Colombia Deploys Troops to Santa Marta Amid Gang Violence
President Abelardo de la Espriella sends military forces to the Caribbean city after an armed group retaliates against a counter-narcotics operation.
Troops are patrolling the streets of Colombia's Caribbean resort city of Santa Marta as President Abelardo de la Espriella attempts to restore order following an outbreak of violence attributed to a drug-trafficking gang.
Residents in a working-class neighborhood were seen lining up for supplies at the few supermarkets that remained open, with police officers standing guard. The unrest began Tuesday when arsonists set ablaze at least three vehicles, including a taxi and a public bus, and armed individuals threatened merchants in broad daylight.
President de la Espriella blamed the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces for the attacks, stating the group planned to retaliate against a military operation that resulted in the death of José Pérez Villanueva, identified by the government as the group's second-in-command.
"I swear by Colombia and by my life that I will finish them off," de la Espriella said Tuesday night from Santa Marta. "I will leave no stone unturned until I find them... and if they do not surrender, I will send them to hell in a body bag."
De la Espriella, who took office last month with a pledge to confront illegal armed groups with an "iron fist," has halted peace talks initiated by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, with various armed organizations, including the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces. This group emerged after the demobilization of paramilitary groups in the early 2000s.
According to police, the Sierra Nevada Self-Defense Forces operate in the departments of Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar. The group has been implicated in crimes such as drug trafficking and extortion.
In response to the violence, Governor of Magdalena María Margarita Guerra toured the public market, where most stalls were closed, handing out flyers and encouraging vendors to reopen. She emphasized the importance of reopening the market, calling it the "heart of commerce."
More than 1,500 additional police officers and military personnel have been deployed across the region. Despite the security measures, some tourists were observed relaxing on the beach, though many nearby businesses remained shuttered.