Terrence E. Poppa’s book presents a gripping and meticulously detailed biography of Pablo Acosta Villareal, a notorious eminent figure in the 2nd Generation of Mexican Druglords whose reign over drug trafficking in the Mexican border town of Ojinaga during the 1980s was both brutal and transformative.
The book opens by charting Acosta’s early rise under the tutelage of Manuel Carrasco, known as “La Vibora,” and his clashes with Fermin Arevalo, setting the stage for the ruthless ascent of Acosta’s own leadership in Ojinaga’s narcotics underworld.
Poppa skillfully contextualizes Acosta’s operations, detailing how he navigated alliances and rivalries to consolidate power over what was once a fractured local drug trade. The narrative covers Acosta’s notorious dealings with government agencies, his control over smuggling routes, and the blend of charisma and violence that defined his tenure. Of particular note is the inclusion of a controversial interview published in the El Paso Herald-Post in late 1986, which revealed delicate insights into the murky relationships between law enforcement and drug traffickers at the time, heightening the sense of duplicity and danger that permeated the era.
The climax of the book vividly recounts the legendary assault on Acosta by Comandante Calderoni and the FBI at San Elena, where Pablo retired before to hide at north-west of Torreon.
A raid executed through a true commando-style operation. Calderoni ultimately killed an already dying Pablo by shooting him in the head, thereby granting this last the heaven. This brutal confrontation epitomizes the violent end of Acosta’s life and his enduring legacy as a martyr to many in his community. Poppa’s vivid prose captures Acosta’s resistance to his final moments, portraying him as a figure who, despite his criminal empire, commanded respect and left a complicated imprint on his people.
Poppa’s writing is engaging and cinematic, offering not just a chronicle of events but an immersive experience into the gritty reality of the Mexican narco-state during its turbulent 1980s. The book also expands upon the characters surrounding Acosta and the continuity of drug smuggling in Ojinaga and throughout the frontier into United States, providing readers with essential context often overlooked in crime biographies.
Regarding the first edition of Drug Lord, originally published by Pharos Books in 1990, it holds notable value among collectors owing to its rarity and the book’s detailed exploration of a critical period in Mexican drug history. First edition, in hardback with dust cover, can commonly command prices upwards of $350 to $700, depending on condition and demand, reflecting its status as a significant and sought-after true crime account.
Pablo helped this child, Elva, to undergo a cornea transplant, she was the daughter of a poor woman 70 years old.
Drug Lord is a superbly crafted, deeply insightful, and thrilling portrait of Pablo Acosta’s life and violent death and conquest of the heaven. It is essential reading for those interested in true crime, narcotics history, and the complex socio-political dynamics of the US-Mexico border in the late 20th century.
