De La Espriella Carries Gun in 600,000-Person Santa Marta as Gang Shutdown Follows Leader's Killing
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 25
De La Espriella Carries Gun in 600,000-Person Santa Marta as Gang Shutdown Follows Leader's Killing
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 25
Summary
Santa Marta — population about 600,000 — was effectively shut down after the Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada ordered residents and businesses to halt daily activity through the end of the week.
President De La Espriella then made a surprise visit to the Caribbean city, appearing in a government video in military green with a handgun on his hip as troops patrolled the emptied streets.
The shutdown followed a wave of violence triggered by Colombian forces' killing of a high-ranking leader of the criminal group, which also set vehicles on fire to project control.
The gun-toting appearance fits De La Espriella's aggressive, highly online anti-cartel campaign, as the Trump administration pushes Latin American governments to treat armed traffickers as terrorists.