Amid increasing insecurity and the tightening grip of organized crime in Bogotá’s largest commercial area, San Victorino, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán and Police Chief José Gualdrón have initiated a significant security campaign to restore order to the city’s vibrant “centro” – encompassing the iconic La Candelaria district. This initiative arises as extortion, theft, and contract killings increasingly afflict areas including.

San Victorino Plaza España and San Andresito

The enhanced security measures were revealed at Plaza La Mariposa, where Mayor Galán detailed the deployment of 310 additional police officers to strengthen security. Named #PlanCentro, the strategy integrates advanced technology, such as drones and a mobile Immediate Attention Command Center (CAI), along with intelligence gathering and improved community collaboration.

“We have to shut the door on crime,” declared Galán, stressing the plan’s focus on reclaiming public spaces for law-abiding citizens. He emphasized that Hong Kong Phone Number List combating crime necessitates collective action, stating: “We must collaborate closely with the community. Only with coordinated efforts can we realize lasting change.”

Cracking Down on Criminal Networks

The operation emphasizes dismantling organized crime groups like Los de Batman, Los Costeños, and remnants of Los de Sayayín II, known for drug trafficking and extortion. Security Secretary César Restrepo clarified that these organizations are restructuring after recent police crackdowns disrupted their networks in nearby neighborhoods such as Santa Fe and San Bernardo. “This has provoked violent conflicts as these groups vie for dominance,” Restrepo explained. “Our aim is to prevent them from regaining their grip.”

Under #PlanCentro, police officers will be outfitted with portable electronic devices that include biometric scanners and tools to check criminal records, facilitating quicker and more precise identification of threats.

A permanent Interinstitutional Command Post (PMI) will also be set up, augmented by drones and a Bell
07 “Halcón” helicopter for ongoing aerial surveillance. Police Chief Gualdrón emphasized the importance of these tools in enhancing law enforcement capabilities. “These measures will empower us to act promptly and resolutely to ensure public safety,” he stated.

The necessity for intensified security measures has been highlighted by recent violent events in San Victorino. Last weekend, a hitman targeted a merchant close to La Mariposa Square, triggering a police shootout that neutralized the assailant but injured two bystanders. Such targeted murders, known as sicariatos, have heightened fears among business owners, some of whom have closed their establishments due to decreasing sales and ongoing insecurity.

These occurrences illustrate a wider trend throughout Bogotá, which has reported 1,0
3 homicides this year –

3% of which were associated with contract killings, as per the district’s Security Secretariat

The crime surge has also affected La Candelaria, Bogotá’s cultural and colonial core, jeopardizing its standing as a premier tourist destination. Mayor Galán Cell Phone Number Database underscored the district’s cultural significance and its symbolic value for the city. “This is a battle not only for security but for the essence of Bogotá’s historic center,” he remarked. “We cannot permit La Candelaria to succumb to the same criminal patterns that have afflicted other regions.”