One hundred thirty-six alleged members of the Los Urabeños or La Empresa gangs have been arrested during the past six weeks, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said recently.
Santos, speaking in the city of Buenaventura in the department of Valle del Cauca, said a murder hadn’t been committed in the country’s biggest Pacific port city in the past 19 days.
The government has invested US$100 million in social programs in Buenaventura to improve security. Santos also recently added 24 permanent positions with the Prosecutor General’s Office to help victims of crimes get restitution.
Santos said 73 of the suspects allegedly are members of the Los Urabeños, while 63 allegedly are part of La Empresa.
[Colombia Reports (Colombia), 05/04/2014; El Espectador (Colombia), 04/04/2014; Presidency of Colombia (Colombia), 04/04/2014]
