Roberto Suárez Gómez
Roberto Suárez Gómez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 January 1932 |
| Died | 20 July 2000 (aged 68) |
| Other names | King of Cocaine El Padrino (The Godfather) El Robin Hood del Beni (The Robin Hood of Beni) Don Roberto |
| Successor | Jorge Roca Suarez |
| Spouse | Ayda Levy |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Nicomedes Suárez and Blanca Gómez Roca |
| Criminal charge | Drug trafficking and smuggling |
| Penalty | 15 years imprisonment |
Roberto Suárez Gómez (January 8, 1932 – July 20, 2000), also known as the King of Cocaine, was a Bolivian drug lord and trafficker who played a major role in the expansion of cocaine trafficking in Bolivia. In his prime, Suárez made $400 million annually, was one of the major suppliers of the Medellín Cartel as well as the leader of the largest Bolivian drug empire, and was considered to be the biggest cocaine producer in the world.
Born to a prominent family, Suárez entered the drug trade and made millions from cocaine in the 1970s and 1980s. He is known for financing the 1980 coup d'état, known as the "Cocaine Coup", and was a major supplier of cocaine for various criminal organizations. Suárez was arrested in 1988 and sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was released after serving half his sentence. He died on July 20, 2000, from a heart attack.