Griselda Blanco

Griselda Blanco Restrepo was a Colombian cocaine trafficker who became a major figure in the U.S.

Griselda Blanco Restrepo was a Colombian cocaine trafficker who became a major figure in the U.S. drug trade, especially in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s. She was known by nicknames such as “La Madrina” and “the Cocaine Godmother,” and was convicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges. She was killed in Medellín in 2012. Her operations were contemporary with those of Pablo Escobar.

Early life

Blanco was born in Colombia and later became involved in criminal activity. Some sources give her birthplace as Santa Marta, while others identify Cartagena, reflecting uncertainty in public records.

Drug trafficking career

She became one of the most prominent cocaine traffickers linking Colombia and the United States. Her network was especially influential in Miami and is associated with the expansion of the cocaine trade in the 1970s and 1980s.

Criminal reputation and methods

Blanco was known for extreme violence and for allegedly ordering many killings, often involving weapons. She was also credited with tactics that helped shape later trafficking operations, including the use of human couriers and air travel.

Arrest, imprisonment, and death

Blanco was arrested in California in 1985 and convicted on drug trafficking charges. Her case was handled by U.S. courts rather than the International Criminal Court. She was released in 2004, deported to Colombia, and later killed in Medellín in 2012.