In Narcos, which real-life hitman is known by the nickname 'Popeye'?

The real-life hitman known by the nickname “Popeye” in Narcos is Jhon Jairo Velásquez. His full name is commonly given as Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez, and he was a prominent sicario—contract killer—in Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel.

Velásquez claimed to have served as a senior figure among Escobar’s assassins and was associated with the cartel’s campaign of killings, kidnappings, terrorism, and bombings. He surrendered to Colombian authorities in 1992 and spent more than two decades in prison. His later public image was controversial because he presented himself as a commentator and author while discussing crimes in which he had participated.

Narcos changes names and details for some characters: Velásquez appears in the series as Velasco, portrayed by Alejandro Buitrago. That fictionalized name can cause confusion, but the historical figure behind the character is Velásquez. The other options were Medellín Cartel associates or traffickers, not the individual identified by the nickname “Popeye.”