Cali Police arrested 154 people and seized 44 firearms, including three assault rifles, in a weekend operation, reported Colombian daily El Pais Monday.
The action, which saw 31 minors detained, was carried out to combat networks of criminals linked to killings and armed robberies in Colombia’s third most populous city.
As well as the arrests and arms seized, police took possession of 787 motorcycles and recovered 270,000 hallucinogen doses.
Cali Metropolitan Police Commander Colonel Nelson Rincon said, “The intention of those who carried the guns was clearly to commit murder. The guns were already loaded and ready to fire. Fortunately, thanks to a timely action, the criminals have been stopped.”
The operation involved 16 checkpoints in and around the city, and saw 207 premises raided.
Many of the minors arrested resulted from the enforcement of an 11pm curfew imposed three weeks ago on some of the city’s most violent neighborhoods.
According to Cali police, since the curfew was imposed, homicides have dropped 24% and robberies 21% in the neighbourhoods involved.