Colombia militarizes Santa Marta amid wave of narco violence

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered the militarization of the city of Santa Marta this Tuesday, September 22, 2026. According to the portal AlbertoNews, the measure responds to an escalation of violence that includes attacks on merchants and the burning of vehicles, triggered by military operations against the criminal group Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada.

During the day, several areas of the Caribbean city awoke deserted due to the unrest. According to AlbertoNews reports, the Colombian president warned in a video statement that "whoever does not submit will be taken down," confirming that the order to militarize the town is already under way to contain the situation.

The wave of violence has paralyzed local economic activity. According to the newspaper Valora Analitik, merchants in Santa Marta have chosen to keep their businesses closed in the face of direct threats from the group, which has paramilitary origins, leaving the supply and commercial activity of the area in limbo.

In the coming days, it will be necessary to watch how effective the military deployment is in restoring public order and allowing commercial premises to reopen safely, in a city whose dynamism depends heavily on trade and tourism.