In a groundbreaking move, Colombia has officially handed over a portion of the infamous Hacienda Napoles, once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar, to women who have been victims of the country’s prolonged armed conflict. President Gustavo Petro announced this initiative on Wednesday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing historical injustices stemming from over six decades of violence involving guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug cartels.
Hacienda Napoles, a lavish 10,000-acre estate in northwest Antioquia, became synonymous with Escobar’s wealth and power during the late 1980s, housing exotic animals, including the now-infamous “cocaine hippos.” After Escobar’s death in 1993, the estate was seized by the state and transformed into a theme park, complete with a hotel and zoo.
Petro stated, “We have begun to recover the Napoles estate for the victims,” countering attempts by Escobar’s political and economic heirs to reclaim the land. The Colombian government has allocated 297 acres to local women farmers, who had previously received loans for the land but were evicted by police.
Millinery Correa, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her joy, stating, “I feel very happy because today there are women who have hope, who have land for life.” The redistribution of land is a significant step in Colombia’s ongoing efforts to address the root causes of its armed conflict, particularly issues surrounding land ownership.
In May, President Petro had proposed incorporating Escobar’s estate into a broader land reform program aimed at redistributing land to rural Colombians. However, this plan has faced opposition from tourism companies that rely on the estate’s popularity to attract visitors.
Hacienda Napoles is also home to a population of around 150 hippos, descendants of the few that Escobar imported in the late 1980s. These animals have become an invasive species, leading the government to consider relocating them to overseas sanctuaries. However, the cost of such an operation is estimated to be around $3.5 million.
As Colombia continues to navigate the complexities of its past, this transfer of land represents a hopeful chapter for victims seeking restitution and a path toward healing.
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