How does one become a Sicario?

Becoming a Sicario often involves a troubling combination of circumstances and socio-economic factors. Here are some insights from various discussions on the subject:

1. Economic Desperation: Pablo Escobar's sicarios were often driven by financial desperation. Escobar would offer money to impoverished individuals, which made them loyal to him. For example, a young sicario admitted to killing police officers for $100 each because Escobar had provided his family with financial support 1 2.

2. Revenge and Hatred: A personal grievance and a desire for revenge can also push individuals into such a violent lifestyle. Ioan Grillo recounts the story of a sicario named Fresa, who had been abandoned by his parents and harbored deep hatred, leading him to brutal acts from a young age. He began his criminal career with home invasions and killings driven by personal vendetta 3.

   • 

     1

     Pablo Escobar's Killings

     00:33:04
   • 

     2

     Criminal Thinking

     00:34:54
   • 

     3

     Troubled Sicario

     00:36:54

3. Recruitment from Troubled Youth: Many sicarios start their criminal activities as teenagers, often without parental guidance or support. This early recruitment into a life of crime, coupled with the psychological impact of violence and murder, traps them in a cycle they see no escape from. For instance, Fresa's involvement began with a robbery and escalated into more severe crimes 3.

These factors illustrate that becoming a Sicario is often less about a conscious choice to engage in violence and more about being driven by dire economic needs, personal grudges, and early recruitment into the criminal underworld.