Unveiling the Unbelievable: Unmasking the Epic Transformations of Netflix's Narcos Beyond Reality

Summary

The depiction of Pablo Escobar and the drug trade in Colombia in Narcos involved artistic license, with alterations made to the timeline, events, and characters.

Pedro Pascal's character, Javier Peña, was not involved in the investigation of the Cali Cartel, contrary to the show's portrayal.

Several characters in Narcos underwent name changes, and the show inaccurately depicted the deaths of individuals such as Jose Santacruz Londoño and Roberto Escobar.

Netflix's Narcos offers a captivating portrayal of the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and his cohorts, though the show takes certain liberties with the actual events. Spanning three seasons, Narcos chronicles the emergence of drug kingpins like Escobar in 1980s Colombia and the subsequent efforts of law enforcement agencies to apprehend them throughout the 1990s. In addition to the drug trade, this highly successful Netflix original integrates numerous socio-political factors that influenced South America during the latter decades of the 20th century.

Like other Netflix dramas based on true stories, Narcos does deviate from historical accuracy to some extent. While these alterations generally do not misrepresent the central characters, experts in history would quickly identify discrepancies in the sequence of events. Furthermore, details regarding the associates and pursuers of Escobar, such as their names, terms of imprisonment, and causes of death, are also modified. Given that the lives of these real-life individuals have been concealed in classified security files, it is unsurprising that Netflix felt compelled to take certain artistic liberties in the creation of Narcos.

10 Javier Peña Wasn't Involved In The Cali Cartel Hunt

9 Narcos Season 1 Leaves Out Roberto Escobar

Pedro Pascal bid farewell to his role as former American DEA Agent Javier Peña after season 3 of Narcos. Nonetheless, his character continued to play a vital role in the series, particularly in the pursuit of the Medellín Cartel's associates and subsequently the Cali Cartel. Eventually, Peña uncovers the profound corruption ingrained within the Colombian government itself. Interestingly, the real-life counterpart of this heroic character did not participate in the investigation of the Cali Cartel (as revealed in an interview with him on Grazia). While Peña was indeed a DEA Agent who successfully brought down the Medellín Cartel as portrayed in the first season, his involvement in combating the Cali Cartel was fictitious.

Although Narcos focused on Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel, the first season surprisingly overlooked his brother Roberto Escobar. Similar to his deceased sibling, Roberto was involved in the drug trade and played a significant role as the co-founder and accountant of the Medellín Cartel. While he claims to have abandoned the cartel lifestyle, he still possesses the copyright to Escobar Inc. Ironically, despite his nonappearance in the show, Roberto demanded that Netflix compensate him with a staggering $1 billion for exploiting his family's story (as reported by Fortune). The aftermath of his ultimatum remains uncertain, but the series undeniably continued its triumphant journey.

8 Cockroach And Lion Are Fictional Characters

7 Franklin Jurado Didn't Die In Jail

: The notorious co-founder of the Medellín Cartel, Mateo Moreno, also known as Cockroach, was a deceitful figure brought to life in the series Narcos. It is highly likely that Escobar encountered numerous treacherous foes similar to him. Another fictional character, The Lion, who oversaw operations in Miami for an American cartel, is believed to have been inspired by real-life drug trafficker George Jung. Just like The Lion, Jung played a significant role in smuggling cocaine for the Medellín Cartel into the United States during the early 1980s. For a more in-depth exploration of Jung's life, the biographical film Blow (2001) offers a compelling portrayal with Johnny Depp assuming the role of Jung.

Colombian banker Franklin Jurado played a crucial role in managing the accounts and overseeing money laundering operations for the infamous Cali Cartel until his demise in 1994. However, in the gripping world of Narcos, Jurado's life takes a sudden turn when he is apprehended by Javier Peña in Curaçao during the same year. The series adds a touch of suspense by showcasing Jurado's tragic fate within an American prison, where he meets his end at the hands of cartel members. In reality, though, Jurado's arrest took place in Luxembourg in 1990, as stated on the US Law website Justia. While he did serve time in prison, Jurado did not face death there; he was actually granted early release for displaying exemplary conduct just two years after his conviction.

6 A Lot Of Characters Had Changed Names

Among the plethora of changes made by Netflix's Narcos, one prominent alteration was the modification of names. For instance, the Medellín Cartel sicario known as La Quica was disclosed to be Juan Diego Díaz, whereas various sources, such as a comprehensive Westword article from 2001, indicate that La Quica's actual name was Dandeny Muñoz Mosquera. Similarly, Navegante's true identity was Cesar Yusti, not Jorge Velazquez. In the second season, the faithful sicario and chauffeur of Escobar, El Limón, is unveiled as Jhon Burges, even though his authentic name was Alvaro de Jesús Agudelo. Likewise, DEA Agent David Mitchell appears accurately in season 3 but goes by the name Daniel Van Ness.

5 José Santacruz Londoño Was Actually Killed By The Colombian Police

Similar to the historical inaccuracies of Narcos: Mexico, the original Narcos also depicted the deaths of several characters with inaccuracies. One noteworthy instance is the killing of José Santacruz Londoño, the godfather of the Cali Cartel, in season 3. The show portrays him being killed by Carlos Castaño Gil, a paramilitary leader, although Gil was not directly responsible for Londoño's death. In reality, Londoño was fatally shot by the Colombian police in 1996, as reported by The Washington Post. At the time, he was a wanted fugitive with a $2 million bounty on his head and died in a shootout with the authorities.

4 Maria Victoria Henao Fled The Country After Pablo's Death

Shortly after Pablo Escobar’s demise in season 2 of Narcos, his bereaved wife Maria Victoria Henao comes face-to-face with the leader and financier of the Cali Cartel, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela. However, in reality, Maria quickly escapes from Colombia with her two children, according to All That’s Interesting. While Narcos delves deeper into the cartel's affairs post-Escobar, Maria's whereabouts are not included. She attempts to seek asylum in Germany and Mozambique, but her efforts prove futile, ultimately finding refuge in Bueno Aries, Argentina. Argentine newspaper Pagina 12 also reports her brief imprisonment on suspicion of money laundering.

3 Jorge Salcedo Didn't Kill Navegante

In the latter part of Narcos season 3, Navegante meets his end at the hands of Jorge Salcedo, the former Cali Cartel security chief turned DEA informant. However, Salcedo, who shared his real-life account with NME, clarified that this particular scene was completely fictional. Regarding the actual perpetrator of Navegante's demise, Salcedo speculated that it was the DEA agents who orchestrated it. He revealed that on the night of Navegante's death, he swiftly ensured the safety of his family, whom he deeply cherished. In contrast to how his character was portrayed in Narcos, Salcedo emphasized that it would have been illogical for him to eliminate a killer, as he had never taken anyone's life before.

2 Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia Was Set Up In 1997

1 Pablo Didn't Spend His Final Days With His Father

: The presence of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a right-wing paramilitary group, in the second and third seasons of Narcos is historically inaccurate. Despite engaging in drug trafficking and perpetrating acts of violence against innocent civilians, the AUC was only established in 1997. The events portrayed in Narcos, namely the death of Pablo Escobar in 1993 and the subsequent season set in the early 1990s, were well before the creation of the AUC in 1997.

The final episodes of Narcos season 2 depicted the solitude experienced by Pablo Escobar (as seen in the popular “Bored Escobar” memes that emerged afterward), as he spent his remaining days with his elderly father. However, there is no documented proof of Pablo reuniting with his father before his demise. In reality, just a day prior to his death on December 2, 1993, he was actually celebrating his 44th birthday in a lavish manner, allegedly indulging in wine, marijuana, and the customary birthday cake. Shortly afterward, his hideout in Medellín was discovered, and Colombian forces fatally shot him.