THIS FILM CONTAINS IMAGES THAT SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND DISTURBING
[Popeye] Thank you! You're very kind!
I am Jairo Velásquez Vásquez, aka Popeye.
I was Pablo Escobar's trusted killer.
I killed over 250, by my own hand.
Our organisation killed 50,000.
I was recently released from jail.
[Men in the street] Popeye! Popeye!
[Popeye] I'm a professional killer. I killed for money.
I also killed out of love and respect for Pablo Escobar.
[Rosalba] The guy who was taken hostage had his abdomen blown open.
His stomach and intestines all came out.
[Popeye] We could each kill 5, 6, even 12 people a day.
[Carmelita] I felt his skull fragments all over my face.
They blew his brains out.
[Popeye] Killing and planting bombs is easy for me.
I’m an expert on terrorism, kidnapping people and all things crime.
[Gonzalo] I realised my father was one of the bodies in those bags.
[Popeye] If Pablo Escobar had ordered me to kill my own father
for harming our organisation or me, I would have.
ESCOBAR'S HITMAN
[GEO] Medellin, Colombia
[VO] In the 80s, Medellin was considered one of the most crime-ridden locations in the whole world.
It was here that drug lord Pablo Escobar ran the infamous cartel.
The gang made millions of dollars selling cocaine, and its leader killed anyone who stood in his way.
Even though the cartel was responsible for thousands of deaths,
Pablo remains a popular figure among the country’s poorest people.
In some parts of the city, he was even known as Colombia’s “Robin Hood”.
Medellin, is also home to a close friend of Escobar's, they call him Popeye.
He confessed to murdering 250 people and organizing 2,500 killings.
He spent 23 years in jail for the crimes.
Popeye hasn’t become an outcast in the city where he once killed.
On the contrary, he’s very popular, styling himself as a blogger and political activist.
We came to Medellin to meet him, to try and understand this Colombian paradox.
Why he is treated like a superstar?
I must admit, I was very nervous before our meeting.
[Lidia] Hello, I'm Lidia.
[Popeye] Hello. My name is Jairo Velásquez, but call me Popeye.
[Lidia] Nice to meet you.
[Popeye] Please, sit down.
[Lidia] - Don't you have security guards? [Popeye] - No, none.
[Popeye] The police wouldn't let me.
My only security is myself.
[Popeye] Look, I've brought two of my books.
This is my first book.
This book...
written in prison.
It's about my adventures with Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
I'll show you a picture of us together.
It was taken in La Catedral prison.
This is my first book.
And this is my second book.
It's about my adventures in jail.
It was made into a TV series called, 'JJ',
calling it 'Popeye' would have infringed copyright.
Look...
This is the poster the police used at that time.
This is the reward... Yes, this is me.
Here are El Mugre, Otto and Pinina.
And this is the reward they offered for the boss.
'WANTED'. That's bad if you're a criminal,
but it only made the boss laugh.
It was a brutal war.
No other gang in the world has ever openly confronted the state.
We killed 540 policemen and wounded 800.
When you walked to your hotel,
you were in the warzone where we fought the police.
Medellin is very beautiful, with a lovely climate,
but it is built on a cemetery.
[Lidia] Don't you feel scared walking along the streets?
Don't you think that someone will try to kill you?
[Popeye] Lidia...
a man like me has no fear.
If someone wants to kill me, let him shoot me down.
I'm not afraid. I walk the streets freely,
without worrying about being killed.
It's in God's hands and...
I have powerful friends protecting me.
We have tourists from all over the world.
Tourism here depends on teenagers who come for coke, Escobar and Popeye.
Medellin is known all around the world
thanks to Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
[VO] In mid-80's Pablo Escobar’s cocaine empire came under attack.
The Columbian government signed a treaty with the United States
that allowed local drug lords to be extradited to the USA.
[Popeye] It was a huge problem. Escobar said:
'Better a grave in Colombia than a cell in the US'.
The US would sentence us to 60-70 years and life terms.
We started planting bombs to kill
government ministers, journalists and judges.
We'd kidnap politicians so they'd amend the constitution
and stop Colombians being extradited.
[ROSALBA BARRIENTOS]
In 1990 I was a police officer.
That's when Dr Federico Estrada Veles was kidnapped.
He was an important local politician,
he advocated extraditing cartel members to the US.
The police general headquarters,
ordered us to patrol the streets.
We had evidence that the kidnapped doctor
was being kept in the Estrella district.
[Popeye] The boss ordered us to kill police indiscriminately.
With large groups of police we'd use a bomb-laden vehicle.
[Rosalba] It happened right here.
A bus drove up here and stopped.
I said to my intern:
'Wait before getting on to the bus, we don't know who's there.'
The last passenger to disembark was 20-25 years old.
He attacked my intern, grabbed him by the neck.
Then he threatened us with a gun,
and produced a large grenade.
He pulled out the pin and started waving it at everyone.
He was one of Pablo Escobar's killers.
When he raised his hand,
I saw he had explosives around his waist.
[Rosalba] A hidden sniper killed the attacker.
He was shot in the head and fell down.
The grenade was next to him.
I realised it would explode in 10 seconds.
Wherever I threw or kicked it, people would die.
I grabbed it with my right hand, hoping to throw it over all those people,
but unfortunately I was too late.
It exploded in my hand.
I was thrown back 5 metres.
We were all wounded.
The sergeant who was there,
had his leg torn into 6 pieces.
The guy who was taken hostage had his abdomen blown open.
His stomach and intestines all came out.
My leg was so badly injured that doctors considered amputating it.
[Popeye] I participated in several bombings.
I had to stay up to 50 m away, depending on the amount of dynamite.
I kept my mouth open,
to prevent my ear-drums being damaged by the blast.
First you see fire, then hear it. It's mad...
very impressive.
An explosion is majestic.
[Popeye] How are you doing, guys? Good?
[Woman in the street] - God bless you. [Popeye] - You're very kind! Thank you!
[Popeye] Hi! How are you? How's life?
[Rosalba] I think Popeye's soul must be dead.
He has a body but no soul.
He doesn't realise what harm he's caused.
He thinks that it was ok, permitted.
He says, 'I enjoy killing and killing and killing, and have no regrets.'
[Popeye] When you're a murderer, your soul dies. We don't weep.
I feel that my soul is dead.
I'm a spiritual person, but my soul is dead.
It's God's will. Right now, He's giving me a second chance.
God always forgives.
[Popeye] This is a bullet scar.
I got it fighting the police and the Army.
They always aimed for my shooting hand,
so that's where I'd be wounded,
then I'd shoot with my left hand...
I was good at it. No big deal.
The bullet ripped out my artery.
The doctors had to take a vein from here to replace the artery.
We were warriors, fighting for our lives.
This arm will be covered in skulls with a burning candle in the middle.
There's only one skull left to do.
Once it's done, it will be complete.
This signifies death.
Here it says 'Soldier' and 'The Mafia General'.
Here's Jesus Christ.
I'll have only religious figures on this arm.
This signifies life.
Everyone's free to choose between death... or life.
One arm belongs to God, the other to the devil.
[VO] While we were getting ready for our trip to Medellin,
we were warned that it was a place where just a dollar might have anyone killed.
We couldn't help but ask a pro about today’s going rates.
[Popeye] To shoot the driver of that car, the BMW, from a motorcycle,
I'd charge $50,000 because there are lots of cameras,
and people would quickly start snapping photos.
There are lots of undercover police, so it's high risk.
But a hit in a crime-ridden area costs almost nothing.
We're heading to a gang-controlled area,
where a hit costs the price of a bullet, $1.
[Director] Cut!
[Director] - Thank you. [Crew member] - Good job.
[Crew member] Very realistic...
[Popeye] I'm reinventing myself, so I work a lot.
I work all the time. I get up at 5 am each day.
'JJ', my Netflix series,
premiers this Wednesday.
[Crew member] - Camera! [Director] - Action!
[Popeye] Where's Vladimir?
[Vladimir] I'm here, moron!
Put your gun down!
That's how I wanted to see you.
Adios, scumbag!
It's jammed!
[Popeye] My movie, 'A Professional Killer', is being filmed.
A lot has already been done, it will be finished in two months.
I'm planning to take part in season 3 of 'Narcos'.
I'd also like to star in a Hollywood film
set in Mexico because I love Mexico.
[Director] Ready!
Action!
[Popeye] When I was a kid, I really loved firearms.
That's why I joined the Colombian Navy.
I had a wide jaw and I was quite strong.
One day, I was back in my neighbourhood, wearing my uniform,
when a neighbour said, 'It's Popeye!'
However, it turned out that the Navy
only had old wooden boats and no warships.
I resigned.
I had no desire to help my family.
I only wanted to shoot, kill and get adrenaline kicks.
The money was welcome too.
When I met Pablo Escobar and looked into his eyes…
I saw love, I wanted to be with him
all the time and never leave his side.
I had no girlfriend, didn't drink alcohol...
I only wanted to kill by Pablo Escobar's side.
I saw several psychiatrists in jail,
they found no psychopathic traits.
[VO] If the psychiatrists say that Popeye is ok,
I suppose it must be safe to ask him to demonstrate how he used to torture and kill.
He willingly agreed to our request with enthusiasm.
[Popeye] The mafia would attach a negative wire to the big toe
and, the positive to the torture victim's penis.
He would then receive repeated shocks.
It could go on for 3 days before they talked
Another torture was to put a rag into the mouth,
you hold it here.
Then put a cloth soaked in gasoline,
water and soap over their face.
He had to inhale.
Their eyes would start popping out. It's a brutal torture.
A professional killer,
always keeps his gun fully assembled...
with the safety on.
Professional killers use revolvers.
They fire twice – here and here,
between the eyebrows and the hairline.
An amateur shoots lower. It shows fear.
He might shoot here, here, or in the stomach.
You could survive. But here, there's no chance.
[Lidia] It looks awful, actually. Thank you.
[Popeye] You're welcome, señorita.
[Popeye] I'm very religious. I'm a holy warrior.
I worship the Lord, the Holy Spirit,
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Christ and the Guardian Angel.
Many of my friends have visited Aguacatala
to worship the Holy Virgin, the patroness of killers.
They'd say, 'I've got a contract' - told to kill,
'may I shoot him in the head and not get caught.
I need the money to help my mother.'
After the hit, they'd return,
and put an enormous candle in front of the Virgin's altar.
Drug dealers worship the same Virgin.
They'd say, 'Holy Mary, I'm about to smuggle 500 kilos,
'I'm sailing to Panama via the Gulf of Uraba.
'If the cocaine gets to the US, I'll build a chapel near my house.'
I always say, if you want to extradite everyone
start with the Holy Virgin,
she's the main ally of drug dealers and hitmen.
Go and extradite her, put her in jail!
[Director] Cut!
[Rosalba] This is me at the police academy.
I used to wear skirts a lot.
For two years I tried to get into university,
but failed because my father didn't have enough money,
so I became a police woman.
I was a fully-functional person with all my limbs,
and now I'm missing an arm.
I couldn't achieve my dream
of becoming a senior police sergeant.
It ruined my career.
I had to learn how to do everything with my left hand.
It doesn't go smoothly.
I still have to put up with insensitive remarks.
Sometimes in the street, I'm asked why I have a prosthesis.
Luckily, I became a psychologist,
and gained a master's degree in human rights.
The government has cheated me.
Only victims of crimes against humanity receive disability benefits.
My case could be seen as such,
because the grenade blast that maimed me
was comparable to that of a landmine.
However, I'm always told that it was just a regular crime.
[Male voice] Would you like to meet him?
[Rosalba] To learn the truth about what happened to me during that hostage operation?
Sure!
I've repeatedly said that I'm not afraid of him.
I'm not afraid of any member of the cartel.
[Popeye] It might be interesting to talk to her,
to say sorry on behalf of the cartel for the loss of her arm that changed her life.
[Male voice] Aren't you afraid that you might be treated with hostility?
[Popeye] No!
Nothing bad is going to happen.
We won't get into a street fight.
If she's aggressive, we'll just go.
[Popeye] - Hi, Rosalba! Good evening. [Rosalba] - Good evening.
[Popeye] Nice to meet you.
[Popeye] - I'm John Jairo Vasquez Vasques. [Rosalba] - Nice to meet you.
[Popeye] Call me Popeye.
How are you? May I take a seat?
[Rosalba] - Sure. [Popeye] - Thank you.
[Popeye] - How are you, Rosalba? [Rosalba] - Good!
[Popeye] Still a policeman at heart?
[Popeye] - Once a policeman, always a policeman? [Rosalba] - Yes, of course.
[Popeye] They helped me contact you.
I was asked about Estrella, whether any police were attacked there.
I said that they were, but also that
not all police were corrupt and sometimes they confronted us.
We killed both the corrupt and the honest ones indiscriminately.
It was a war and the Medellin cartel was to blame.
I was jailed and spent 23 years there.
I'm the only cartel member to serve his whole sentence,
to have paid for your arm in full.
I represent the cartel's collective memory,
and I would like to apologise to you for the loss of your arm,
and all the damage it's done to you and your family.
[Rosalba] Ok, Thank you.
[Popeye] Thank God, you're alive, after everything,
It was a tough fight.
[Rosalba] I'm overwhelmed because... my mother...
has suffered so much, for me...
[Popeye] - She suffered a lot? [Rosalba] - It was so hard for her.
[Rosalba] That's why I never wanted her to be interviewed.
She was going to come too, but I told her not to.
There's no use reopening old wounds.
The reporter asked what I thought of you.
You know what I said? That man has paid his dues.
[Popeye] - Thank you. [Rosalba] - I was a victim of the conflict.
[Rosalba] - There's one thing I'd like to ask you. [Popeye] - Sure thing.
[Rosalba] I'm interested in details about the kidnapping of Federico Estrada Veles.
Was it carried out by militants, or rebels, or did someone order it?
[Popeye] Look...
Federico Estrada Veles spoke of extradition,
Escobar ordered his kidnapping.
[Rosalba] Yes, he was involved in the operation,
but I requested that I be recognised as a victim of an act of terror.
I filed a request and I was told that
I must first prove that it was a drug crime and militants were involved.
The kidnapping was arranged by the cartel,
but how do I demand that I be recognised as a victim?
[Popeye] It's very simple.
The militants Fidel and Carlos Castaño were in the cartel.
I'll gladly testify in court if you ask me.
It was a conflict between the Army and Pablo Escobar with the rebels,
so you are a victim.
[Rosabla] Thanks, that's the truth I've wanted.
[Popeye] When you want me to, I'll testify.
Take my number.
I'll testify in good faith.
[Rosalba] Thank you, you're very sweet.
[Popeye] I participated in that kidnapping.
[Rosalba] Yes, I know.
[Popeye] I'm grateful to you for respecting me.
I humbly ask for your dear mother's forgiveness.
I am willing to apologise in person.
[Rosalba] Thanks a lot. You are very kind.
[Popeye] - Hi, how are you? [Random person] - Could you sign this?
[Popeye] Sure! Let's sit down over here.
[Rosalba] Now I'm calm.
Because when you know the truth, you can calm down.
Well... let's say, I seriously believe that people can repent.
He asked for forgiveness and did so with humility.
[Popeye] I love pain. I have a high pain threshold.
I didn't go to the dentist in prison,
so many inmates had AIDS and sterilisation wasn't done well.
My teeth were a wreck, now I'm getting them fixed.
I spend hours at the dentist.
In jail I survived many attempts on my life
and dangerous episodes.
After all, there were 6,000 murderers there.
They were all fearless, with pistols, revolvers,
machine guns, grenades, even RPGs.
I survived thanks to discipline, experience,
and knowing who to be friends with.
A former enemy who is now your enemy's enemy
might become your friend.
[Popeye] - Thank you! See you soon! [Doctor] - Bye!
[Popeye] They tried to kill me 7 times with poison, bullets and knives,
poisoned knives.
In jail they have special tricks, smuggling pipes in their rectums,
plastic pipes, with daggers in them.
Before stabbing someone they'd wipe the knife in faeces.
And then they stab!
The victims died of a terrible infection.
[Popeye] I don’t come here often, I should be careful.
It’s not safe for me to visit the same place repeatedly.
This is the tomb of my boss, Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
I can recall his brutal strength.
He was a very strong man,
he wasn’t afraid of death.
Everyone has to die. No one escapes.
And he knew, sooner or later, he'd end up here in the tomb.
People leave notes from all over.
From Honduras, Bolivia... all around the world.
They leave the boss messages. They ask for miracles...
for jobs, money... they ask him to bless their guns before a homicide.
So the cops come here often.
People snort cocaine on the boss’s tomb.
They leave marijuana for him.
The tomb is guarded, because satanists and mafia guys
tried to steal Pablo Escobar's skull.
[Popeye] Murder is common in Colombia. The country is at war.
My friends were murdered here... and I murdered other people’s friends.
It’s normal - a culture of violence.
Back then, any judge who opened a case against Pablo Escobar...
or one of his men was a dead man.
For example Dr Gustavo Zuluaga...
[Carmelita Valencia] I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw two armed men on a motorbike.
I knew immediately that they wanted to kill my husband.
I shouted to him, 'Get down, they’re going to fire!'
[Popeye] Murdering a judge was routine.
It was very easy, they had no bodyguards.
To kill Dr Gustavo... we didn’t need 300 cars or a helicopter.
A motorbike was enough.
His car wasn’t armoured, he was vulnerable.
The killer shoots and bang, it’s over.
[Carmelita] My head and face were hit by bone fragments.
The bullets destroyed his brain and tore off his ear.
I made an effort to lift him,
to get him off me and put him to one side.
I saw he was dead, there was nothing I could do.
[Carmelita] He was murdered on this spot.
We were driving along this road and our car stopped there.
I was looking at him, shaking him,
I couldn’t believe he was dead.
The pain was horrible, just indescribable!
I didn’t even feel the bullets.
Only when I stepped out of the car,
did I realise blood was gushing from my back,
I saw my boots were filling up with blood,
I didn't realise it wasn't his blood, but my own.
I was taken to hospital and the doctors did all they could,
they were very alarmed.
They tried to save the life of the baby.
I was pregnant at the time.
[Popeye] At war, you have to think differently than in peace time.
If Escobar orders you to kill a judge,
and his pregnant wife is there, you must!
[Carmelita] Before extracting the bullets...
the doctors made sure the baby was alive.
Yes, her heart was beating, but she wouldn’t move.
After that, I was examined every day...
to make sure that she was alive.
She was born prematurely.
Just 40 days after the assassination.
[CARMELITA VALENCIA] [ANGELA ZULUAGA]
My husband received phone calls,
as well as letters and flowers.
He was told they'd get him by December.
He was intimidated in every possible way, but he paid no attention.
They took photos of the house, the children and of him.
They already knew we had two kids and what they looked like.
I talked to him.
The incoming threats terrified me,
but I supported him and drove him to work myself...
until the last moment.
[ANGELA ZULUAGA] It was irresponsible...
not putting the children and their safety first.
Mine included.
I respect my father’s position,
but I’d rather have had a dad...
[Carmelita] Angelita, the thing is...
[Angela] To have him... here...
That’s my view.
It's irresponsible to put your kids in danger.
[Carmelita] What do you think? You knew your dad.
When the threats started, he was cautious and didn’t go out unless necessary.
[CARLOS ZULUAGA]
[Carlos] We didn't know if there was a point...
in giving your life for the sake of your homeland.
[Carmelita] Was it worth it?
[Carlos] He believed that homeland, honour and justice...
were more important than family.
[Carmelita] Your father was an extraordinary man.
[Angela] - I didn’t know him. [Carmelita] - That's it...
[Carmelita] Yes, but maybe...
[Angela] But was it worth it? He’s dead.
[Carmelita] I’m not saying it was worth it.
I lost my husband, my friend and my teacher.
He was everything to me.
It wasn’t worth it, but he believed it was.
[Angela] For me it's profoundly scary that this man out in the streets,
it scares me.
But at the same time he paid for what he did with his prison term.
I’m scared.
I wouldn’t like to meet him even if he didn’t know who I was.
He doesn’t just scare me, he disgusts and repulses me.
[Men in the street] Popeye! Popeye!
[Popeye] The people love me!
Why? Not because I was a killer,
but because I managed to change.
Even when I was part of Escobar’s cartel,
I didn’t hurt simple people.
But war is war!
[Popeye] People like me. They want photos.
If there is someone in the crowd who wants to kill me,
It's his problem. I don't care.
[Carlos] It happens because of crass ignorance.
It’s still a Hollywood stereotype,
as if a film star came from 'The Fast and the Furious'.
That’s how they see Popeye.
But he’s a real-life assassin.
He kills like in movies, tortures as in movies
and he lives like he's in Hollywood.
And that is what our society...
these youngsters want to be like one day.
[Guy in plaid shirt] Hi! I’m reading the book you gave me. Do you remember me?
[Popeye] - Sure. Thanks! You like it? [Guy in plaid shirt] - Yes, it's excellent!
[Popeye] A photo with the señorita!
[Carmelita] I tell you, ignoring is the best way.
Then, you don’t have time for hatred,
for love, or any other thoughts.
You should ignore him, you mustn’t give such a man any importance.
[Woman with a bun] I'm so glad to see you!
I didn’t think I’d see you here!
[Popeye] Thank you, I’m very glad.
[Woman with a bun] - God bless you! [Popeye] - Thank you!
[Popeye] During my 30 months of freedom, I’ve met thousands of people.
People from all over support me.
3 times, I was attacked by women.
Why attack me in the street?
If they want to hurt me, they’d better stab or shoot me.
They’re too smart - only do it near cameras.
They try to provoke me because they know I'm on parole.
We live in a society full of hatred.
There are many good people, but also enough bad people.
Less bad than good.
There are those who want me back in jail.
[Gonzalo Rojas] They’re launching a series about Popeye’s life.
I'll ask all Colombians to switch off their TV sets when it's aired.
We’re degenerating more and more.
Instead of studying the stories of people who built this country,
we focus on the people who helped to destroy it.
[Gonzalo] I was 10 when I saw these images.
I remember them vividly.
That day, I realised that one of the bodies
in those bags was my father.
The media said all the bodies had been torn to pieces.
[GONZALO ROJAS]
[VO] On November 27th, 1989 an Avianca Airlines plane
exploded near Bogota killing all 107 people aboard,
Gonzalo’s father amongst them.
César Gaviria was a Colombian Presidential candidate
and Escobar’s sworn enemy.
He had been scheduled to be on that flight
but changed his mind at the last moment.
[Gonzalo] And later, at home we saw pictures
of the 107 victims' bodies being retrieved and the official passenger list.
I felt pain and anger
and great sorrow over what happened to my father.
[VO] A few years ago, Gonzalo founded a charity
to commemorate the victims of that terror attack.
He even left his job so that he could investigate the case,
which is still shrouded in mystery.
[Gonzalo] Witnesses disappeared, some were murdered,
some changed their names, others emigrated.
Those still alive don’t want to help solve the crime.
Evidence disappeared and it's now very difficult to find the truth.
Popeye organised the Avianca terror attack,
in which our relatives died.
First, we organised a protest rally against his release.
We believed he didn’t do his full term and he was released too early.
After his release, I started getting threats,
and it became clear that it all came from him.
Meeting Popeye is important to me.
It will allow me to voice everything
that I’ve been bottling up for many years.
Maybe the day I meet Popeye will be the hardest day of my life.
[Popeye] Please, my friend. Which one is mine?
[Director] In the middle.
[Popeye] Look, my silver award.
Here are two more from other people these guys represent.
And this one’s mine.
[Lidia] YouTube star!
[Popeye] Yes, I’m a star, thanks to my work.
But first of all thanks to God. I work very hard.
My channel exists because the guys here help me.
Every month, I get a 1,000 more subscribers.
[Cameraman] Ready.
[Popeye] My Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube family.
Hello and respect!
Let's talk about serious corruption in the republic of Colombia!
Corruption is killing us all!
My country worries me.
Because 99% of Colombian politicians are rats.
For politicians, being a bandit, is an honour.
People are fed up with these miserable politicians appearing on TV, radio...
No need for an investigation about robbery.
But I have leverage on the situation.
People trust me because I’m not ambitious, I want to go into politics.
[Popeye] I expect you to look forward to a united Colombia.
That we’ll all unite against the Colombian government
and against corruption in Colombia.
It’s very important. I embrace you.
It was me talking, Popeye from Medellin, the Mafia General.
[VO] After uploading yet another political manifesto,
Popeye takes us into the mountains to see an unusual prison.
He spent about a year there with Pablo Escobar in the early 90s.
[Popeye] Here, look: 4,343 views in 60 minutes.
561 likes and 5 dislikes.
[VO] We’re not visiting the prison alone:
two bikers are going with us.
At the last minute, Popeye decided we needed bodyguards.
[Popeye] Why are the guys going with us? For security!
Some places you can't go alone.
They’re my friends, they work as security guards and they accompany me.
Going unaccompanied is totally irresponsible.
Lidia... you, your director and friend are taking the same risk as me.
They won’t know you’re Russian filmmakers.
They’ll shoot first and then find out.
[VO] In 1991, Pablo Escobar made a deal with the Colombian government.
His extradition to the USA was annulled and in return,
Escobar stopped his reign of terror and went to prison, one he’d built himself.
Under that same agreement, no police or government troops
are allowed within 3 kilometres of the premises.
[Popeye] It’s all changed now.
There used to be a football pitch here, a games area,
billiards, ping pong, a gym, everything.
My hut was right there, that was my cell.
It was a mock prison, not a real one we took it over in the war.
There were prostitutes, alcohol.
The boss only allowed marijuana - no coke or any other drugs.
We made the best of it here.
Most important, it was the Medellin cartel HQ.
Trafficking cocaine to the USA was controlled from here.
It’s a nursing home now.
The government seized the land and put a home for the elderly here.
It’s managed by the church, they have a monk. There are the elderly.
[Popeye] I’m very happy to be here.
Escobar had over 3,000 killers, but I’m the only one lucky enough to return.
I’m glad. It’s a positive thing... I feel the presence of the boss.
We fought here, lived and made war.
Here we outwitted the Americans and the Colombian Army.
Here, inside the prison, we killed two of Escobar's partners.
We didn’t torture them, they were friends.
The mafia only tortures traitors, when we need information.
They were rich and powerful men, so we couldn't humiliate them,
out of respect, we shot them twice in the head.
Then we dismembered and burned them. Because of their terrible betrayal.
Afterwards, soldiers stormed the prison.
So the peace between the government and the Medellin cartel ended.
[Gonzalo] For me, being one of the victims
of the Medellin cartel is a never-ending torment.
It’s been 28 years since the terrorist attack on the Avianca plane.
Since then, we constantly see on TV how popular the perpetrators have become.
I mean Pablo Escobar and Popeye.
This pain grows stronger every year.
If he regrets blowing up the Avianca plane,
I urge him to bear witness to the General Prosecutor,
to say who else participated in the attack.
Let him name those persons responsible,
because many of them are still alive and have their freedom.
[Popeye] - How's it going? [Gonzalo] - OK.
[Popeye] - Jairo Velásquez! [Gonzalo] - Gonzalo Rojas!
[Popeye] - You doing OK? [Gonzalo] - OK, thanks.
[Popeye] - Did you arrive today? [Gonzalo] - No, yesterday.
[Popeye] I was the only one who helped you with the Avianca case,
and the only one who gave information.
I told the truth, but your lawyer attacked me. That's no good, my friend.
[Gonzalo] There are many grey areas in the case.
[Popeye] No, let’s talk about why you attacked me when I was released.
[Gonzalo] I don't know if...
[Popeye] I wanted to be free and everyone wanted me back in prison.
I’m the only one who helped you with this case.
Do you want me to be in jail forever? Why?
I went against my own to help you with the Avianca case.
[Gonzalo] I doubt you went against your own.
[Gonzalo] Look, I'd rather you admit your guilt in the Avianca case.
It's better for me than you being in prison.
I don’t care how much more time you spend in prison. I need the truth.
[Popeye] No, you want me back in jail. You’re 100% against my freedom.
[Gonzalo] Tell me how for example...
[Popeye] It's not...
[Gonzalo] What's the link between Gaviria’s security head and the Medellín cartel?
Who became warden of the prison where you did time?
[Popeye] - You should ask Gaviria. [Gonzalo] - Right.
[Popeye] Do you think I’m an idiot? I didn’t disrespect you.
[Gonzalo] - Me neither. [Popeye] - You have to respect me.
[Popeye] - You have to respect me, too. [Gonzalo] - Didn't I?
[Gonzalo] Well actually Don Jairo, I wanted to meet you in person,
to look you in the eye and talk to you.
[Popeye] If you were a man who was honest with me or at least polite…
But you’re not and you're a bad mediator!
[Gonzalo] Ok, alright then... so why did you come here?
[Popeye] I came because they invited me, and I thought maybe you’d be different.
[Gonzalo] Did you expect we’d be friends?
[Popeye] No! How could we?
[Popeye] Do you think I’m gay or something? I’m not!
Understand this... When a man spends 23 years and 3 months in prison...
Are you victims?
So here you have another one.
I spent 23 years and 3 months in a cell, I paid for what I did.
International media said I shouldn't be free.
Look, I completely changed my life following my release.
[Gonzalo] I don’t know, I don’t know...
I got threats, I don’t know if they were your friends.
[Popeye] Take me to court then! As a mediator you're unacceptable.
[Popeye] You’re a bad man with an evil heart.
You’re persecuting someone who spent 23 years in prison.
[Gonzalo] - So you think you’re innocent? [Popeye] - No, I'm guilty!
[Gonzalo] Is it our fault you served 23 years?
[Popeye] No, it’s not. But you’re questioning the legality of my release.
So you can't be a mediator! Just leave me alone!
[Popeye] - Live your life, I’ll live mine. [Gonzalo] - Perfect.
[Popeye] - We've nothing else to talk about. [Gonzalo] - Nothing.
[Gonzalo] Nothing at all.
[Gonzalo] When I looked Popeye in the eye, I saw a man who has no remorse
for the pain he inflicted on thousands of Colombians.
He doesn’t understand the agony of our bereavement.
He isn’t even capable of feeling the pain of losing a loved one.
I think he only talks about things that he heard somewhere.
I don't think he was a key person in the Medellin cartel.
He commercialised it, he wants people to watch his TV series and to buy his books.
I don’t think he feels remorse for his crimes.
[Popeye] A man lives on through his children.
Thank God my son is in the US, in New York, in a civilised country.
It’s not the same as killing him here in Colombia.
Some may even say great, but in New York it'd be different.
He knows his dad's a hitman. He's OK with it.
He was with me in prison until he was 5. Now, he wants to work and study.
But if he wants to kill, it’s up to him.
If anyone, out of revenge, kills my son,
I won’t forgive the murderer. I’ll find him and kill him.
I did wrong, so I served 23 years and 3 months.
But if needed, if I’m forced to do it again, I’ll return to the mountains with pleasure.
Taking up arms is always an option.