President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday announced that the director of the police’s anti-kidnapping and extortion unit will be moved to the north of Colombia to improve the security situation in Caribbean cities.
Following a security meeting in the capital of the Atlantico department and Colombia’s fourth largest city, the president said that new security measures will be implemented in order to combat extortion in the cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena.
“General Guatibonza, who is the Director of Gaula, is going to be moved to Barranquilla and Cartagena, until this problem is resolved in its entirety,” said President Santos.
According to the president, the Gaula chief will be accompanied by 40 police officers. They will all work to strengthen the fight against crime in the city.
“We will of course protect the drivers, we will use and increase [the number of] undercover agents on bus routes,” said Santos. Moreover, the president said that they would install Gaula offices in transport terminals, and teach them about road safety in order to protect the drivers.
The president used the city of Medellin as an example of how the government had been successful in combating extortion in the transportation sector previously. Following increased crime rates in the capital of Antioquia, Santos sent the director of the National Police to Medellin.
The Colombian head of State invited people of Barranquilla and Colombians in general to increase the reporting of any crime and stressed, “the people of Barranquilla are not alone.”
Sources
- Director del Gaula despachará desde Barranquilla para combatir la extorsión: Presidente Santos (Presidency of the Republic)
- Santos ordenó al director del Gaula despachar desde Barranquilla (El Espectador)
- Director del Gaula despachará desde Barranquilla (El Heraldo)