The true crime series or biographies of criminals on Netflix has proven to be extremely popular and successful among viewers. These programs are based on real events, often exploring cases of murders, frauds and other shocking crimes, as drug trafficking.

One of the most recent additions to this genre is Griselda, created by Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro. The six episodes of the first season were led by Sofia Vergara in the main role, portraying a devoted mother who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.

The new miniseries has only been added to the catalog for a few hours, and according to the official streaming giant’s site, it has already become a global trend. Many users have started to wonder how real the plot is and here, check if it is based on a true story…

Is Griselda based on a true story?

The new Netflix series with Sofia Vergara is based on real events, as it is a biographical production. The six episodes narrate the life of Griselda Blanco, a real figure known as the Godmother or the Black Widow, who was a Colombian drug lord and one of the leaders of the Medellín Cartel in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sofía Vergara in Griselda. (Source: IMDb)

Sofía Vergara in Griselda. (Source: IMDb)

She was a controversial and powerful figure in the world of drug trafficking, and her story has been adapted in various forms in various media, including this latest project from the streaming giant. Her record was not only marked by the drug business, but she has also been attributed to at least 250 murders.

According to the biographical book “Cocaine Cowgirl“, Blanco started a life of crime at the age of 12 when she kidnapped and killed a contemporary minor. The memoir details how she enlisted the help of several friends, but when she saw that she wouldn’t get a financial reward for his release, she shot him.

In addition to all her crimes, she is also known for being the main mentor of Pablo Escobar and for introducing him to the business. She was a pioneer in cocaine trafficking between Medellín and the United States through Miami and the founder of the largest cartel in Medellín.

Reaching the age of 21, she already had three children, with the youngest one coming a bit later. Her youngest son was named Michael Corleone due to her fondness for The Godfather. Despite all her crimes and experiences, her end was quite tragic. She died in 2012 at the age of 69, shot twice by a motorcyclist in the streets of her hometown in Colombia.