PABLO Escobar's brother has vowed to "take down" Elon Musk, claiming the tech billionaire stole his idea for a novelty flamethrower.

Roberto Escobar, 72, former accountant to his drug trafficker sibling, says he discussed the idea with one of Musk's engineers during a visit to the Escobar compound in the summer of 2017.

5 Roberto Escobar, brother of notorious drug lord Pablo, has claimed Elon Musk stole the idea for a novelty flamethrower from him Credit: AFP - Getty

5 Musk owns construction company Boring, which last year released a line of flamethrowers as part of a promotion Credit: AFP or licensors

5 All of the 20,000 devices made sold out within days Credit: The Boring Company

In January last year, Mr Musk's Boring Company released a line of "flamethrowers" - large blowtorches shaped like guns that project burning propane.

The product was named Not-A-Flamethrower after customs officials in the US said they would not allow the countrywide sale of items called "flamethrowers".

The devices were part of a marketing promotion for Boring, and all 20,000 produced sold out within a few days.

Mr Escober alleges that he suggested the concept to Musk's engineer months before they were released, and that it had been inspired by his brother's purported habit of burning money as an alternative to heating.

Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord whose Medellín Cartel monopolised the trade of cocaine into the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.

At the time of his death in a shootout with police in 1993, he was worth an estimated £45 billion in today's money, making him the wealthiest criminal in history.

Robert was the co-founder of the Medellín Cartel, and served as the organisation's accountant and his brother's right-hand man.



'I WILL MAKE SURE HE LOSES TESLA'

Escobar launched his own flamethrower early this year and threatened to sue Musk for theft of intellectual property.

Responding on twitter, Musk wrote: "It’s Not a Flamethrower, Mr Escobar."

But Escobar has told the Telegraph he is still set on legal action.

“We will soon file a $100 million case against him in America, and I will try my best to make sure he loses his stronghold in Tesla Inc,” Escobar said.

“He knows exactly what he has done to us.”

Escobar's flamethrower is currently for sale online for $249 (£192).

He added that he was to begin managing Cuban hip-hop artist Icy Narco, and that they would next week be releasing a "hate song" targeting Musk and titled Pablo Escobar.

He also said he had plans for a business venture that would topple computing giant Apple, though said he could not discuss details.

"I need around four years to make it bigger than Apple," he said.

"Things move fast in technology.

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"Within the next month we are going to launch our first product, I cannot tell you what it is, but it will be much better than anything Apple ever did."

Both Tesla and the Boring Company have been approached for comment.

5 Pablo Escobar monopolised the trade of cocaine into the US during the 1980s and 1990s, and is thought to have been the wealthiest criminal in history Credit: AFP

5 Roberto claims the flamethrowers were originally inspired by his brother's purported habit of burning money to keep warm Credit: Instagram/The Boring Company

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