Colombia's Medellin Cartel is closely associated with its former leader Pablo Escobar. However, the late notorious drug lord was not the only one who managed the operations of the cartel.

The success of the Medellin Cartel can also be attributed to the Ochoa brothers, namely Jorge Luis, Juan David, and Fabio, according to InsightCrime.

The Ochoa brothers were the business brains of the criminal organization, while Escobar oversaw the group's "protection" before he became known as the cartel leader "El Patron."

Medellin Cartel was known to be the main supplier of cocaine in the United States through the 1980s and early 1990s, with the organization sourcing coca leaves from Peru and Bolivia. It is then processed in Colombian jungle labs before being shipped to the U.S. 

The Medellin Cartel did not make sales domestically. Escobar used the Caribbean air route to deliver the supplies to the U.S. market.

During the peak of the Colombian drug cartel, Escobar ordered the killings of police, judges, politicians, and journalists, while the group managed to maintain high-profile allies in security and justice institutions.

READ NEXT: United States Submits Request to Colombia to Extradite Gulf Clan Boss Dairo Antonio Usuga    

Ochoa Brothers of the Medellin Cartel

The Ochoa brothers came from a family of ranchers but left the cattle ranching business in the mid-1970s to move to Medellin and start their drug smuggling business.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) files showed that the middle Ochoa son, Jorge Luis, took over the family organization and shipped 60 pounds of cocaine to Miami, which the DEA then seized.

The Washington Post reported that Jorge Luis' name appeared in more than 300 confidential DEA files.

The Ochoa brothers were one of the five groups that made up the Medellin Cartel, which was created when Fabio's daughter Marta was kidnapped and held for ransom by Colombian terrorists.

Fabio convinced other drug smugglers in Colombia that they would be next. The Ochoa brothers managed the cartel's own terrorist group and were also responsible for bribing Colombian military personnel and police for protection.

Juan David is the oldest Ochoa son and kept a lower profile than his brother Jorge Luis. His name was found in more than 30 DEA files, with his transactions focusing on the finance and investment operations of the drug empire.

On the other hand, Fabio is described by the DEA as the family's "problem child," being "irresponsible, eccentric, and emotional." Fabio managed the drug business in 1984 when his brother Jorge Luis was caught and imprisoned in Spain. 

In July 1985, he was arrested in Venezuela after he was linked to the seizure of 550 gallons of ether, a component in cocaine's manufacture. Fabio was eventually extradited to the U.S. and imprisoned in a Florida prison.

Ochoa Brothers Wealth

Jorge Luis was known to have accumulated wealth worth $6 billion for his drug smuggling business. Forbes listed him as one of the top 20 richest men in the world, Money Inc. reported.

In 1987, Forbes said the Ochoa brothers shared more than $2 billion. They reportedly remained on the Forbes Billionaires List for six years, with the last appearing in the rankings in 1992. 

In 1991, Jorge Luis turned himself to Colombian authorities, followed by Fabio, and Juan David became the last brother to surrender that same year. 

Fabio was the only one who opted to go to trial, which resulted in his conviction and the 30-year sentence. His brothers reportedly got lighter prison terms because they cooperated with the government.

Jorge Luis is now a free man after serving a five-year sentence. He was released on July 1996. 

Meanwhile, the eldest Ochoa brother, Juan David, died in a medical clinic in Medellin in July 2013. He was 65 years old. The New York Times reported that he died from a heart attack.

READ MORE: Netflix Drops First Look of Sofia Vergara's New Role as Colombian Drug Lord Griselda Blanco

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Jorge Ochoa Was the Brains of the Medellin Cartel | Roger Reaves and Lex Fridman - From Lex Clips