Griselda Blanco is a name you would not want to cross when she was still alive. As the subject of a new Netflix miniseries, we come to know more about one of the most ruthless drug traffickers of all time. But why was Griselda Blanco called the Black Widow? Here's what we know about Blanco.
Who Was Griselda Blanco?
Griselda Blanco was a Colombian cocaine trafficker who built an empire for herself. She played a vital role in the drug wars that took place in Miami in the 70s and 80s.
According to Britannica, Blanco's life of crime started at a young age. Reports show that when she was 11, she played a part in kidnapping a boy. After refusing to pay the ransom, Blanco allegedly shot him.
She allegedly started to pickpocket and be a prostitute. When she was a teenager, she got married to another criminal. After they divorced, Blanco was said to have ordered his murder years later.
After that, she married a drug trafficker named Alberto Bravo. This led her to be involved in the cocaine industry. The two held their base in New York City as they helped smuggle the drug into the US using secret compartments in lingerie created by Blanco.
When she faced drug charges, she returned to Colombia in 1975. In the same year, Blanco believed her husband was stealing from her. This led them to have a shoot-out, which killed Alberto.
According to reports, she also had her third husband killed, as she lived up to her new nickname as the "Black Widow."
Why Was Griselda Blanco Called the Black Widow?
Although Griselda Blanco was known for several other nicknames, it's interesting why she was called the Black Widow.
The nickname came from the Black Widow spider, a poisonous arachnid known to eat the male after consummating. And after allegedly ordering the deaths of her three husbands, the nickname stuck with Blanco.
Her other nicknames include La Madrina (The Godmother), after her alleged relationship with Pablo Escobar, and the Queen of Cocaine.
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Who is Portraying Her in the Netflix Series, Griselda?
Netflix is releasing Griselda, a six-episode docuseries that follows the story of Griselda Blanco on January 25. The titular character will be portrayed by Sofia Vergara.
You can watch the trailer here:
This is not the first time Blanco's life inspired a film. In 2018, Catherine Zeta-Jones played Blanco's role in Cocaine Godmother.
Blanco's story was also covered in the 2006 documentary entitled Cocaine Cowboys. Due to its success, a sequel was ordered. It was called Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' with The Godmother.
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