The notorious Cretan Escobar, known for his involvement in major drug cases, passed away after being released from prison due to serious health issues.
His son, currently in custody, was allowed a brief leave under guard to attend his father’s funeral, which was well-attended. The 51-year-old died in a Heraklion hospital on Saturday afternoon, and his funeral was held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in a village in the Mesara region. After the funeral, his son returned to prison.
The deceased had been released from prison in June 2023 after requesting conditional release due to widespread cancer. He had been arrested in February 2023 along with his son and a woman for a cocaine case, leading to a judicial order with restrictive conditions instead of detention.
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Known as the Escobar of Crete, he had been involved in various drug-related activities for several years. In September 2016, over 3 kilograms of cocaine were found buried 60 centimeters deep in a field in Gortyna, packaged in airtight bowls with rice and dishwashing liquid to avoid detection by sniffer dogs. Arrests included his wife, their underage son, and his elderly father.
The Escobar of Crete frequently flaunted his luxurious lifestyle on social media, with photos from luxury hotels, lavish breakfasts, and expensive restaurants. On the eve of his arrest, he was dining in Kavouri and had earlier visited Glyfada for a cappuccino.