Santa Marta-based crime group ACSN shut down parts of the city and the surrounding region after Colombia’s armed forces killed one of their commanders.
Jose Luis Perez, a.k.a. “Cholo,” and six of his comrades were killed during an offensive on Monday.
The son of Fredy Castillo, a.k.a. “Pinocho,” who is the alleged boss of the crime group, was reportedly among those killed during the operation.
Shortly after, a pamphlet that was signed by the ACSN ordered an “armed strike” of 48 hours because of the “the fierce attacks that the government has been launching against our organization in the Sierra Nevada since this afternoon.”
Multiple buses were incinerated in the region around Santa Marta.
We hereby declare a 48-hour armed strike throughout the province of Magdalena, particularly along the Troncal del Caribe highway, in the city of Santa Marta, and in the banana-growing region. We do not want any businesses to remain open for a period of 48 hours.
ACSN
According to President Abelardo de la Espriella, who traveled to the city, “they are trying to intimidate the public by promoting an armed strike.”
“I will not allow any criminal organization to subjugate citizens through threats and terror,” the president added.
Notwithstanding, multiple shop owners in Santa Marta and along the highway kept their shops closed on Tuesday, afraid to challenge the authority of the local crime bosses.
The district government closed public schools in neighborhoods where the ACSN is believed to have a strong presence.
The ACSN control much of drug trafficking to the port of Santa Marta and to the coastline of the neighboring La Guajira province.
De la Espriella ended attempts to negotiate the group’s surrender and ordered a military approach after taking office in August.
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