The drug trade is one of the most lucrative and deadly industries in the world. As a result of their involvement in this trade, there have been individuals who have risen from nothing to become some of the most notorious figures in the world. Not only have figures such as Pablo Escobar provided the world with Hollywood-worthy crime stories, but they have also provided storytellers with riveting character sketches of dark and twisted individuals.
Numerous shows have told the story from the perspective of these crime lords, but almost all of them have used male protagonists. ‘Queen of the South’ on USA Network revolutionised the game by placing a woman at the centre of this captivating premise. Teresa Mendoza is lured into the world of drug trafficking and becomes the most successful and feared drug lord in a short period of time.
While the show is entertaining to watch, we question the plausibility of the situation. Have women had such prominent positions in the pharmaceutical industry? Queen of the South may have been inspired by a true story. Here is the response.
Is Queen of the South Based on a True Story?
No, “The Queen of the South” is not inspired by actual events. It is based on Arturo Pérez-novel Reverte’s of the same title. He had served as a war correspondent for twenty-one years, during which time he encountered numerous female figures who showed to him that women were better equipped than males to endure the hardest conditions. While creating the character of Teresa, he drew inspiration from the ladies he had seen endure the horrors of war and gave his protagonist the key characteristics he had observed in them.
His acquaintance with the workings and savagery of the drug world contributed significantly to the creation of Teresa’s reality. Although he did not base her character on a specific individual, she shares some parallels with ladies who have acquired renown in the drug trafficking sector.
Also Read: Who Is the Incredibles Fashion Maven Based On?
The Real Queens of Drug Business
Teresa Mendoza may be the fictitious Queen of the South, but Marllory Chacon Rossell has the title in fact. The Guatemalan press dubbed her the Queen of the South, while the US Treasury Department referred to her as “Guatemala’s most active money launderer.” The fact that her influence spread to political figures in the country demonstrates how influential she was.
Her glorious days ended when she was apprehended in 2014. She pleaded guilty, and in exchange for a lower sentence, she participated with the DEA, resulting in a reduction of her 12-year sentence to 5 years. Prior to the decrease, she had already served 53 months in prison, and she was close to be released.
Sandra vila Beltrán is another woman who has emerged as one of the most prominent drug dealers. She is linked to Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel ngel Félix Gallardo, the former godfather of the Mexican drug trade, and is known as The Queen of the Pacific. Her reign ended in 2007 when she was charged with drug trafficking and organised crime. The efforts to extradite her to the United States and pursue a strong case against her were unsuccessful.
Also Read: Who Is Lamar from Bmf Based on In Real Life
vila first rejected the charges, but ultimately forced to accept a plea bargain in which she admitted to receiving illegal financial assistance. She was eventually deported back to Mexico, where she ran into much more problems. She was charged with money laundering and sentenced to five more years at the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 4 in Tepic, Nayarit. In 2015, she was liberated and relocated in Guadalajara.
