Escobar souvenir hunters face fines for ‘exalting’ drug lord

For years, he’s been a byword for Colombia’s seedy past. But now the country says it’s time to ban souvenirs that glorify drug lord Pablo Escobar and his trail of death.

The narcotics kingpin was killed by security forces in 1993 at the age of 44, but tourists are still keen to buy T-shirts, masks and fridge magnets bearing his likeness. Under proposed legislation, however, foreign tourists snapping up Escobar mementoes could face fines of up to $250.

The keepsakes are popular in street markets in the capital, Bogota, as well as Escobar’s home city of Medellin, which is still shaking off its blood-soaked legacy of murder capital of the world.

Many of the shirts on sale bear one of his famous quips — “plata o plomo” (silver or lead). It’s said the feared head of the Medellin cartel uttered the words to police as an ultimatum at a checkpoint — accept a generous bribe for his freedom, or be shot to death.

The proposed fines, introduced by congressman Cristian Avendaño, would bar the sale of any items that “exalt” Escobar, whose cartel dominated the cocaine trade into the U.S. in the 1980s and early 1990s, or the bloodshed and drugs trade associated with his name. “These items are re-victimizing people who are victims of murderers,” Avendaño said.

“We cannot continue to praise these people and act as if their crimes were acceptable. There are other ways for businesses to grow and other ways to sell Colombia to the world.”

Escobar amassed an estimated fortune of $25 billion (US) before he was gunned down in a shootout at his Medellin hideout. It’s believed he is responsible for the murder of at least 4,000 people.