"Death to Kidnappers": Marxist Guerillas, Cocaine Cartels, and the Bloody Landscape of 1980s Colombia
During the 1980s, Colombia saw the rise of the powerful Medellín Cartel. When left wing guerillas began kidnapping its members, the cartel formed Muerte a Secuestradores to combat the threat
Background
In the early 1980s, Colombia was a country at war with itself. Cities were bustling with life during the day, but fear ruled the night. Guerrilla groups like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the April 19 Movement (M-19) waged war against the government, claiming to fight for social justice.
But for everyday Colombians, these groups, driven by Marxist ideologies, sought to overthrow the state, leading to widespread violence and instability.
Rise of the Medellín Cartel
Amidst this chaos, the Medellín Cartel emerged as a dominant force in the country’s drug trade. Founded by notorious figures such as Pablo Escobar, the Ochoa brothers (Jorge Luis, Juan David, and Fabio), and Carlos Lehder, the cartel capitalized on the global demand for cocaine.
Their operations were vast, involving the cultivation, processing, and distribution of cocaine on an unprecedented scale. The cartel's influence penetrated various facets of Colombian society, including the economy and politics, often blurring the lines between legitimate and illicit enterprises.
Innovative smuggling methods facilitated the cartel's rapid ascent. They employed a strategy of "plata o plomo," meaning silver or lead, offering bribes to officials and resorting to violence against those who resisted.
This approach allowed them to infiltrate political institutions, law enforcement, and even the judiciary, further entrenching their power within the country.
Formation of MAS
As the cartel's wealth and power rapidly grew, so did the threat from guerrilla groups. Organizations like FARC and M-19 frequently resorted to kidnapping members of affluent families, politicians, and cartel associates to fund their activities and exert pressure on the government.
This surge in abductions created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity across the nation.
On March 13, 1981, Martha Nieves Ochoa Vásquez, sister to the prominent Ochoa brothers of the Medellín Cartel, was abducted by the M-19 guerrilla group outside her university in Medellín. This bold kidnapping was a direct challenge to the cartel's authority and a personal affront to the Ochoa family.
The M-19 group demanded a ransom of $12 million for her release. However, the Medellín Cartel leaders, including Pablo Escobar and Gustavo Gaviria, refused to comply with the ransom demands. In response, the Medellín Cartel convened an urgent meeting.
Recognizing the need for decisive action, they decided to form a paramilitary group named Muerte a Secuestradores (MAS), which translates to "Death to Kidnappers." The primary mission of MAS at that time was to secure Martha's release and to send a clear message to deter any future kidnappings.
The cartel swiftly mobilized its extensive resources to bring MAS to life. They recruited and began to arm individuals, many with law enforcement and military combat backgrounds. The group also found support beyond the cartel from wealthy landowners and businessmen who shared concerns over the escalating threat of guerrilla groups and decided to collaborate with MAS.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Tales From the Underworld — Authentic True Crime to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.