The country is going through a complex public order situation, violence and insecuritythere is an increase in criminal activities, homicides, displacement and kidnapping, especially the latter, says a report from the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation (Pares), which details that in the year 2023343 people were kidnapped, 53.8% more than in 2022.
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The report warns that the accumulated figure from the previous year is the highest in the last 14 years in the country’s violent history. By department, Antioquia accumulates the highest number with 54 cases in 2023, followed by Norte de Santander with 48, Valle del Cauca with 47, Nariño 30 cases and Cauca with 26.
According to the investigation, theft and extortion are other crimes that are increasing and have citizens on maximum alert, not only in rural areas, but also urban residents, leaving in sight the adoption of these criminal practices by common crime, beyond the armed conflict.
Regarding theft from people, according to police SIEDCO data, There was an increase of 6% compared to 2022. Bogotá, with 148,578 cases, accounts for 40% of the robberies in the country.
Extortion, for its part, continues to increase. Between 2019 and 2023 it increased by 33.5%. “This explains why criminal groups have diversified their income after the decline that has occurred with cocaine trafficking. “It is more profitable and less risky than drug trafficking,” says the Pares report.
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The Department of Antioch tops the list with the highest number of extortions, 1,842 cases in total. Followed by Bogotá DC. with 1,690, Atlantic with 1,335 cases, followed by Cauca’s Valley with 1,142 and North of Santander with 570.
By cities, Bogota records the highest cases with 1,690, followed by Medellin with 894, Barranquilla 856, Cali 486 cases and Loneliness with 299 victims of extortion.
The foundation concludes that “the deterioration of citizens’ perception of security has directly affected President Petro’s most important proposal, Total Peace.”
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