1. “Real history behind Griselda’s violent reign”
2. “Griselda’s violent reign history”.

Griselda Blanco: The Real Story Behind Netflix’s Narcos Spinoff

The Rise of a Female Drug Lord

Netflix’s latest addition to the Narcos family, Griselda, tells the story of Griselda Blanco, the infamous drug queenpin who dominated the cocaine trade in Miami during the late 1970s and ’80s. While the show attempts to humanize Blanco, it’s important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to her real-life story.

A Murky Line Between Fact and Fiction

Griselda Blanco has become a mythic figure, making it difficult to discern the truth from exaggeration. Unfortunately, Blanco was gunned down in Colombia in 2012, so we cannot ask her directly. However, by examining the historical record, we can compare it to the portrayal in the series.

Murder and Mayhem

In the show, Blanco’s drug empire begins with the murder of her husband, Alberto Bravo. While she is suspected of killing at least two of her husbands, the series suggests that Blanco killed Bravo because he forced her to have sex with his brother. In reality, Blanco and Bravo were already major players in Colombia’s cocaine smuggling underworld, and their dispute over missing profits led to a fatal confrontation.

Blanco’s use of motorcycles for drive-by shootouts, as depicted in the show, was indeed one of her major innovations. She also manufactured her own lingerie with hidden pockets for drug smuggling purposes, showing her cleverness in evading suspicion.

A Life of Violence

Griselda Blanco was responsible for a significant number of murders during her reign. While the show portrays Blanco’s initial struggle with guilt and reluctance to commit mass murder, in real life, she allegedly committed her first murder at the age of 11. Blanco and her friends kidnapped a young boy and, when the ransom demand was not taken seriously, she shot the boy in the head.

Blanco’s retaliation against German Panesso, a former associate, is also depicted in the show. In 1979, three of Blanco’s soldiers opened fire on Panesso and his associate in a liquor store, resulting in their deaths. This event, known as the Dadeland Mall Massacre, mirrors the real-life incident.

The Role of Rivi

Rivi, Blanco’s rival turned right-hand hitman turned informant, plays a crucial role in the series. He fuels Blanco’s bloodlust and paranoia, eventually agreeing to testify against her. The show accurately portrays Rivi’s scandalous phone sex conversations with State Attorney’s secretaries, which damaged his credibility as a witness.

June Hawkins and Raul Diaz, real Miami cops who worked to take down Blanco in the 1980s, have confirmed the accuracy of the show’s portrayal of Rivi and Blanco, validating the authenticity of their story.

The Real Griselda Blanco

While Griselda attempts to humanize Blanco, it’s important to acknowledge the violent and ruthless nature of her life. The historical record paints a less flattering picture than the one depicted in the show. Griselda Blanco will forever be remembered as a dominant force in the drug trade, but her legacy is one of violence and brutality.

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– “Real History Behind Griselda’s Violent Reign”
– “Griselda’s Violent Reign History”.