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Birth
Born Griselda Blanco Restrepo in Cartagena, Colombia on February 15, 1943. https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/griselda-blanco -
Early Crimes
Due to a life of poverty, she began a life of crime. She started off as a pickpocket. Some say that at age 11 she helped kidnap a boy, and, after his wealthy family refused to pay the ransom, shot him. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Griselda-Blanco -
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Introduction to the Cocaine Business
During the early to mid 70s, it is believed that around this time, she was introduced to the cocaine business by her then-husband, Alberto Bravo. https://www.ibtimes.com/colombian-drug-lord-griselda-blancos-life-violence-comes-full-circle-761125 -
Rise to Power
With New York City as their base, the couple began bringing the drug into the United States and the couple created an extensive and highly profitable operation. https://www.ibtimes.com/colombian-drug-lord-griselda-blancos-life-violence-comes-full-circle-761125 -
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Reputation
By the late 1970s, Griselda Blanco had relocated to Miami where her reputation as the "Godmother of Cocaine" became known by many. https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/04/world/americas/colombia-elderly-ex-trafficker-killed/index.html -
Arrest
After being convicted of previous drug offenses, she was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison, though she continued to run her cocaine empire while imprisoned. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Griselda-Blanco -
Trial
In 1994, Griselda Blanco was accused of three murders after one of her hitmen, Jorge Ayala, agreed to testify against her. https://www.miamiherald.com/article1942420.html -
Downfall
Blanco cut a plea deal and agreed to a 20-year sentence. However, she only served seven years in prison before being released. https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1950845.html -
Life after Crime
After serving her sentence, Griselda Blanco was deported back to Colombia, where she apparently lived a quiet life. https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/04/world/americas/colombia-elderly-ex-trafficker-killed/index.html -
Death
On September 3, 2012, after leaving a butcher shop, Griselda Blanco was murdered by two gunmen in Medellin, Colombia. https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/griselda-blanco