By Ricardo Lezama 
President Petro has announced a redoubling of efforts to back the Colombian capital, Bogota, with a recent emboldened criminal class that has engaged in murder for hire and thefts throughout the region.
Tourists are increasingly concerned and have turned away from Colombia as a vacation stop during the critical spring break period. The assassination style killing of Roberto Franco Charry in Bogota, Co, has mobilized various sectors to condemn criminal elements, as well as police ineffectiveness in the country’s capital. In defense of local authorities, one of the presumed elements involved in the murder is currently being held in a capital jail, with arguments being heard by a local court for restricting any potential movements.
Emboldened Criminal Class
An emboldened criminal class that is in part comprised from both disaffected youth and unmonitored migrants whose legal status often complicates arrest and apprehension has given rise to staggering quality of life issues and statistics.
Just today, Barranquilla, Co, woke up to a gruesome murder where the criminal bandits had time to draw up a Mexico style message on the wall, but far outside their local reach.
A recent crime in Valencia, Spain, has highlighted the power and reach of criminal organizations in Barranquilla, Colombia. Roberto Vega, a member of the Vega Daza clan, was killed in Spain, and authorities believe he was tracked down by hitmen from the Negra Dominga gang. The gang had previously sentenced Vega to death and had been taunting him with messages, giving him a six-month reprieve. The killing was apparently part of a vendetta between rival criminal groups. Authorities are investigating the involvement of a woman known as “Wendy” in revealing Vega’s location. Meanwhile, a new graffiti has appeared in Barranquilla, reading “Game Over: Los Vega. Faltas tu Mairon” (Game Over: The Vega. Mairon You Are Next), which authorities believe refers to Mairon José Bustamante Pérez, a relative of a leader of the criminal group “Los Pepes”.
The graffiti has put authorities on high alert, as it suggests the vendetta is ongoing, which to be fair, could be the type of thing driving very specialized crimes, like the ones in Bogota, Co.