5. The important thing is to continue with the business., At heart, her position is simple: each individual is free to partake in the drug world, or abstain. He pleaded guilty to helping to launder $2.5 million in exchange for a $250,000 payment. He is currently part of the United States Federal Witness Protection Program and has reached his 8th decade of life. Banev's 10-year-old daughter was kidnapped during his imprisonment and released unharmed two months later. The song became a hit, but vila was irate: she had been outed by a band. His drug cartel monopolized the cocaine trade into the United States and he became one of the wealthiest criminals ever in history. They cordoned off the area and I could see Joel laid out in the street. He later supervised logistics for Miguel ngel Flix Gallardo, one of the nation's leading kingpins in the mid 1980s, but Guzmn founded his own cartel in 1988 after Gallardo's arrest. He has been in the field of business from 1974 and has been earning from that. Enedina Arellano Felix, also known as La Jefa , is one of the last standing female drug lord. They all brothers were arrested in 1991 but then were out in 1996. It was the last of theFive Familiesto be organized. "Ruthless and immensely powerful", several political leaders, such as President Virgilio Barco Vargas, became convinced that the drug . 5 Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov Uzbek mobster. We end our interview by watching the trailer for Queen of the South in her living room. Freeway Rick Ross is the drug lord who belongs to the USA. ), and was eventually arrested, yet the case fell apart. Columbia is the country which is more involved in drug dealing than all other countries. She was offered private tuition, piano and dance lessons and frequent trips to SeaWorld and Disneyland. When he was alive, he was one of the richest individuals in the entire world. This made himthe first European who was executed in Singapore following its independence. His life and career have inspired several films and TV series. In 1982, the Drug Enforcement Administration indicted him in a money laundering operation, but he fled back to Mexico where he was finally arrested in 1985. He was even played by Robert De Niro in "The Untouchables." In the early 1980s, Griselda "La Madrina" Blanco was one of the most feared drug lords of the Miami underworld. 01 Pablo Escobar was born on December 1, 1949. Jorge, Juan David, and Fabio Ochoa were three brothers who were also co-founders and members of the Medellin Cartel. vila is the stuff legends are made of - one of the few women with access to the highest levels of cartel life. Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha: $5.65 Billion They were arrested in 1991 and were out of . The total estimate for El Chapo's "gross drug sale proceeds" since early 1990s was less than $12.7 billion. Juan died in 2013, while both Jorge and Fabio have kept low profiles after being released from prison in the 1990s. To be able to buy that system? The federal prison system is tough. 10 Female Drug Lords. 10 Of The Most High End Furniture Brands in the World, 10 Luxury Things to Do in Amsterdam for Over $1,000, The 20 Most Luxurious Home Aquariums Money Can Buy. . If he were alive today he might bristle at being characterized as a drug dealer, but many of his bootlegging activities were the equivalent of underground narcotics traffic today. Chicago also ranks #1 in our list of the top 10 U.S. cities with highest number of murders. 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. 21/21. Blanco was one of the world's wealthiest and most dangerous women, as well as the world's most successful drug lord.She is the world's first female billionaire convict, running her multibillion-dollar cocaine dealing enterprise with an iron hand and becoming one of history's most dangerous people. Ahhh, poor little girl, then they kill you, she sighed. The followings are top 10 richest and most famous drug lords of the world: 10. Two years after the conviction and life sentence of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the cartel he once headed appears stronger than ever.. A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration . This Colombian Drug Kingpin, easily the best-known co-founder of the Medellin Cartel, had ambitions of becoming the President of Colombia. And in less than 10 years, her coronation was complete. 2 leader of the same Medellin Cartel that Carlos Lehder helped establish, Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha was one of the most wanted men in Colombia while he was at large. . I couldnt believe when I was arrested and they called me by my name it was a relief to be arrested.. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera is a Mexican drug lord who is in charge of the Sinaloa Cartel, and is considered to be the most powerful and notorious drug lord in the world today. Bogota, Colombia - Security forces in Colombia have captured Dairo Antonio Usuga, the country's most wanted drug trafficker. Most Dangerous, Powerful and Richest Female Criminal Leaders in the World - Enjoy the VideoPlease Share, Like and Comment. The research took two weeks because we kept uncovering new kingpins and information that absolutely blew our minds. We used the paper tubes from toilet paper for curling our hair. He is getting all this publicity . Photo from Cocaine Cowboys 2/Rakontur.com. He has also challenged US government to purchase Opium from him. When the Columbian government began to fight the Medellin Cartel more, Rodriquez was one of the chief individuals that would organize kidnappings and bombings against the police, VIPs, judges, and various membersof the government. He knew everything.. 1. We count them among the most successful drug lords because even though they can't enjoy their immense wealth, they agreed to a plea deal with the U.S. prosecutors that gave immunity to more than a two dozen of family members. Dutch engineer and businessman Johannes van Damme was arrested atthe Singapore Changi Airport, convicted of drug trafficking and was given capital punishment after 4.32 kilograms (9.5lb) ofheroinwas found in a secret compartment of his trunk. Dubbed "The King of Cocaine",he left behind a controversial legacy upon his death at the age of 44. Griselda Blanco: Griselda Blanco is the drug lord and was born in Colombia. He later died in a Mexican hospital in 1997 after getting intensive plastic surgery in order to alter his appearance and avoid being recognized. He then surrenders the police of Myanmar but dont know what next happens to him. She spent so many hours counting cash as a child that she could later swipe a clutch of bills and just like a cocktail party trick precisely calculate their value. vila scoffed as the narrator described how the heroine becomes one of the richest traffickers in Mexico. He is getting all this publicity because we live in the social media age. Drug lords are usually very rich, ruthless, and powerful. She met her new love, Juan Diego Espinoza, a handsome young Colombian cocaine dealer who, interviewed years later in prison, then estimated he was moving 10 tons of cocaine every month from Colombia to the US, via Mexico. He has a brand called Mean Machine which supplies all drugs to the users and earning profit from that. Bruce Bagley, a 74-year old University of Miami professor, estimated El Chapo's net worth between $2-4 billion and we think he was being generous. That is adrenaline, the sin, that maybe you will get caught.. They were more successful because of their special teams. Fabio Ochoa Vsquez gained notoriety as a key member of thehighly-organizedMedelln cocaine trafficking cartel. A notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar was the founder and leader of the infamous Medelln Cartel. He was then sent to the jail in 1985 for 40 years and is still here. Christopher Cokes attitude in court in 2012 was remarkably unapologetic, with him stating Im pleading guilty because I am, before being given his 23-year sentence. He has also invested money in different construction and real estate projects. At dawn you heard the music, the shootouts, it was when they killed the people.. She had met Frank during a vacation in Puerto Rico, and the two soon came to be known as "the black Bonnie & Clyde.". Until you've reached these levels, you really are just a small timer. I have seen one [politician] look into the bag to see if it was there. After the seven of male leading members of the cartel were dead or in prison, Enedina took over. Pablo Escobar. Escobar was eventually killed during a raid in 1993, leaving behind a notorious legacy. German-Colombian drug kingpin Carlos Lehder, co-founder of the Medelln Cartel, which smuggled cocaine into the U.S., formed the Muerte a Secuestradores, to fight against the kidnappings of his cartel members. He earned so much community support that capturing him in Kingston, Jamaica was a harrowing five-week ordeal with many casualties. He's been designated a "global terrorist" by the governments of both the United States and India since 2003, with a bounty of $25 million on his head. In the 1980s and early 1990s, his drug cartel monopolized the cocaine trade into the United States. That's worth $1.47 billion in today's money. Gilberto Rodrguez Orejuela was the leader of the Colombian Cali Cartel and is currently serving a 30-year sentence in the United States. When we talk of drug lords, probably the first name to crosses our minds would be of El Chapothe most significant drug lord in history! During the operation he died, however there are a few conspiracy theories out there that suggest that he is still alive. In June, USA Network will launch a TV series entitled Queen of the South, starring Alicia Braga as either a fictitious female cocaine queen or as vilas latest incarnation. Carlos Enrique belongs to Colombia with the net worth value of $2.7 billion. Besides his illegal activities, he also maintained several legitimate businesses. He is also known for his association with Pablo Escobar and the Galeano family. Her relationship to the world of cocaine for now seems to be that of an insider who is not playing the game. Now, let's take a look at the 10 richest drug lords of all time. Arturo was killed in a 2009 shootout, but Alfredo continued his reign of terror until 2017 when he was sentenced to life in prison. Escobar, dubbed "The King of Cocaine," is the wealthiest criminal in history, with an estimated net worth of US$30 billion at the time of his death which is equivalent to $64 billion in 2021. Jose would continue to resist arrest and fight the government before he was killed in a police raid in 1989. Californian, businesswoman, 'narco junior': El Chapo's American daughter, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. During the height of their operations, the were estimated to have a combined net worth of some $6 billion dollars. His 70-year prison sentence was commuted to a 5-year sentence, after he became an informant. In her world, drugs were everywhere, and illegal drug use a consumer not moral choice. To paint your grey hairs, we used mascara and eyeliner, she cheerfully explained. I thought I had a better probability of surviving if I got out. 12. Frank Lucas was portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in the 2007 movie American Gangster. He spent 33 years in prison and was recently released. Frank Lucas was a notorious drug trafficker from the 1960s and the 1970s. Dawood Ibrahim is the most famous personality of India with the net worth value of $6.7 billion. No one is obliged to use., Cartel-related deaths, she says, are the result of competition, and the Mexican governments brutal assassination tactics. He was portrayed by Cujar on Netflix seriesNarcos. I began to run, made it to the sidewalk, entered an apartment building, hid behind a little bush. Who says crime doesn't pay? There are people who like to feel adrenaline, some with heights, others with guns, and women who feel adrenaline when they cheat on their husbands, she laughed with a conspiratorial smile. The "Opium King" is the most successful drug lord as he retired in 1996 and enjoyed his wealth for a good 11 years until his death. Rodriquez assisted in setting up various trafficking routes throughout South and Latin America, in addition to constructing the various labs in the jungles where they actually made the cocaine. People become drug dealers because it's still the only profession where someone without a college education can become one of the richest people on the planet in just a few years. She was also in prison in 1985 but then was released in 2004. #18 Freeway Ricky Ross - Net Worth $1 Million. If we had invested Al Capone's money into an S&P Index fund, he probably would have been the richest gangster today. #17 Frank Lucas - Net Worth $1.5 Million. But during his lifetime he was possibly the most successful drug lord of them all. The most I ever heard about was a $100m [bribe] to a Mexican president, vila said. In 2019 federal prosecutors estimated in their court documents that El Chapo handled 600,000 kilograms of . 6 Felicien Kabuga Mastermind of genocide. The followings are top 10 richest and most famous drug lords of the world: Griselda Blanco is the drug lord and was born in Colombia. Pablo Escobar was the largest drug lord in the world in terms of drug revenue. Now free, she gave an exclusive interview, her first in nearly a decade, from her home near Guadalajara, in which she lashed out at Mexican politicians corruption, mocked the futility of drug prohibition and celebrated the escape of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn. 3 Semion Mogilevich Russian 'boss of bosses' . While Escobar would go on to become the biggest kingpin of the 1980s . This was a very popular debate on the CelebrityNetWorth Facebook page so we took it upon ourselves to settle it once and for all with the following list. Rodriguez Gacha resisted arrest by the Colombian government, throwing grenades in a shootout that resulted in the death of himself and his 17-year-old son, Freddy. Very tiring. Political and law enforcement pressure forced him into retirement in the 90s, and he passed away in 2007. Location: Colombia. For vila, these are the actions of dilettantes, Hollywood-wannabes who will never penetrate the true intrigues of the narco world. This list features the most brutal drug kingpins - people who wouldn't hesitate to murder for the sake of their profits. Juan David, the eldest, enlisted his two brothers help in contributing to the establishment of the infamous Medellin Cartel. Lucas was a heroin dealer in Harlem during the late 1960s and early 1970s. From Pablo Escobar to El Chapo, these individuals became some of the wealthiest people on the planet. But now they are both in separate prison facilities in the US serving out very long sentences. Whilst the Medellin Cartel was waging war against the Columbian government, the Cali Cartel was less-violent and focused on making money. Eventually he got involved with the opiumand eventually the heroin trade, as he oversaw the production and transportation of these drugs within South East Asia. She was promptly escorted to the table of Guzmn. 4. He has been supplying cocaine to almost all parts of USA and has made millions from that. He is involved in film industry financing, terrorism, supplying arms other than drug smuggling. . Follow her on Twitter @courtooo, but be nice. Carlos Enrique Lehder Rivas is the co-founder of the Medellin Cartel and still alive. 8. On September 3, 2012, she was shot and killed at the age of 69. Let's take a look at who the richest Colombian drug lord is. I could see they were searching for me, I ducked down. The . If you want to be a successful drug lord, you have to be an expert on violence, smuggling across borders, and bribing the police. Poverty is what causes violence. But she flashed to her recently murdered brother and how that death had weighed so heavily on their mother. 10 Griselda Blanco. All were murdered during Mexicos ongoing cocaine wars. Ratings. Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha. Along with his brother Arturo, he gained infamy as one of the most-wanted drug traffickers in Mexico. Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo is a convicted Mexican drug lord. Unlike most of the figures on this list, Indian crime lord Dawood Ibrahim has never been apprehended by law enforcement. Who are the richest drug dealers of all time? I remember a suitor who bought me a pickup truck and left it at my friends house with flowers and a note, she said. While most of the drug lords are men, Griselda Blancoknown as the "Godmother of Cocaine"gained the notoriety of being one of the few women in this illegal and dangerous field. A notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar was the founder and leader of the infamous Medelln Cartel. He supplies drugs to different countries of the most which make him most famous and richest drug dealer. 10. ', Death toll keeps rising in Greece's deadliest train crash, Thieves steal nonprofit's bus that carries supplies to cancer patients, Fixed vs Floating rates - Pick the right home loan, W.House gives federal agencies 30 days to enforce TikTok ban, Doctors for actor Tom Sizemore recommend 'end-of-life decision' to family. The government at times has to kill people because it is not convenient to imprison witnesses who could testify against them., The problem, she insisted, is not with those who cant leave the cartels, but those who prefer not to. That means $1.3 billion in 2012 is equivalent to nearly $1.47 billion in 2020. Eventually his cartel began to turn on him due to his increasingly militarized and radical behavior, which then lead to his capture and arrest by the United States. She was also a prolific smuggler who is involved in the business at places like New York, Miami, and many others. So what single measure would she take if she were president of Mexico, and interested in eradicating drug violence? Like the Medellin Cartel, the Cali Cartel rose to power during the 1970s. Originally a modest housewife in Naples, she entered the mob life when her husband, Nicalo Pianese, was riddled with bullets and killed in 2006. He fought extremely hard and violently against the Columbian government during the 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s, and essentially was waging a war. German-Colombian Carlos Lehder had a net worth of $2.7 billion at the height of his cocaine empire in the 1980s. In addition to his drug-related crimes, he also laundered money through Colombia to finance his fleets. vila learned to tweak her beauty routines. He is currently held in a maximum security prison in the United States. So, just how much money can these violent criminals make by peddling forbidden substances? From . But it made me happy., Asked what kind of collaboration from crooked officials Guzmn would have needed, she said: It has to be help from the highest levels of government. When he was arrested . The series is a remake of the Spanish-language version La Reina del Sur, starring Kate del Castillo the actress who eventually teamed up with Sean Penn for a clandestine and highly controversial meeting with El Chapo. nside the front door of Sandra vila Beltrns home is an altar and lit candles that form a crowded shrine to her first husband (riddled by gunfire), her second husband (stabbed through the heart) and her brother (tortured to death). He was killed in 1989. "La Jefa" is the first female drug lord to lead a Mexican cartel, running the Tijuana Cartel after her brothers fell . Her prized anonymity was shattered, and her bad luck continued. vila is the stuff legends are made of one of the few women with access to the highest levels of cartel life. Dead., vila described how a humble witness to the scene gave her shelter, changed her into simple clothes, and saved her life. The operation involved 500 soldiers supported by 22 helicopters. He is the 2nd most famous drug dealer of Columbia. At the height of their empire they had a collective net worth of $3 billion. He goes by a whopping 21 different aliases and is suspected to have been involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 1993 and 2008. It is actually a big accomplishment on her part to manage to survive until the age of 69 in this business. It is around that time that a band called Los Tucanes de Tijuana lionized vila as the Queen of the Pacific with their hit Party in the Mountains. There are people with loads of money but they dont get out. It is estimated that he was worth $25 billion dollars at one point, making him one of the richest drug lords ever. He was then sent to prison for 30 years due to money laundering and drug trafficking in 2006. But he was also recognized for his use of technology in his narcotics operations, considered to be pioneering for his use of airplanes to transport cocaine. Known as "La Madrina," Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco entered the cocaine trade in the early 1970s when a young Pablo Escobar was still boosting cars. But eventually they were enemies of Escobar's. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is an Indian crime and drug lord who leads the notorious D-Company syndicate in India. Sandra vila Beltrn, 18 years old and deeply in love with Javier Caro, who would later be murdered. Khun Sa was a Shan military leader and drug lord who is also known as the Opium King. He has earned a large amount of money because of the drug trafficking business which was started in 1990. Gaining respect was paramount to her. 02 Pablo Escobar had 2 children: Sebastin Marroqun and Manuela Escobar. Dubbed "The King of Cocaine",he left behind a controversial legacy upon his death at the age of 44. You probably don't know this but Chicago is the number one drug distribution hub for Mexican drug cartels (see the top 13 US cities crowded by Mexican drug cartels) in the United States. Describing the escape from prison of Guzmn, with whom she partied when he was on the run, she said: I was not surprised, money buys everything in Mexico. While her childhood friends soon rose to become leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, young Sandra explored other routes, taking her verve and enrolling in journalism classes as a feisty 17 year old. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. Dawoods organization oversees everything from assassinations to drug trafficking. Carlos Lehder - Net Worth $2.7 Billion. We would have asked him about his latest estimates for El Chapo's wealth but he probably has other things on his mind as he is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1st. The life of a drug lord often seems very glamorous. Although he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 1969, Reynolds was released in 1978 post which he published three books and became a popular public figure, performing alongside Alabama 3. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Here are the top 10 richest women in the world; Net worths are as of March 18, 2020. She became friendly with El Chapo Guzmn, dated a top leader of the Sinaloa cartel, commanded a 30-car flotilla and won shooting competitions with the head bodyguard to Rafael Caro Quintero, founder of the Guadalajara cartel. Although he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison in 2013, Evelin Banev was acquitted of all charges in 2014. He was killed in a shootout following a prison escape in 1993. AN alleged drug lord suspected of running a "$70billion empire across Asia" and compared to El Chapo has been arrested in Amsterdam. All were murdered during Mexicos ongoing cocaine wars. Raffaela D'Alterio is an Italian Mafia godmother who was the leader of a faction of the Camorra family. However, alongside his criminal activities, he established programs to assist impoverished members of the community. He started to force the local population of the island, and for a short time, it was essentially a law-less land that was run by Lehder and his guerrilla forces. The tens of thousands of Mexicans killed by armed drug gangs includes many of her inner circle yet she refused to criticize the industry, instead seeking to portray violence as a result of either Mexican government-sponsored terrorism or prohibition policies not the well documented and undeniable savagery regularly used by Mexican drug gangs. He eventually moved to Medellin where he would then team up with others to form the Medellin Cartel. Pablo Escobar: $30 Billion - Topping the list of the richest drug lords. There are many businesses in the market in which people are involved and are earning a lot from them. 2 . They were both arrested on 27 September 2007. Colombia's most wanted drug trafficker and the leader of the country's largest criminal gang has been captured.Dairo Antonio suga, better known as Otoniel, . Grid View. For example, Al Capone's wealth in 2012 was reported at $1.3 billion by Business Insider. Her life became full-time cartel. And when he heard the sound of the sirens, the armed man who was coming after me started running to escape. They are very rich and are earning a lot by sitting in their places but are ruining the life of people by their work. Known . (See also Top 15 Richest Drug Lords of All Time) (See also Top 25 Extremely Notorious Gangsters) (See also 10 Most Powerful Female Crime Lords Ever) 10. El Chapo has been arrested and locked up a few times, but has escaped each time, most recently in July of this year. She was the sister of the famous Arellano Felix brothers, a drug trafficking clan that operated in Tijuana. In July 1997, Fuentes died of a . He supplies drugs to main places like Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Her reign was set in the late '70s and early '80s, and she was reportedly the first female drug lord billionaire. Click Manage settings for more information and to manage your choices. But three years into communication studies at the Universidad Autnoma de Guadalajara, a jealous boyfriend kidnapped her. #16 Jos Figueroa Agosto - Net Worth $100 Million. The followings are top 10 richest and most famous drug lords of the world: 10. She has the net worth value of almost $2 million. He is one of the most famous drug dealers as he was also portrayed in the movie of Johnny Deep called Blow in 2001. During their height, it is believed that Gilberto and Miguel and a combined net worth of $3 billion dollars. Al Capone, also known by the nickname Scarface, was one of the most notorious American gangsters who controlled the organised crime in Chicago between 1925 and 1931. After a 150-kilogram shipment was . She has also murdered almost 200 people in this bad business. Rodriguez Gacha was also on the United States list of the dozen most-wanted Colombian drug traffickers. Crime lords don't get much more famous, or infamous, than Chicago's own Al Capone. It didnt hurt that she was a raucous car driver, a master horseback rider, and a fabled sharpshooter. He was first involved in the business of Marijuana and has many farms. Additional reporting by Vctor Gutirrez. Although she spoke freely for three hours, vila resolutely refused to see anything evil in the carnage of the drug violence in Mexico, blithely comparing it to Prohibition-era violence in the US. It has to be from up high, not the director of a prison. Known as the "King of Cocaine", Pablo Escobar was probably the most notorious drug lord of all time with an estimated net worth of around $30 billion dollarsback in the 1990's. "El Chapo" - or "Shorty" - was once ranked as one of the world's richest men. 4 Matteo Messina Denaro Cosa Nostra kingpin. He then also started selling cocaine and made many dollars from that. His children are wealthy business people in Myanmar today. 1 of 41 This is one of the few photos in circulation of Enedina Arellano Felix. He turned himself in during 1991 and served only five years. Los Tucanes De Tijuana immortalized vila with their song, Sandra vila Beltrn, Mexicos former Queen of Cocaine, speaks out. . Rafael Caro is the drug lord who belongs to Mexico and is the first Mexican drug dealer in the world. He began to organize a small militia group of fighters which would eventually grow into an army that fought for the Shan State. Inside the front door of Sandra vila Beltrns home is an altar and lit candles that form a crowded shrine to her first husband (riddled by gunfire), her second husband (stabbed through the heart) and her brother (tortured to death). He escaped from the kidnappers but spent a 33-year sentence in the U.S., following which he was released. 03 During Pablo Escobar's era, his net worth is around $30 billion or equivalent to nearly $60 billion in today's money. Rayful Edmond is an American drug lord in Washington D.C. in the 1980's. Edmond is credited with introducing crack cocaine into Washington D.C. Earning himself the title of No. He founded what later became theColombo crime family in 1928 and was the family's boss for over three decades. Bruce Reynolds was a British criminal who was the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery in 1963. Alfredo Beltran Leyva smuggled multi-ton loads of methamphetamine and cocaine from South America and Mexico into the United States. Drugs are quite bad and harmful thing which can ruin the whole life of a person. In addition to his litany of other questionable activities, Kaskar has been suspected and accused of financing Pakistani Taliban militants, although Pakistan claims no knowledge of his whereabouts and evidence is scarce. His brother Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela is also serving a prison sentence at a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Months later, she and her partner Joel were ambushed on the way to breakfast. . Paul Lir Alexander Net Worth - $170 Million.