Two armed men ransacked a home next to Pablo Escobar’s former residence in central Medellin on Thursday, searching for a cache of money or weapons left behind by the legendary leader of the infamous Medellin Cartel.
The break-in occurred one week after Escobar´s right hand man and fabled hitman Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez, alias “Popeye,” made reference to a secret, undiscovered cache of weapons and money in an interview with Semana magazine.
The burglars, disguised in telecommunications uniforms, evidently intimidated the owner and began drilling holes in the house looking for hidden money or weapons. After failing to discover anything, they left 30 minutes after entering. No theft was reported to the police and the owner of the house was not physically harmed, according to reports by El Colombiano.
Medellin authorities have not excluded the chance that the crime is directly linked to the release of “Popeye,” whose whereabouts remain unknown since his release from prison on Wednesday. Medellin’s Deputy Mayor stated the police are on alert for the possible arrival of Velasquez to the city, and the possible implications that this might cause.
Popeye was released from a high-security prison in Combita on Wednesday after serving 23 years in prison. In the interview, the former hitman also suggested that he was being protected by businessmen and politicians.
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Popeye, a figure who does not shy away from his bloody past or about speaking to the press, has claimed to be a “completely new man.” Despite admitting murdering at least 300 with his own hands, and being involved in the murders of 3000 more, Vasquez claims to have turned over a new leaf and to have “developed a new set of values” during his 23-year incarceration.