Police in Colombia’s thid largest city Cali have detained 130 minors for violating a curfew imposed in two of the city’s most problematic neighborhoods, local authorities said Saturday.
The arrests took place between Friday and Saturday in the comunas 13 and 15, located in the impoverished southeast of the city.
Cali authorities on Thyursday decreed that minors in those comunas are not allowed to be on the street after 11PM.
Following their detainment, the majority of minors were returned to their parents, police assured local media.
During the massive raid, police also arrested 42 residents who were wanted by justice and seized ten illegal firearms.
According to Cali Police Commissioner Fabio Castañeda, “the measure was well received by the community who asked for an expansion in other neighborhoods in the city.”
Despite showing a slight improvement, Cali had Colombia’s highest murder rate in 2011. According to local newspaper El Pais, 1,870 people were murdered in the city last year. Half of the victims were minors.