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Netflix tackles Drug Lords with ITN

Drug Lords debuts next week

Global streamer Netflix has ordered an eight-part factual series from the UK’s ITN Productions about the world’s most infamous drug barons.

Drug Lords, the first four episodes of which launch on January 19, will reveal the true stories behind the emergence, reign and demise of narcotics kingpins including Colombia’s Pablo Escobar and ‘American Gangster’ Frank Lucas.

The series will give first-hand accounts from the people directly involved with the cases, from law enforcement to the barons’ closest allies. The second tranche of episodes will be released later in the year.

“This is a hugely ambitious series that proves real-life stories are often even more extreme and dramatic than fiction,” said Ian Russell, head of international programming at ITN Productions.

“Our production team spent more than a year working on this series, which involved seeking out people who have spent their life in the shadows – and then persuading them to tell us about their lives.”

Michael Welsh, VP of TV production and development at ITN, added that the prodco was delighted Netflix had seen the potential of the series.

Netflix has previously tackled the topic in its original drama series Narcos, focusing on the life of Escobar. The show has been confirmed for a fourth season.

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