A Mexican tourist was express kidnapped Saturday afternoon shortly after arriving in Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast.
The young man was reportedly sightseeing in the city’s Historic Center when he was approached by six armed assailants.
The gang forced the victim to walk to a nearby ATM and withdraw four million pesos ($907).
Before fleeing, the assailants also stole the victim’s chain necklace.
The victim had only been in Cartagena for five hours prior to the incident.
Cartagena in recent months has experienced an increase in street crime—to include petty thefts, armed robberies and express kidnappings. Many take place in the Historic Center.
Gangs routinely prey on tourists, who are assumed to be carrying cash and valuables and are considered easy pickings.
A Hungarian tourist was express kidnapped on 28 October shortly after arriving at Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena.
The victim requested a ride to the trendy Getsemani district through a rideshare app, which was accepted by an English-speaking individual.
During the trip, the assailant and an accomplice in the vehicle deviated from the planned route and drove to the impoverished San Francisco neighborhood, just southwest of the airport.
Once in the slum, the assailants demanded one million pesos ($231) to complete the trip.
The victim was driven to several ATMs and forced to withdraw cash, though the majority of the money taken was electronically transferred using a card reader.
The assailants eventually dropped the victim off in Getsemani, where he reported the incident to police.
Police later arrested the two assailants following a brief search of the area.
In the morning on 4 June, an Israeli tourist who had just arrived in Cartagena was express kidnapped after summoning a ride through a digital app.
The victim entered the vehicle just outside of the airport. After traveling a few blocks, two assailants forced their way into the vehicle and placed him under duress.
He was driven to a nearby ATM from which he was forced to withdraw cash.
After the stop at the ATM, the assailants abandoned the victim in the neighborhood of Bocagrande, where he was able to alert a nearby police patrol. The police quickly cordoned off the area and were able to locate and arrest the three assailants.
Police seized 3 million pesos ($721). The car’s driver was a willing participant in the express kidnapping.
Visitors to Colombia’s Caribbean coast should undertake pedestrian activity only in daylight and only in areas known to them and reputed to be safe. Insofar as possible, they should move about in groups. Certainly, remote beaches should be visited only in groups led by locals familiar with the area and its problems.
Pedestrian excursions in Cartagena and elsewhere on the Caribbean coast should be undertaken without conspicuous jewelry and with cell phones hidden.
It is best to best to get around by car, but on weekends it is impossible to navigate Cartagena’s Historic Center by vehicle, so those who wish to go there must walk. It is unwise to undertake pedestrian activity in the Historic Center after 2200.
It is unwise to resist assailants, who almost always are armed and are prepared to use their weapons.
Due to the risks of robbery and express kidnapping, street taxis should never be used, even in traveling to and from the airport.
Risks from Rafael Nunez International Airport are such that freshly landed travelers should arrange secure transportation through their company or an independent security service.
The next best alternative is to arrange a hotel pickup. Hotels should provide visitors with the names and photos of assigned drivers in advance.
Visitors should never accept rides from individuals claiming to be transportation providers who approach them in airport arrival areas.
Uber and other ride-hailing services should not be utilized anywhere in Colombia due to the poor screening practices of drivers.
Hotel taxis also should be used for excursions around town.
