Colombia | Bill to ban sale of Pablo Escobar ‘derivatives’

(Bogota) The sale of memorabilia related to the late drug lord Pablo Escobar could be banned in Colombia if lawmakers approve a bill introduced this week in Congress.

The bill is criticised by those who sell these “derivatives” to tourists from all over the world, but it is supported by those who believe that the country should shake off its image of drug cartels.

The bill proposes fines of up to C$235 for vendors who offer merchandise depicting Escobar or other convicted criminals. Police could also fine those who wear T-shirts, hats and other clothing that “glorifies” the infamous drug lord.

Cristian Avendaño, a representative of the Green Party who is sponsoring the bill, believes that these objects “revictimize people who were victims of murderers.” He believes that “Colombians must find other symbols for their country.”

The bill has been widely covered by Colombian newspapers, where Escobar is considered a murderer linked to one of the most violent periods in the country’s history.

At the same time, the image of the drug trafficker is heavily marketed by some Colombians, eager to take advantage of the growing fascination that this drug baron exerts among some tourists from North America, Europe and other Latin American countries.

Souvenir vendors in Bogota’s historic La Candelaria neighborhood have said they are opposed to the move, which limits freedom of expression.

Rafael Nieto, a street vendor who sells magnets and T-shirts with Escobar’s face, as well as more “traditional” Colombian souvenirs, says members of Congress should instead focus their energies on reducing the city’s crime rate and let him continue his business.

“A lot of people make a living from it,” he explained. “Mexicans, Costa Ricans, Americans are always asking me for Escobar merchandise.”

Another street vendor, who asked to be identified only as “Lorena,” admits she has stocked up on drug dealer-themed items, such as shot glasses and magnets, because that’s what international tourists demand.

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Escobar ordered the murders of approximately 4,000 people in the 1980s and early 1990s as he created the powerful Medellin Cartel and amassed a fortune of US$3 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world at the time.

The drug lord was shot dead in 1994 on a rooftop in Medellin while trying to escape from a unit of more than 300 Colombian police officers, supported by agents of the American DEA who were dedicated exclusively to his capture.

Escobar’s exploits and crimes are well known in Colombia. But in recent years, his global fame has resurfaced thanks to a Colombian soap opera and a Netflix series that portray the drug lord as a ruthless but cunning mobster who defies corrupt U.S. and Colombian authorities.

In his hometown of Medellín, agencies guide visitors on historical tours that stop at sites linked to Escobar’s life.

Congressman Avendaño believes it is time for Colombia to shed its image as a country of drug lords. “We cannot continue to praise these people and act as if their crimes are acceptable,” he said. “There are other ways for businesses to grow and other ways to sell Colombia to the world.”

The bill must go through four debates to be approved by Congress, Avendaño said, adding that if the legislation passes, there will be a “transition period” during which government officials will work with souvenir merchants to find new ways to market Colombia.

Last year, the South American country rejected a request by his widow and children to legally register Pablo Escobar’s name to sell what they described as “educational and recreational products.”

In its decision, the Colombian Superintendence of Commerce said that a Pablo Escobar “brand” would “endorse violence and threaten public order.”

The European Court of Justice also rejected a similar trademark application filed by Escobar’s family earlier this year, arguing that it went against “public policy and recognized principles of morality.”