Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba Bio: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Parents, Family, Height, Arrest

Biography

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba, also known as “Shock,” is a 43-year-old drug kingpin of Costa Rican nationality with Nicaraguan roots.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London on December 29, 2023, after his wife, Estefania McDonald Rodriguez, unintentionally exposed their location through social media posts during their European vacation.

Grijalba is wanted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for allegedly trafficking cocaine from Limón, Costa Rica, to the U.S. He has survived several assassination attempts, including a 2022 massacre in Limón, where seven people were killed while he narrowly escaped. Despite being linked to drug trafficking in Costa Rica, authorities had not formally charged him there at the time of his arrest.

Grijalba is currently fighting extradition to the U.S., where he faces charges for international drug trafficking.

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba
Stage Name:	Luis Grijalba
Born:	15 April 1981 (age 43 years old)
Place of Birth:	Managua, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
Nationality:	Costa Rican
Education:	N/A
Height:	N/A
Parents:	Juan Carlos Picado, Maria Elena Grijalba
Siblings:	Sofia Picado, Alejandro Picado, Ricardo Picado
Spouse:	Estefania McDonald Rodriguez
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Drug Lord
Net Worth:	$20 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba was born on April 15, 1981, in Managua, Nicaragua, into a modest family of Central American roots. Of mixed Mestizo ethnicity, his heritage reflects the cultural fusion of Indigenous and Spanish influences common in the region.

Growing up in a financially unstable environment, his childhood was shaped by the hardships faced by his parents, Juan Carlos Picado, a construction worker, and Maria Elena Grijalba, a street vendor.

As the eldest of four siblings, Luis took on a leadership role from an early age. His younger brothers, Alejandro Picado and Ricardo Picado, and his sister, Sofia Picado, often relied on him for support and guidance. Despite his early sense of responsibility, his life eventually veered into criminal activity.

The family followed Catholic traditions, a common practice in Nicaragua, which influenced his upbringing. Luis attended a local public school, where he showed an aptitude for mathematics but struggled to focus on academics due to the family’s financial constraints. His schooling ended prematurely in his teenage years as he began working to help support his household.

During his adolescence, Luis became increasingly aware of the expanding influence of organized crime in his community. Seeking a way out of poverty, he moved to Costa Rica in his late teens and eventually became a naturalized citizen. It was there that he transitioned from small-scale operations to becoming one of the most infamous drug kingpins in Central America.

Career

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba, also known as “Shock,” built a notorious reputation in the drug trafficking world, particularly within Costa Rica. Though details about his entry into the criminal underworld remain scarce, Grijalba eventually became a prominent figure in the drug trade, with his operations primarily centered in Limón, Costa Rica.

Limón, home to a major port, was an ideal location for his trafficking activities, allowing him to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the United States. His network, sophisticated enough to evade law enforcement for a significant period, indicated a highly organized criminal operation.

Grijalba caught the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who tracked his movements for months, underscoring the scale of his activities. His career was marked by violent episodes, including surviving multiple assassination attempts. A notable incident occurred in March 2022, when a massacre at his Limón property left seven dead, including a close associate. Grijalba narrowly escaped by hiding behind a cherry tree.

His criminal trajectory dramatically changed when he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London on December 29, 2023. The arrest followed social media posts made by his wife, Estefania McDonald Rodriguez, during their European vacation, inadvertently revealing their location. The international collaboration between the DEA, the UK’s National Crime Agency, and Costa Rican authorities led to his capture. Following his arrest, Grijalba contested extradition to the U.S., where he faces charges related to international drug trafficking.

The circumstances of his arrest have drawn significant attention, highlighting the effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation in combating drug cartels.

Additionally, Grijalba‘s case has raised questions in Costa Rica about the country’s law enforcement practices, with some criticizing the lack of formal charges against him despite his known involvement in the drug trade.

Personal Life

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba was born on April 15, 1981, making him 43 years old. He is married to Estefania McDonald Rodriguez, whose social media posts during their vacation inadvertently led to his capture.

There are no records of multiple marriages, suggesting that Rodriguez is his only known wife or at least the one publicly associated with him during his criminal activities.

Details regarding any children are not publicly available, leaving it unclear whether Grijalba and Rodriguez have children together or from previous relationships. His height is also not documented in the available sources.

Net Worth

Luis Manuel Picado Grijalba, infamously known as “Shock,” is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $20 million, amassed primarily through his involvement in large-scale drug trafficking.

Operating from Limón, Costa Rica, Grijalba was responsible for shipping cocaine to the United States, which suggests significant financial gains from his criminal activities. His wealth allowed him to fund a lavish European vacation, including spending $20,000 on plane tickets alone, showcasing his capacity for high expenditure.

Although his net worth is an estimate based on his known activities and the potential value of his drug trade, much of this fortune would likely be tied up in assets and investments aimed at laundering money rather than liquid cash.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) aims to confiscate these assets as part of the legal actions against him, which would provide a more definitive insight into the extent of his wealth.