From the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, security and intelligence protocols continue to be enhanced to coordinate operations that will make Medellín safe for both tourists and locals. Recently, with the dismantling of the “Los Calvos” gang, another blow has been dealt to criminal structures and organized crime operating in one of the city’s most touristy areas, which sees foreigners as an easy target for their crimes.
With these security measures and police actions to improve tourist safety, Medellín continues to establish itself as one of the cities with the greatest sense of security for foreigners and the thousands of digital nomads who come to the city.
What Has Been the Most Recent Capture to Make Medellín Safe for Tourists?
According to the Metropolitan Police, on May 28, 2025, four men were arrested and one more was notified at a prison facility for allegedly forming a gang identified as ‘Los Calvos’, which was dedicated to robbery under the ‘paseo millonario’ scheme in the El Poblado sector.
Judicial investigations conducted by the Police, the Físcalía General de la Nación and the Mayor’s Office of Medellín – which lasted about 12 months – mentioned that the members of this gang were dedicated to committing robberies, especially against tourists, in some of the most visited areas of El Poblado, such as Parque Lleras and the Provenza sector.
Within the investigation, the uniformed officers learned that these individuals were allegedly responsible for the crime of robbery, especially against national and foreign tourists, in the jurisdiction of El Poblado. They would use the facade of public transport drivers, offering apparent transport services, and after selecting their victims and offering the service, they would use firearms, bladed weapons, and in some cases, administer toxic substances to facilitate the commission of the crime.
Authorities also indicated that “Los Calvos” allegedly had connections with workers from some commercial establishments in the El Poblado area, who apparently also selected victims by observing the valuable items they used.
The captured individuals were placed at the disposal of the Fiscalía General de la Nación for the crime of aggravated robbery, and judicial hearings are currently underway.
What Other Important Actions Have Been Taken to Make Medellín Safe for Tourists?
Similarly, at the end of May, in a joint operation between the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Police, and the Fiscalía General de la Nación, 10 members of a criminal group calling themselves “El Ghetto” were captured. They are allegedly responsible for kidnapping, assaulting, and extorting foreign citizens in nightlife establishments in Parque Lleras, El Poblado. Among those arrested is alias ‘La Madrina’, the administrator and legal representative of the implicated venues.
During the operation, executed by the GAULA Police Unit, two search warrants were carried out, in which cell phones, dataphones, devices with security recordings, and over $1 million in cash were seized. All those captured were charged with the crime of aggravated kidnapping for extortion and could face sentences of up to 60 years in prison. In addition, the forfeiture of the domain for these two businesses will be requested.
According to investigations, these individuals excessively inflated consumption bills, held victims inside nightclubs, beat them, and forced them to make payments under threat. In several cases, they even demanded additional fines after receiving payments, while female escorts, who allegedly engaged in prostitution, served as lures and companions within the criminal scheme.
Serious cases include two Panamanians who were forced to pay $19 million in October 2024 and a U.S. tourist who was forced to transfer $485 in May 2025. These incidents were crucial in initiating the investigation thanks to reports from the victims.
Mayor Federico Gutiérrez concluded that a working group already exists: “We will continue to support good merchants; those who comply with the law will only have our backing. This is good news for merchants, tourists, and the city, because we are dismantling criminal organizations, and this blow represents the third significant impact against organizations dedicated to theft and other crimes in El Poblado in less than six months."
Crimes Using Scopolamine
Also, in the middle of March this year, the Fiscalía General de la Nación charged four women in Medellín with allegedly being members of a criminal network dedicated to drugging foreign men to strip them of money and valuables. The case is related to at least 23 victims, including citizens from seven countries: Norway, Mexico, the United States, Australia, Germany, Russia, and Colombia, who reported that the losses caused by these acts would exceed 600 million pesos, as the stolen goods include cash, bank cards, and luxury items such as high-end watches.
The accused are alleged to have used social media to contact their victims, according to the investigation conducted by the entity. According to the investigators, they would meet them in establishments in neighborhoods such as El Poblado, Laureles, and Belén, where they would socialize with them before convincing them to go to their accommodations. There, they allegedly subdued them with substances that caused loss of consciousness to take their belongings.
At the end of 2024, the "queen of scopolamine" was captured in Medellín
An operation by the Criminal Investigation Section in the municipality of Itagüí, Antioquia, culminated in the capture of a 27-year-old woman known as the “queen of scopolamine,” who had been sought since 2022 for her alleged participation in multiple robberies of foreign tourists in Medellín.
On December 26, 2024, the Fiscalía General de la Nación highlighted that the detainee faced charges of aggravated theft with multiple related charges and was linked to a criminal organization that operated primarily in the city’s tourist areas.
The woman allegedly participated in at least eight theft cases where victims, mostly international visitors, were drugged with chemical substances like scopolamine. Among those affected are a US citizen and an Italian, who reported economic losses totaling 120 million Colombian pesos (approximately 30,000 US dollars).
The criminal scheme, as detailed by the Prosecutor's Office, focused on Parque Lleras, located in the exclusive El Poblado sector, one of Medellín's main tourist attractions. The detainee would approach her victims with seduction strategies, gaining their trust and then inviting them to share drinks in their accommodations, which were usually hotels or tourist apartments, where the drinks were adulterated with chemical substances that left the victims defenseless, facilitating the theft of their belongings.
Crimes through Dating Apps
On June 4, 2025, in a joint operation between the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Police, and the Fiscalía General de la Nación, three women who called themselves ‘Las Mamacitas’ were captured. They are accused of being part of a network dedicated to theft through the use of toxic substances like scopolamine.
According to investigations, the accused specialized in contacting mainly foreign citizens through dating apps and social media. Once they gained their trust, they would arrange meetings in exclusive areas of the city. Subsequently, they would take the victims to lodging places where they were drugged and stripped of money, jewelry, cell phones, and other valuables.
"We are going after those who intend to use seduction as a cover for crime. Let them be clear that in Medellín, we will not allow groups like this to continue operating with impunity. This blow reaffirms our commitment to the security of Medellín as a tourist destination and a territory of coexistence," added the Secretary of Security and Coexistence, Manuel Villa Mejía.
Crimes Through Online Platforms
A criminal organization dedicated to the systematic theft of cryptocurrencies from foreign tourists was dismantled by the Fiscalía, in a joint operation with the Criminal Investigation Directorate and the Dijin unit of the National Police and Interpol. The authorities managed to capture and prosecute four alleged members of the network, while the alleged leader was located and arrested in Brazil, from where his extradition to Colombia is being processed.
According to the evidence collected by the accusing entity, the modus operandi of this structure consisted of creating fraudulent profiles on dating platforms and social networks. Through these false identities, members of the network contacted foreign men, established a virtual relationship, and convinced them to travel to Colombia with the promise of personal encounters.
Once in the country, the victims were summoned to hotels or tourist apartments, where they were drugged with substances that made them lose consciousness. In that state of helplessness, the criminals accessed their mobile phones and made unauthorized transfers of digital assets.
In What Other Ways Are Authorities Working to Make Medellín Safe for Tourists?
From the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police, several security improvements have been implemented for foreign visitors. Authorities emphasize that the effectiveness of these measures depends largely on practicing caution and moderation, using verified agencies for essential services such as transportation, and keeping family and friends informed about one’s whereabouts—especially when visiting tourist areas known for nightlife. Among these additional measures are:
Safe Tourist Corridor
This corridor, located in the city center, has 15 cameras and loudspeakers that broadcast security messages in several languages, connected to the 123 emergency system. In addition to the cameras, the project incorporates 18 additional cameras in various areas of the city, including El Poblado, Parque Lleras, Vía Primavera, La Candelaria, and Calle 70, among others.
The Mayor’s Office, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police, has ensured the presence of uniformed officers and intelligence agents to monitor and act upon any behavior that disrupts peaceful coexistence. This project will not only be a temporary measure but a permanent strategy.
District Tourism Security Committee
Medellín now has a Tourism Security Committee to work towards sustainable tourism and entertainment in the city, thanks to the collaboration of various departments aiming to ensure safe tourism for visitors.
The committee will advise on the district’s tourism security plans, policies, directives, and guidelines for crime prevention. Processes will be analyzed and adjusted on a monthly basis to manage visitor arrivals, prioritizing citizen coexistence.
Territorial Security and Coexistence Council
Last March, Laboratories 1 and 2 of the Modern Art Museum’s cultural center were packed with people interested in proposing, publicizing, and reporting some of the concerns affecting El Poblado residents, most of which related to security, mobility, and the environment, among others.
This initiative responds to the strategy implemented by the Medellín Mayor’s Office with the latest session of the Territorial Security and Coexistence Council before starting another round through the 16 communes and five corregimientos to stay informed about community needs affecting both locals and visitors.
To hear the community’s proposals, the authorities designated a commission composed of Manuel Villa Mejía, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Coexistence; Camilo Andrés Cano Montoya, Secretary of Citizen Participation, as well as high-ranking police officials, the Military Police Battalion, representatives from the SAC (Criminal Analysis Section) of the Prosecutor’s Office, the ICBF, and Juliana Coral, the manager of the Center and El Poblado.
Among the nearly 120 attendees, 20 people were selected to express various concerns related to an increase in insecurity, inadequate waste disposal, the functioning of security cameras, and mobility difficulties, among other aspects.
What Do Authorities Recommend to Keep Medellín Safer for Tourists?
Control of these tourist areas is a constant challenge for authorities, who face increasingly sophisticated criminal structures with various ways of operating. In this sense, collaboration between the Police, the Fiscalía General de la Nación, and the community has become a key factor in the prevention and prosecution of these crimes.
Constant vigilance and timely reporting are essential tools to maintain security in areas as crowded and tourist-heavy as El Poblado.
All the cases mentioned above, and even those from previous years, highlight the complexity of the criminal networks operating in Medellín. These networks are not limited to committing crimes but also involve accomplices within the city’s social and commercial fabric.
For this reason, authorities stress the importance of strengthening controls and establishing effective communication channels with both citizens and the tourism sector to detect and prevent new criminal activity. Timely reporting—by both locals and foreigners—is the best way to trigger a fast and decisive response that helps protect the city’s security.
Emergency Guides to Ensure Your Safety in Colombia
Safety in Colombia is a crucial concern for foreigners, and the country has made great strides in recent years to improve its security. The Emergency Directory Guides by Medellin Guru are an excellent resource for any foreigner visiting Colombia, offering peace of mind and ensuring that visitors are well-informed and prepared in an emergency.
Foreigners visiting Colombia are encouraged to download these guides and have them handy during their stay. With the help of these guides, visitors can enjoy their time in Colombia without worrying about their safety. The Colombia Emergency Directory and the Safety Guide for US Citizens in Colombia are testaments to the platform’s commitment to providing valuable information to its users and making their experience in Colombia as enjoyable and safe as possible.
Medellin Guru's safety and security series
Safety is the biggest concern of foreigners visiting Colombia or planning to move to Colombia. So, we have a series of 18 popular articles about safety and security in Colombia:
- Is Medellin Safe? U.S. Embassy Colombia Talks About Security for U.S. Citizens
- Emergency Directory Guides to Ensure Your Safety in Colombia
- Is Colombia Safe? Colombia Security and Safety Tips
- Is Medellín Safe? Medellín Security and Safety Tips
- How to Travel and Live in Colombia Safe as a Foreigner
- Colombia Travel Health Insurance: A Guide for Expats and Nomads
- How to Obtain 2 Years of Health Coverage for a Colombian Visa
- Migración Colombia alert: No entry for foreigners with Angel Watch reports
- What are the Safest Neighborhoods in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín: A Guide to Choosing a Neighborhood
- New Airbnb Policies for Hosts in Colombia
- Medellín Robbery: Expat Experience Being Robbed at Knifepoint
- Colombia Gun Laws: Is it Legal to Have a Gun in Colombia?
- Scopolamine: The Realities of Devil’s Breath in Colombia
- Colombia Protests: Tips for Foreigners to Stay Safe During Protests
- Is Bogotá Safe? Bogotá Security and Safety Tips
- Is Cartagena Safe? Cartagena Security and Safety Tips
- Is Cali Safe? Cali, Colombia Security and Safety Tips
- Is Santa Marta Safe? Santa Marta Security and Safety Tips
- Is Pereira Safe? Pereira, Colombia Security and Safety Tips
- Is Manizales Safe? Manizales Security and Safety Tips
- Is Bucaramanga Safe? Bucaramanga Security and Safety Tips
- Is Barranquilla Safe? Barranquilla Security and Safety Tips
The Bottom Line: How Authorities are Boosting Security to Make Medellín Safe for Tourists
In summary, the actions of the police, coordinated with the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, the Attorney General’s Office, and intelligence agencies, send a clear message that the authorities are vigilant and taking action against criminal structures that threaten security in Medellín—especially in tourist areas, which are key drivers of the city’s economy and culture. Authorities urge the community to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement to ensure the well-being of both visitors and residents in the capital of Antioquia.
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