Aura Rocío Restrepo Reveals Intimate Letters from Cali Cartel Leader Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela
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Aura Rocío Restrepo, the last known partner of deceased Cali Cartel kingpin Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, is set to publish a new book detailing her years with the notorious drug lord, and has shared a poignant letter penned by Rodríguez Orejuela from prison, offering a rare glimpse into the emotional life of one of Colombia’s most powerful criminals. the book, titled Gilberto y Mío (Gilberto and Mine), will debut at the Cali International Book Fair in July 2025, marking 30 years as Rodríguez Orejuela’s capture in 1995.
Acknowledging a “Boar Woman”
The letter also contains a striking tribute to Restrepo’s strength and independence. Rodríguez Orejuela praised her as a “boar woman,” a term signifying resilience and determination, acknowledging her drive and dedication to her family. “I have always admired you.Forgive me if in that life full of problems and fears I had not told you more frequently. Since I met you, I saw in you a boar woman, pushing forward, always thinking about the well-being of your family and trying to get ahead on her own.”
This admiration unfolded during a period when the Cali Cartel’s influence was at its peak, notably during the infamous “8,000 process,” a large-scale investigation into the cartel’s activities.
Lost Letters and Lingering Emotions
Restrepo, who separated from Rodríguez Orejuela shortly after his arrest, shared that the letters represent a profound connection, despite the tumultuous circumstances of their relationship. However, she revealed a painful chapter in her past: the destruction of many of these letters at the behest of a former partner, a man she described as the father of her children, during a period of intense violence.
“Those are letters that Gilberto sent me when we were in prison, we wrote to each other in letters,” Restrepo explained. “Unfortunately, I don’t have many because that ex, the father of my children, with that process of violence that we experienced, made me burn them.”
Despite the loss, Restrepo emphasized that the depth of emotion expressed in the surviving letters was characteristic of their entire relationship. “All of Gilberto’s letters were that deep. They were immense displays of love, sometimes of depression, sometimes of anguish, of rage… but it was very nice. That is written by a man who loves.I think that anyone who reads this realizes what our relationship was and that, because of that, there was no room for many other things. But, above all, you understand where that love came from.”
Disappointment and a Search for Joy
Reflecting on the past, Restrepo admitted that a sense of disappointment ultimately led to the end of their relationship, despite the powerful connection they shared. She noted that the period leading up to Rodríguez Orejuela’s capture was marked by escalating issues. “I believe that I would have been able to accompany Gilberto until his last day if I had not felt that immense disappointment that I had with him, but that love of ours was extraordinary. Everything was coming that last year before the capture,when so many things had already emerged.”
Ultimately,Restrepo found solace in motherhood. “The only true joy I have had in my very great life has been being a mother. So I think that there comes a point where we have to close and be happy, and God is going to grant me that.”
the ‘tower’ of hope, the years that I have lived in your sweet company do not weigh on the shelf where I keep my already heavy years,” Rodríguez Orejuela wrote. “I only feel the nostalgia of not being able to repeat every moment of what has already happened between you and me and that I have so few years left to continue loving you as I love you.”
