Seeking to strengthen security and the fight against crime, the Barranquilla authorities have launched a series of mechanisms.
“We have been listening to our merchants, working with them hand in hand to stop this scourge of extortion together. This week we were with Miguel Parra, director of Citizen Security of the Ministry of Defense, and we have been working hand in hand with them to find solutions in this regard”, explained the manager of Social Development, Alfredo Carbonell.
75 percent of extortion cases are not being reported due to fear
Since September 2021, the Police have captured 252 criminals linked with extortion, for an average of 1 to 2 per day. Regardless of the statistics, the problem is not minor, since the crime does not stop and affects merchants to such an extent that last Thursday they closed their businesses and organized a massive march.
Much of the problem lies in the fact that a high percentage of extortions are not reported.
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“75 percent of extortion cases are not being reported out of fear, out of fear, because there have been deaths, injuries, because businesses have been shot at. People denounce, they capture the guy and after two months he is on the street, so it’s worse, “he said. Orlando Jimenez, Vice President of the National Union of Merchants (Undeco).
A hundred small and large businesses have been affected. According to Undeco, more than 100 commercial establishments have been sold at very low prices, because the owner cannot resist the pressure.
According to what was said by shopkeepers, hardware stores and more merchants, it is usual that they have to pay sums of money, which initially tend to be “small” each week and as time goes by extortions arrive with millionaire figures, threatening life. of businessmen and their families.
The response of the authorities
“So far this year, the Police Gaula has been assigned 32 extortion complaints, of which 25 were clarified, with arrests of criminals. Of those arrests, 13 were in flagrante delicto when the antisocials were preparing to collect the proceeds of the intimidation,” said a spokesperson for the District.
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The results arise from the articulation between the Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla, the Metropolitan Police, the Attorney General’s Office and the Superior Council of the Judiciary.
As explained by Carbonell, “the main request they have is the increase in specialized criminal judges and the increase in prison quotas. Although this is the spring of the national government, we as District of Barranquilla have been leading these solutions”.
The District announced that in a few days a new Temporary Detention Center with a capacity for 210 people and a third center is already under construction that will allow a total 420 seats. This should influence to reduce the rulings that allow house arrests.
Also the Inpec confirmed 500 slots in the El Bosque District Prison.
The technological bet
The National Police made available a new complaint mechanism through a QR code. With this tool, any citizen can contact the authorities in case of being a victim of extortion, without having to go to the Gaula headquarters.
“Through the caught QR We are going to be able to get people to report anonymously and be able to continue working to clarify these cases,” added Alfredo Carbonell.
The outlook against theft
Theft of people is another of the crimes with the highest statistics in Barranquilla. The year 2021 closed with a decrease of 8% in this matter, with 901 fewer cases, compared to 2019.
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Prevention and control actions by district and police authorities such as zonal shielding, the anti-theft squad, raids, reward payments and intelligence actions, have had an impact.
The aforementioned strategies have allowed the capture of 916 people so far in 2022, with a 22% increase in this type of operation compared to the previous year.
BARRANQUILLA
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