Security update
October 8: a roadside bomb in Popayán and an Ecuadorian gang in Villavicencio
Here's what happened since the last update, and what each one means.
1A roadside bomb hits a police patrol in Popayán
On October 7, at about 10:15 AM, a bomb by the side of the road went off as a police patrol passed through the Santa Mónica neighborhood of Popayán, near the women's prison. 2 officers were hurt. Cauca's Government Secretary, Reynel Polanía, said both are out of danger with minor injuries. There's a reward of up to 20 million pesos. No group has been named. El Heraldo says Mordisco's dissidents are the group that usually carries out bomb attacks like this in Cauca.
What it meansPopayán is the capital of Cauca. In our Cauca report, we said the state still rules in Popayán and the town centers. This bomb went off in a city neighborhood in the middle of the morning.
2An Ecuadorian gang in Villavicencio
On October 7, the army's anti-kidnapping unit (GAULA) and the police raided a house in the San Carlos neighborhood of Villavicencio and captured 3 men said to work for Los Choneros, the Ecuadorian gang whose leader, alias "Fito," was extradited to the United States. They seized a rifle, a submachine gun, a pistol, a rubber-bullet pistol, 6 rifle magazines, ammunition, 6 phones and a signal jammer. Authorities are investigating a possible alliance between Los Choneros and the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo).
What it meansThis connects to our Ecuador border report. Armed men said to work for an Ecuadorian gang were caught in Meta, far from the border.
3An American found dead in Envigado
On October 7, a 78-year-old American was found dead in his apartment in the La Magnolia neighborhood of Envigado, near Medellín. He had lived in Colombia about 10 years. The body was under the bed, with a plastic bag around his head and a gag. It's estimated he died 3 to 5 days earlier. Neighbors noticed the smell. Someone had answered his WhatsApp messages in a way people found strange, and then all contact was lost. Workers in the building last saw him on October 1 with a young man who had supposedly come to clean. Authorities are investigating it as a homicide.
What it means for usMany of us live alone here. Make sure someone checks on you every day or two, and be careful who you let into your home.
4Prosecutors had warned against the López and Pinilla transfer
On September 16, prosecutors asked to keep Olmedo López and Sneyder Pinilla in military detention. They said a move could put the two men at risk and affect their status as cooperating witnesses. Both have agreed to testify in cases against 23 people. The prison service (INPEC) moved them to La Picota anyway on October 6, and the president announced it. López's lawyer, José Luis Moreno, says López has been threatened and that someone tried to bribe him with 13,000 million pesos to change his testimony.
What it meansLópez and Pinilla are the key witnesses in the UNGRD water truck case from our Episode 3. The case now depends on keeping them safe in La Picota.
5A Gulf Clan unit hit in Chocó
On October 7, the president announced that troops of the army's Seventh Division had fought the Gulf Clan's "Pablo José Montalvo Cuitiva" unit in the rural area of Teguerre, in Riosucio, Chocó. 1 man was killed and 3 were captured. Troops seized 5 long guns and a handgun, and destroyed 8 landmines.
What it meansUnder the last government, the Gulf Clan was at the peace table. Now the army is fighting its units in the field. The president: "My order has been clear: fight without truce against those who terrorize Colombians. We're going after all of them."
On social media
He didn't post the Popayán bomb, Los Choneros or the American in Envigado. His most-viewed post was his message on 2 months in office: 76,000 views and 7,200 likes. His post on a results-based anti-drug strategy with the United States drew 66,000 views and 3,700 likes, and the replies were split. The most-liked support: "Hard on the criminals, Mr. President." (19 likes) The critics: "What a shame, the people who never got an education believe everything they see from this clown." (7 likes) And: "Colombia isn't to blame for the gringos' addiction!" The Chocó post showed the dead man in a body bag in front of the 3 captured men: 36,000 views and 2,800 likes. Supporters celebrated the picture: "Beautiful picture of the day. We want these pictures until there are no rats left loose." A critic: "A guy who promotes violence in a country that's already so violent." The body-bag pictures are a new theme in the replies. Likes on all these replies were low. This comes from the top replies on X, not a poll.
I support most of this. But it doesn't go far enough. These groups use any space they're given to reset and grow. They need to be crushed, not contained.