Home / War and Conflict / Colombia Reclaims Notorious Drug Lord's Ranch, Empowers Women
Colombia Reclaims Notorious Drug Lord's Ranch, Empowers Women
1 Oct
Summary
- Colombia hands over part of Pablo Escobar's ranch to women affected by armed conflict
- Escobar's lavish estate, known for its "cocaine" hippos, was seized by the state after his death
- Women farmers receive land loan, previously evicted by police
Two years ago, on October 2, 2025, the Colombian government took a significant step in addressing the legacy of the country's violent past. President Gustavo Petro announced that a part of the infamous Hacienda Napoles estate, once owned by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, has been handed over to women caught up in Colombia's more-than-six-decade armed conflict.
Escobar, the former head of the powerful Medellin Cartel, was one of the richest men in the world in the late 1980s, with an estimated fortune of $25 billion. His lavish 4,000-hectare estate, filled with exotic animals including hippos, became a symbol of his wealth and power. After Escobar's death in 1993, the state took control of the property and turned it into a successful theme park.
Now, the government has decided to allocate 120 hectares (297 acres) of the estate to local women farmers. These women had previously received a loan of the land from the Puerto Triunfo municipality in 2017, but were later evicted by the police. Petro's decision to return the land to these women is seen as a significant step in the country's efforts to address the long-standing issue of land ownership, a key driver of the conflict.
Millinery Correa, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her joy, saying, "I feel very happy because today there are women who have hope, who have land for life." The government's move to empower these women and provide them with a chance to rebuild their lives is a testament to its commitment to addressing the legacy of the country's violent past.
