Fugitive druglord Pablo Escobar warned police that if they try to kidnap anyone in his family, he will retaliate.
In a letter sent to Judicial Police Chief, Colonel Luis Montenegro, that was made public Thursday in Bogota's El Tiempo newspaper, Escobar said that he had heard of a police plan to kidnap his elderly father as a way of getting information about his whereabouts.Escobar's letter was made public Thursday in Bogota's El Tiempo newspaper.
"If any of my loved ones disappear, I won't hesitate to take action against the families of those responsible," Escobar wrote. "My loved ones are untouchable."
Escobar's letter was undated and El Tiempo did not say when it had been received by Montenegro. It is now reportedly in the hands of the Attorney General along with other papers that were confiscated from Escobar's luxury prison after his July 22 escape.
Police told El Tiempo that Escobar's accusations are unfounded. They said that all their operations pertaining to the druglord are lawful and have been authorized by the Attorney General's office.
Escobar had surrendered in June 1991 in exchange for a government promise of lenient judicial treatment. He escaped from a luxury prison on July 22, after the government sent in troops to move them from their resort-like jail to more secure and spartan surroundings.
Authorities said the move was planned because Escobar was continuing to oversee his drug-running business from the prison.
One of nine men to escape from jail with the Escobar turned himself in to authorities Tuesday, leading to speculation Escobar himself might be preparing to surrender.
Since his escape, Escobar has indicated in statements and interviews that he would like to surrender if he could be assured of being jailed in his home-state of Antioquia, whose capital is Medellin.