Butifarra vendors are the new target of extortion in Soledad, Atlántico

In recent weeks, butifarreros have been the target of threats from men who appear to be members of a criminal structure – credit Colprensa

Extortion in Soledad, Atlántico is a problem that affects the security and stability of many merchants. This type of crime is usually perpetrated by criminal gangs that demand regular payments in exchange for “protection” or to avoid violent reprisals.

The scourge of extortion is beginning to spread to small business owners, who in this municipality make a living preparing and selling the traditional sausage called butifarra.

The newspaper El Heraldo confirmed with various sources and merchants, who asked to remain anonymous, that in recent weeks butifarreros have been the target of threats from men who appear to be members of a criminal structure, forcing them to give them a sum of money – either monthly or weekly – to allow them to continue with their work. This, at the same time, with the number of establishments (barber shops, stores, among others) that closed their doors for the same reasons.

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“The truth is that the situation is quite complicated, it seems that there are no authorities in Soledad. They extort us and even those who sell red wine,” said several merchants in the center of the municipality.

According to merchants, these alleged criminals have usually requested up to $2,000,000 million pesos per month in cash from some of the owners of establishments where butifarra is sold.

“We are waiting for the authorities to try to deal with the situation. People feel insecure and distrustful. Nothing is happening here, more and more businesses are closing. Many of us are trying to make progress, but it is no longer possible. They think that this will bring in millions, but it is not so. We lend, we take money from here and there to support ourselves. Soon we may not even be able to eat,” complained one of the vendors.

“We prefer not to talk regarding it for the safety of each one. The issue is so worrying that we cannot continue to grow, or make publicity, because of that same fear. I know people close to me who have been contacted by several people from numbers that are unknown to us,” he added.

The scourge of extortion is beginning to spread to small businesses – credit Luisa González/REUTERS

Apparently, the modus operandi is to charge them once. If they refuse, they end up being robbed and those owners are then contacted by the alleged thieves. “The return of the vehicle can cost up to four million pesos.”

“I am a businessman and I have seen how old businesses end up closing. The anti-kidnapping and anti-extortion police only came here once, more than a month ago. They have not given us the support we should have,” added a resident.

On Friday, April 5, 2024, Wilson Alfonso Luna Pérez, alias Cocuán, a hitman and extortionist from ‘los Costeños’, accused of murdering a gas station worker for not paying a ‘vaccine’, was captured in Barranquilla.

In the midst of hearings to legalize the arrest and bring charges, the Prosecutor’s Office revealed witness testimonies, ballistic analysis, and photographic and video records, which reveal the extortion methods of the criminal group led by Jorge Eliécer Díaz Collazos, alias Castor.

The deceased victim was identified as Jorge Armando Molinares Malvido, who was shot dead in October 2023 at his workplace, where Cocuán arrived on a motorcycle with another accomplice to collect extortion.

Alias ​​Cocuán murdered a worker at a gas station in Barranquilla – credit: Barranquilla Police

During the hearing before the 14th Municipal Criminal Judge with functions of guarantee control, the prosecutor in charge of the case presented the details of the events that occurred on October 25, 2023. The evidence presented described how Molinares Malvido was carrying out his work schedule at the San Antonio Service Station, in the southeast of Barranquilla, when he was approached and subsequently attacked with shots by Luna Pérez and a companion.

A witness said that the victim tried to resist the demand for money, at which point one of the attackers threatened to shoot him if he did not agree to hand over the requested amount.

“An eyewitness said that the victim struggled with the two people. He even heard one of them say: hand over the money, are you going to get yourself killed?… That same person also said: do you think this gun is fake?… I’m going to shoot you and then he fired,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.

According to the investigation, the motive for the attack arose from a demand for payment by the attackers, allegedly related to previous extortions carried out from prison by two leaders of ‘los Costeños’, identified under the aliases of Ojeda and Cachete.