Story perspectives

Bogotá's Homicides Surge: 50.5% Linked to Organized Crime

4/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

In Bogotá, contract killings surged to 50.5% of homicides in early 2026, attributed to organized crime's sophistication and access to firearms.
Experts Andrés Nieto and Laura Suárez say violence comes from gang disputes over drug routes and a service-based crime network that complicates investigations.
Bogotá's mayor has reduced homicides modestly, but experts dispute the strategies' effectiveness.
The national government is criticized for neglecting urban crime, weakening police and intelligence capabilities.

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Story summary

In Bogotá, contract killings surged to 50.5% of homicides in early 2026, attributed to organized crime's sophistication and access to firearms.
Experts Andrés Nieto and Laura Suárez say violence comes from gang disputes over drug routes and a service-based crime network that complicates investigations.
Bogotá's mayor has reduced homicides modestly, but experts dispute the strategies' effectiveness.
The national government is criticized for neglecting urban crime, weakening police and intelligence capabilities.