Medellín Demolishes Pablo Escobar’s House-Museum to Put an End to Narcotours
Officials from the Medellín Mayor’s Office have demolished the infamous Pablo Escobar House-Museum, aiming to halt the controversial Narcotours that glorified the drug trafficker. This Monday, approximately 50 officials from various departments, including the Secretaries of Security and Coexistence, Territorial Management and Control, and the Metropolitan Police, arrived at the property located in Loma del Indio, El Poblado de Medellín, to carry out the demolition.
“After years of legal disputes and multiple urban sanctions, the irregular construction on the property, which was known as a popular destination for narcotours, has been demolished,” explained Colonel Omar Rodriguez, the operational undersecretary of the Secretariat of Security. The demolition was ordered by Police Inspection 9B due to the property’s two-story building lacking the necessary permits for operation and public access.
The house that was demolished belonged to Roberto Escobar Gaviria, also known as ‘El Osito’, the brother of the late leader of the Medellín Cartel. Rodriguez expressed, “When we arrived at the location, we found that the property owner had already taken action. The District rejects the use of the territory for activities that promote drug tourism.”
Despite the owner filing various legal measures to prevent the demolition, a judge denied them and notified him to comply with the order by June 30. The demolition was finally executed on July 10.
The controversial Narcotours were a popular attraction for tourists interested in the history of Pablo Escobar and his drug empire. Critics argue that these tours glorified and romanticized the violent reign of Escobar, who was responsible for numerous crimes and deaths in Colombia during the 1980s and early 1990s.
The demolition of the Pablo Escobar House-Museum marks a significant step in the city’s efforts to distance itself from its dark past and transform Medellín into a modern, thriving metropolis. The local authorities hope to promote a more positive image of the city that focuses on its cultural heritage, innovation, and progress.