Colombia Roundup: Petro in Davos, landslide, migrant trafficking, extortion

Petro arrives in Davos

Colombian President Gustavo Petro landed in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, January 16. During the World Economic Forum, he announced plans to seek resources and international cooperation for investing in coca-producing areas with the goal of "transforming the economy from illicit to legal". He also addressed the climate crisis, emphasising that Colombia "has decided not to contract more oil, gas, and coal explorations". Petro's trip has not been without controversy, with criticism directed at him for renting a house in Davos for 4.5 billion pesos (USD 1,151.92) to promote tourism in the country, as reported by El Colombiano.

Tragedy in Chocó

The bodies of the victims of the landslide that occurred on Friday, January 12, have begun to arrive in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, where they will be mourned. The country has declared three days of mourning for the 39 people who lost their lives. Research operations are ongoing, and the remaining bodies are expected to arrive in Quibdó on Tuesday, as reported by El Colombiano.

Investigations at the University of Colombia

After the release of videos showing former congressman and rector of the University of Colombia, Carlos Moreno de Caro, shouting at some female employees, the Ministry of Labour conducted a three-day inspection of the institution, according to El Espectador. Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Inspection Edwin Palma stated that they found "various violations of labour and social security regulations" and have initiated investigations.

Capture of a major migrant trafficker

Colombian authorities have Nelson Enrique Bautista, also known as Poporro, in their custody after his arrest in Cancun, Mexico, and subsequent transfer to Colombian territory, according to El Heraldo. The detainee had been listed for years as one of the most sought-after criminals in the country, implicated in both drug trafficking and, more recently, migrant trafficking.

Extortion on the rise

Extortion crimes in Colombia have increased by 20.5% in the last four years, according to the National Police's crime statistics portal. While 8,188 complaints were filed in 2020, the figure rose to 9,871 last year, as reported by El Espectador. The ‘Defensoría del Pueblo’ has asked the government to focus its attention on this type of crime.