U.S. Rejects Reported Escobar Offer to Surrender if Family Is Protected

The United States on Wednesday rejected a reported offer from fugitive Colombian cocaine king Pablo Escobar to surrender if Washington extends protection to his family.

A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota said Escobar’s offer, made in written replies to questions posed by the New York Times, is unacceptable because it tries to draw the U.S. government into an internal Colombian matter.

Escobar’s reported offer to surrender is “a matter between himself and the government of Colombia,” the embassy said. “His attempt to involve the U.S. government in his reported offer to trade protection of his family for his surrender is unacceptable.”

Escobar, wanted in several countries for drug trafficking, terrorism and murder, has been on the run since he escaped from a luxury jail near Medellin in July, 1992.

Speculation has been mounting here that increased police pressure, the loss of trusted allies and the actions of paramilitary groups dedicated to killing him may soon force Escobar to give up.

Rumors of an imminent Escobar surrender continued to swirl around Colombia on Wednesday.

Late Tuesday, army troops were substituted for police guards at the Itagui jail near Medellin where Escobar would probably be held if he surrendered. Local reporters said this was done in response to demands from the drug boss, who fears the police more than he does the army.