Local and national authorities meet to discuss how to combat high levels of violence in Colombia’s northern La Guajira department, El Informador reports.
In the meeting between members of the La Guajira assembly, municipal representatives, the police force, army, and DAS, Colonel Hector Miguel Cruz Rocha of La Guajira’s police force said that figures on violence in the department remain high and the department needs more security forces to properly deal with the issue.
Cruz Rocha said that there have been 226 violent deaths this year and only 46 people have been arrested in connection with them. Authorities estimate that there have been 311 murders this year.
Currently La Guajira has one policeman for every 329 inhabitants, while other areas such as the city of Barranquilla have a policeman for every 150 citizens.
The colonel suggest that a possible solution to the problem is to disarm those citizens who possess guns for their own protection.
Deputy Deimer Marin Jimenez explained that the department is very difficult to control because it borders the sea and has a highly mountainous terrain.
He added that “there are criminals everywhere, there is smuggling of liquor, cigarettes, and petrol. This department is a paradise for criminals which includes community members, members of the government, political leaders and security forces.”