Unveiling the True Story Behind The Film Series “Griselda”

Netflix’s latest miniseries, “Griselda,” has reignited interest in the life and legacy of Griselda Blanco, the ruthless Colombian drug lord nicknamed “La Madrina” (The Godmother). While the show paints a glamorous picture of her rise to power, the real story is far more complex and brutal, marked by violence, tragedy, and a ruthless pursuit of power that defied societal expectations.

Griselda Blanco, born on February 15, 1943, in Santa Marta, Colombia, left an indelible mark on the world as a formidable cocaine trafficker, central to the violent drug wars that engulfed Miami during the 1970s and ’80s. Her life, shrouded in crime and infamy, is a dark tale of cunning, ruthlessness, and audacity.

Growing up in poverty, Blanco’s criminal journey allegedly began at an early age, marked by acts of violence and delinquency. Some accounts suggest that at just 11 years old, she participated in a kidnapping, leading to a fatal shooting when the ransom was not paid. Engaging in pickpocketing and prostitution, she set the stage for a life steeped in criminality.

In her teenage years, Blanco married a small-time criminal, bore three children, and eventually divorced. Rumors circulated that she ordered her ex-husband’s murder, foreshadowing her moniker as the “Black Widow.” The early 1970s marked a pivotal period when she entered the cocaine trade through a relationship with Alberto Bravo, a drug trafficker whom she later married.

Based in New York City, Blanco and Bravo built a lucrative cocaine operation, using her inventive tactics, such as lingerie with secret compartments, to smuggle drugs into the U.S. However, facing drug charges in 1975, Blanco returned to Colombia, and internal strife led to Bravo’s death in a shoot-out. Demonstrating her ruthlessness, she reportedly orchestrated the murder of her third husband.

By the late 1970s, Blanco had relocated to Miami, earning the moniker “Godmother of Cocaine.” Fueled by a desire to eliminate rivals, she unleashed a wave of violence known as the Cocaine Cowboy Wars. Allegedly ordering numerous murders, often executed by gunmen on motorcycles, Blanco’s reign of terror included brazen daylight shootouts, such as the one at a local mall in 1979.

Blanco’s criminal empire reached staggering heights, smuggling over three tons of cocaine annually into the U.S. and amassing around $80 million monthly. Embracing her criminal persona, she named her son Michael Corleone after a character from the Godfather series. Her opulent lifestyle featured luxury homes and extravagant parties, contributing to her larger-than-life image.

Targeted by rivals, Blanco sought refuge in California in 1984 but was arrested the following year for the 1975 drug charges. Found guilty in 1985, she continued to control her empire from prison. In 1994, facing charges for over 200 murders, Blanco’s criminal exploits came under scrutiny. Despite seeking the death penalty, prosecutors’ efforts were hampered when a key witness, Jorge Ayala, was revealed to have engaged in compromising behavior with secretaries in the prosecuting attorney’s office.

In 1998, Blanco pled guilty to reduced charges, securing her release in 2004. Deported to Colombia, she reportedly retired from a life of crime. However, in 2012, the ruthless “Godmother of Cocaine” met her demise when a gunman on a motorcycle ambushed her outside a Medellín butcher shop.

Griselda Blanco’s larger-than-life presence, rare for a woman in the drug world, continues to inspire books, movies, and TV shows, including Netflix’s latest miniseries featuring Sofia Vergara acting as Griselda herself. Her legacy stands as a chilling reminder of the heights one can reach in a world fueled by crime and power.