobar: The War on Drugs (Ep 2)

In the early 1980s, Pablo Escobar reinvented himself. He was no longer just the man who could smuggle tonnes of cocaine into Miami - he was the successful businessman, the philanthropist, the proud family man. To the poor, he built homes and football fields. To the powerful, he offered campaign donations and political loyalty.

Listen as Gordon and David chart Escobar’s transformation from feared trafficker to aspiring statesman. He buys his way into Congress, rubbing shoulders with Colombia’s elite while his cartel tightens its grip on the cocaine trade. But fame and politics bring scrutiny, and enemies determined to bring him down.

This is the tale of how Escobar’s reach extended from the backstreets of Medellín to the heart of Colombian democracy.

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Assistant Producer: Becki Hills

Producer: Callum Hill

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
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