El Rubio

Background

Juan Strickler, better known as El Rubio or "The Blond Colombian", is said to be the most notorious narcotrafficker in the world. He runs his drug empire from Cayo Perico, a heavily guarded private island off Colombia, and he supplies the Madrazo Cartel in San Andreas. He has hinted that his grandfather was German. His family crest carries the motto "Mit Offenen Armen" ("With Open Arms") and also serves as the island's coat of arms. He has a keen interest in firearms: he owns the golden Perico Pistol, which bears his crest, and he patented the gold "El Strickler" military rifle. He was played by the late Joseph Melendez.

Role in GTA Online

Los Santos Summer Special: El Rubio was first teased in a short clip called "surveil.exe", which showed a surveillance file on him.

The Cayo Perico Heist (2020): At The Music Locker, Miguel Madrazo explains that El Rubio holds decades of cartel intel and is threatening to give it to the DEA unless the Madrazos accept new supply prices. Because Globopol is watching him, he cannot leave the island. During the scouting trip, he greets the player, English Dave and Keinemusik at the airfield and has Scott Storch introduce the DJs at his party. Later the player sees him feed his guard Gustavo to his black panther.

During the heist he stays in his compound and yells at his guards over the loudspeakers. Once he notices the vault has been emptied, he takes the minigun on his Valkyrie MOD.0 and chases the crew until they get off the island. Miguel keeps feeding Pavel intel afterwards, so the island can be robbed again and again. In later runs, El Rubio rants about the thefts and suggests he has executed most of his original guards.

Trivia

• His cars include a white Brioso 300 with the plate "RUB10" and a red Stafford.
• English Dave calls him "Monsieur Rubio", and Pavel calls him "Mr. Rubio".