Gents,
I figured I'd start a thread of safety concerns for Medellin. Keep in mind I have been to Medellin before twice and only have seen 1 mugging and 1 roberry out of the whole two weeks of time I have been spent there. I don't knock Medellin nor dislike Medellin. I personally don't have any issues visiting because I am street smart and grew up in gang land (Los Angeles). This is simply for people who are not street smart and need guidance and tips of what not to do, or simply not go if they cant hang. The report below was captured from another web monger site. The author is Hoof Hunter. Enjoy!!!




Gringo shot in Medellin in June 2006 - ATM-related

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Really surprised that no one posted this yet, considering everyone's dying to go to Medellin. LOL!!! This story is from the actual victim. Take whatever you want out of it, but just remember, it could've been any one of you here. Medellin is not as safe as some of you seem to be lured into believing by staying in Poblado. This dude was shot in Poblado.


http://www.worldlovecollege.com/Mes...141&ParentID=0;

I am writing this with the good news first. I am out of the hospital after a stay of less than 96 hours and am in stable condition, all things considered. Que paso? I got to star in my own movie as lead character. Here is what happened.

I did the wrong thing, at the wrong place, at the wrong time...

I have decided to write this in order to answer some of the blood and guts questions which I have started to receive. On Monday, June 12, 2006, I was returning home in a taxi. I had spent the day running errands, in particular attempting to get cash advances and ATM withdrawals from a bank as part of getting my money together to buy a condo here. The bank branch where I usually stop in would not give me as large a cash advance as they might otherwise, so the always-friendly woman at the side desk wrote down the address of another branch where I could go to get another cash advance. One of the advantages of that other branch is that they have late hours. I got a cash advance and then got something to eat. At 7:20pm I grabbed a taxi and went home. The taxi had nearly arrived at the apartment where I am staying. There is a construction area nearby which had forced the taxi to stop, and make a hard left turn before proceeding up a hill. It was getting dark and I had trouble seeing very well. At 7:27pm, just seconds after the taxi started to proceed, I saw through the left-side rear taxi window a man running around crazily, apparently agitated and and waiving around a gun. I could not understand what the man was yelling in Spanish, and I froze up and didn't know what to do. I was also not completely sure at the time if he was yelling at me, maybe he was yelling at the taxi driver instead. (Later, the taxi driver claimed the gunman had said "Give me your money, you son of a *****, all of it, or I will kill the two of you.") It was a surreal moment and I had trouble comprehending the meaning of the gun I was looking at. My first reaction could have been to move toward the left-side rear taxi window and find out what the man wanted. But I didn't move. I just sat there for one split-second too long.

The next thing I knew was there was an explosion and the entire window disintegrated into hundreds of pieces onto the car seat next to me. A bullet had been shot in a downward trajectory at the window. Because I had shifted my body slightly to the left instead of straight ahead, the bullet missed my left leg. Immediately the calf of my right leg was hurting terribly and I could feel it badly swelling up. I didn't know how badly I was hit but I knew that if I didn't lose consciousness quickly, and if I could feel all my body parts, then that was a good sign. I reached into my pocket and pulled out $200 worth of pesos. I reached over to my left and handed it through the now-missing window. I did this all without speaking. The man grabbed the money out of my hand and disappeared. Both the taxi driver and I froze in shock for a few seconds. The taxi driver had closed his eyes, and when he heard the gunshot he thought I was already dead. My biggest fear was not about my leg, it was that the man was going to get into the taxi with me and have me empty my pockets, kidnap us to another location, or just finish what he started with another bullet. I waited an awkward moment and surprisingly nothing happened. I yelled at the taxi driver to hurry and drive forward. In the one minute period drive to my apartment I called three friends on my cellphone. I finally reached somebody on the third attempt. My friend Juan answered. I cried, "I have been shot, I am bleeding all over the place, this is no joke! What should I do?" He directed me to a nearby hospital, and met me there 5 minutes after I arrived. The taxi driver drove like a madman to the clinic and was honking at everybody in heavy traffic and I was afraid of another accident. "Ten cuidado! Ten cuidado!" (Be careful, be careful!) Things quickly stabilized after I arrived. I looked down at my right leg and saw two holes, one just below and to the left of the knee where the bullet went in, and the one lower down on the other side where the bullet came out. The bullet made a hole 7 inches long, just missing the knee where it entered and the shin bone where it exited. Xrays quickly determined that I had no broken bones. The bullet had missed two arteries by a quarter inch but broke another one. The following afternoon maybe 18 hours later surgery was done to try to repair the damage and sew me up.

On the one hand, on the other hand...

Had freezing up in the taxi gotten me shot? I don't know. Had I reached over to the window to roll it down, I might have taken the bullet in the head instead. On one hand, if I had not shifted my knees to the left and towards the shooter, I would probably have gotten bullet holes in both legs instead of just one. On the other hand, had the shooter aimed just inches in either direction the bullet would have missed my body completely. Still, if the man had worse aim, or wanted to kill me, I would be dead now. For a person with a bullet hole, I was told I got off really easy. A lot of much worse things could have happened.

The real pain and suffering was due to boredom laying there in the hospital...

I have gotten a lot of support from everybody. The nurses came into the room every 30 or 60 minutes around the clock for 3 days. I got help with everything except getting enough sleep. For 4 days in the hospital and in the days that would follow, everything I did had to be performed with only one useable leg. I got to watch all the TV I wanted, including shows and movies with people running around shooting each other with guns. By Thursday night I was going crazy. The nurses would switch veins each day because the IV fluid stopped flowing properly. Finally, another nurse had trouble and started probing with her needle for a better entry point. It hurt like hell. I told her "This is my body. I have already had a hole put through me before, now you want to put another hole into me and your %#@*&! needle is hurting me. I will take a pill, but I will not accept any more needles!" She complied, and in an hour I started on oral antibiotics and didn't use the IV again. I was getting my "fight" back. I knew my time in the hospital was coming to an end and they agreed to let me go early. Today, Friday, just hours ago, I was released and went home. The medical bill? $2,700. Had this been the USA it would have been $15,000 or more. I don't know how long it will be before I can use my right leg and walk normally, but it will happen. It will be weeks or months before I can walk and months before the pain goes away. Right now it is bandaged up, and cramped all the time, and I cannot use it yet. I am beginning to use a wheelchair. I am just happy to be back in my apartment where I can access the "real world" of the Internet and telephones and can eat what I want. I have started on a hundred unread emails.

On the way back home I had to pass the scene of the crime. I couldn't see any evidence of the shooting. Most of the glass ended up inside the taxi and not on the ground. I wanted to see the exact spot where it happened, and face the horror of it once and for all. My life was not spared because the shooter had some great respect for humanity. It's like I have walked away from a fatal train wreck with only a scratch. And yet, so easily this could have all ended up completely different and this email would not have been written. At least, not with this version of events. It is good to be alive. Life is short and fragile. Enjoy it.


The above was written exactly 96 hours after the "special moment".

Addendum, July 7 - miscellaneous notes

- Does this change my attitude about being in Colombia. Not much, but it does make me realize the danger of combining "higher risk activities" like banking with going to a more dangerous location and doing so after dark. Had I done only one or two of these things, nothing would have happened. I did all three at the same time.

- This could happen anywhere. 2 weeks later my friend in San Jose, California was robbed at gunpoint - also at night.

- People ask me does it hurt. Not too much, unless I try to exercise, move around in the wheelchair, get physical therapy, or stand upright.

- The gunman was part of a two-person motorcycle team. I never saw the motorcycle or its driver. The gunman wore a helmut. Apparently I had been watched and followed after leaving the bank.

- After the shooting the left pocket of my jacket was found to be full of glass.

- The taxi driver recovered the bullet lodged in a seat.

- Until I can get my heel stretched enough so that it will touch the ground when my toes do I won't be able to walk normally.

- I am using every treatment modality possible to heal faster.

- Vicodin (for pain) seems impossible to find in Colombia. Difficulties getting satisfactory pain medication quickly was therefore the only substandard part of my medical treatment experience. After research and various delays I started on Oxycontin about 11 days after leaving the hospital.


Some clarifications and responses regarding the shooting

1. I was followed after doing banking at Centro Comercial Del Sur, not El Centro. I was followed into Poblado.

2. I agree with HEAT that this event would have been less likely to happen if all citizens of Colombia (or any country) were armed or had the right to be armed. A gunman would have to think twice about when somebody would defend themselves and fight back. Here there was and is no such fear. Every person has the unequivocal moral and human right to defend themselves against clear threats to their life.

3. HOWEVER, I agree with Pete that having a gun in this particular situation could well have escalated events into a fatal gunfight. I was up against a professional criminal who had the element of surprise, the darkness, and a partner on his side. This situation was better to be avoided rather than have a test of my gun skills versus the other [two] person's in this situation.

4. My leg looks relatively okay visually, but this is deceptive. The damage and inflamation are mostly on the inside where you cannot see it. The entire area below the wound all the way to my heel is painful to the touch. I engage in ongoing daily battles with my leg to reduce inflamation and improve motion. The biggest problem is there is damage or problems with the tendons such that my foot won't lay flat on the ground; it won't lay flat in a 90 degree angle to my lower leg. I have to tug on my foot with force just to get it to do 30% of what it used to do (bend up). And I don't quite understand why yanking on rock-hard tendons is supposed to be good for those tendons. Obviously I need somebody to explain to me the physiology. I need to resolve this situation so I can walk again.

5. Obviously I need moral support.

That's it for now.

(Message edited by cazadorez on July 13, 2006)

Here is another posting, this is from author Gonzo.
I just got back from my first two-week trip to Colomobia, spending about 4 days in Medellin. Though I didn't have any safety issues whatsoever, in that time:

- A gringo was kidnapped outside of Medellin by Rio Cauca by the FARC

- A guy who was staying in Robert's Castillo mansion was held up at gunpoint late at night in el centro. He was wearing a gold chain around his neck.

- The sister of former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria was killed on Thursday during an apparent attempt to kidnap her.

- A person was robbed by a motorcyle duo coming out of the airport in an airport designated taxi.


-Avgrenade was thrown at the table of 4 guys that were having lunch (two guys died) in El Centro, it was a Paramilitary thing, not involving Gringos. Its a power struggle or turf war between different Para groups.

Running around with a bunch of money is stupid no matter where you go.

On my first trip, I had $1000 USD in travelers checks. I cashed them in at a bank in the Oviedo mall. I was walking around with wads of bills. Not a smart thing, but I went back to the Mansion and put most of it in my safe right away.

I didn't go to the bank at night (stupid) and I didn't flash my money around (stupid). So in short, no matter where this guy was in the city, he screwed up.

I would agree that Medellin isn't the safest place in the worlds but it is reasonably safe if you take precautions.

But if this story keeps a few gringos away from my slice of heaven, that is great!

On poorbuthappy.com, a grenade was thrown in Restaurant Metropolis killing 2 and injuring 13.

Was walking around the streets with one of the veterans one night around the San Diego strip club.

I did notice two guys following us but did not give it enough attention as the guy I was with suggested we cross the street. The guys followed us, so my new best friend jumped in front of a cab (there were'nt many) and we jumped in. The guys turned around and left. My new best friend suggested that we were on the verge of getting robbed.

Wow, walking around the streets at night near the San Diego club.

Unless you have a lot of people, that was really dumb.

I hope you learned your lesson. I go from cab to destination, then back in the cab to home. I do that in San Francisco, New York, LA, why would Medellin be any different.

I thought the area around San Diego was'nt too bad as long as you kept your wits about you. With your back to San Diego, looking out, if you go two blocks into that area, I understand that it is very dangerous. Anyhow, I was with a friend of Cubanut's named "W" who had done it before.

I dunno, maybe it was stupid, but I only drove it with other guys, "W" seemed to know what he was doing. In hindsight, even some of the cabbies were nervous about some of it, when we drove it at other times.

Next time you'll know better. No place outside Poblado is safe walking around at night.

"No place outside Poblado is safe walking around at night."

That's not quite correct, but you might get your nuts cut off trying to find the other places. There are some other large areas in MDE proper that are safe at night: Avenida Junin, Laureles, Estadio, and many more.

Outside of the city, Envigado and Sabaneta are quite safe.

Actually thats true, it just that if you are not familiar with those areas, you can wander into a bad area quick.

I actually think it is more dangerous in big cities like La and Detroit etc in Usa. I am living here in Medellin and have been traveling here often last few years. I have walked around by myself at night. Used Atm numerous times, hit clubs all over Medellin including far away cities like Bello. When I go out at night its usually with at least one friend, I think having a buddy with you will help you out wherever you travel. Obviously there a a few incidents here in Medellin, compare that to the nightly shooting deaths in Los Angeles. Difference here is that someone may try to rob you for your money. In the States they just kill you for no reason, or worse look at Colombine or other mass murders. You just dont see that in the third world. I know allot of guys down here would love the word to get out that medellin is not safe. It is just not true any more. The violence from the Farc and the like as well as Pablo Escobar types is in the past You will have to read your history books now or turn to the cine for the old Medellin this is the new. By the way this place is booming as far as construction in real estate. Appreciation high for last few years. I am sure allot of that has to do with the New Vibe here in Medellin.

According to the official Medellin web sight crime in Medellin is lower then that experienced by a number of American cities including Dallas and Washington and is low by SA standards as well. I will be there in May and feel safer already.

I guess that your name says it all.

"In the States they just kill you for no reason, or worse look at Colombine or other mass murders. You just dont see that in the third world." Try leaving Poblado.

There are some people who believe that Colombia will be ruined by tourists. I am not one of them. Having lived and loved here for 5 years, I believe that tourism will bring needed capital to the country.

I welcome guests but will never tell them that Colombia is safer than any place in the US. The dangers here are different. And life is a lot cheaper here than it is in any first-world country.

Safe is in the eye of the beholder. Ask any Colombian that you know well about safety. They will tell you that things are a lot better. Spend some time out and about with them and you will find that they are constantly thinking about safety, even today. Things are pretty good for some of them now. They know how to think in Colombia and know what to watch for. No extranjero knows that. Nor do I.

Ten cuidado, por favor.

Hey Tomtom33

I live in South Africa, so I know exactly what you mean. I am one of the few people who considers Rio a safe holiday spot! Then I travel I miss carrying my 45 colt.

Medellin Mongers Beware! cut and pasted from another group! There seems to be some validity to this story!

Social Cleaning has Started!
Over the last few days the mafia in Medellin has been handing out pamphlets saying they plan on killing anyone out on the streets after 10:00pm. They specifically mention they will kill prostitutes and their clients.

Obviously this shit will not happen in areas like Poblado but all you poor whitetrash who think Majorista is the place to be might soon find a bullet in your head.

I think we need to start a death-pool. My bets are on that Frank guy who is pimping down in Majorista. As several people on this forum have pointed out it is only a matter of time until the locals get tired of the gringo trash in Medellin. That time has come.

Here is the full article:

A pamphlet, spread in a large number of Medellín neighborhoods, threatens its authors will soon carry out a social cleansing of call-girls, strippers, prostitutes and their clients and imposed a 10PM curfew on people in certain neighborhoods.

The warning, that began to be circulated in the poor neighborhood of Moravia on Thursday, later appeared in many other neighborhoods in different parts of Colombia's second largest city. So far, people from eight neighborhoods on both the east, northeast, west and northwest of the city, confirmed having received the pamphlets.

The letter, signed by a previously unknown group called Ogdis, warns parents not to let their children on the street after 10 PM, because the group "will not take responsibility if innocent people die". People found in strip-clubs or places where there are prostitutes after 10PM "are lowlifes and bad men" and will be socially cleansed too, the group writes.

The group specifically focuses its threats on call-girls and prostitutes because they "have infected many with AIDS. "

The pamphlet announces the group will start its social cleansing "very soon" and apologizes "to society if innocent people die. "

The announcement of the upcoming social cleansing came one day after local authorities announced rigid security measures to curb soaring violence and because of the upcoming summit of the Inter-American Development Bank that will be held in Medellín from March 27 until March 31.

Medellín has seen a sharp rise in murders after the extradition of bosses of the demobilized AUC. Rumors say the 'Aguilas Negras', a group allegedly aligned with assumed drug lord Don Mario, has been violently taking control of neighborhoods that were previously under control of the Convivir, a collection of militias that collaborated with authorities, and the so-called Office of Envigado, that consists of former members of the AUC.

Sobe9Ball has something here - this story is reported on some regular news sites and is discussed on 'non-hobby' blogs in both English & Spanish.

The leaflet stuff is apparently only about a week or so old - no follow-up reports on whether any violence or harassment has been linked to the threats. I wonder how the girls in various areas take this news?

What about the high-profile gringo crews at MM and such?

...just in time for my first visit.

Well, I can't think of a better way to get guys to use my hookers and drink in my clubs than to threaten to kill anyone I see who is whoring and/or drinking outside of one of my clubs.

Again, cut and paste from another group!

Social Cleaning Update
I always get a laugh when I hear stupid gringos talking about safety issues in Colombia when they usually have no idea what the fuck they are talking about.

First, the government in Medellin is taking the social cleaning threat VERY seriously. The idiots here who are talking about how safe Mayorista and Central are must be smarter than the Medellin government and the Medellin police force.

Last night all the poor areas of the city had machine gun carrying police on every single corner. I know someone who lives in one of these areas and she said it looked like a war zone with so many police. This threat of social cleaning is REAL and is being treated as REAL by all aspects of law enforcement in Medellin. Do not let some stupid gringo tell you otherwise.

Second, I saw a copy of one of the pamphlets. It SPECIFICALLY states that prostitutes and their clients will be KILLED if they are on the street after 10:00pm. It continues to state that the clients of prostitutes are BAD MEN. That means YOU guys are BAD MEN. It means YOU GUYS are targeted. Do not fool yourselves. It is all about YOU guys.

No one in Medellin gives a shit about someone calling a prepago to their place in Poblado. But people are sick and tired of seeing street *****s all over the city. The social cleaning is going to take place in the concentrated areas like Mayorista and Central. This is guaranteed.

Now that an announcement has been made they are going to have to follow through in order to show they are serious. I suspect they will do some sort of drive-by shooting in Majorista or perhaps plant a bomb in one of the bars. They will do something fast and efficient in order to send the largest possible message and still get away. Also, you can be ASSURED that when the bullets start flying that the police on the street are going to be looking the other way. None of the bad guys are ever going to be caught. Remember, this IS Medellin. Never forget where you are.

As I said yesterday, it is time to start a dead-pool. My bets are on Frank or one of his clients. Who else is in?

Frank! One thing, I have been meaning to ask you, what is, your level, of education! ? I mean, you write, so, well, I guess so bad, that I, just have to ask? ! There is, no need, to write, like you do, if you went to, at least, level 5, in school. I find, what you write, hard to read!

Continued!

There is something else I forgot to put in my other report. The Medellin government has put a new law into effect that prohibits two males on a motorcycle at night time. You can have a female passenger on the motorcycle but not another man.

The reason they put this law into effect is to prevent drive-by killings. The common method to kill someone in Medellin is for two guys to drive up on a motorcycle. The guy on the back then pulls out a sub-machine gun and kills the victim.

The government is so concerned about violence right now in Medellin that they have taken this measure of banning all men on the backs of motorcycles. I would say this shows exactly how serious things are becoming.

I am sure some gringo is going to jump in here to explain how safe Majorista and Central are. But remember Colombians themselves will not go into these areas at night time. Smart Colombians think these areas are dangerous but dumb gringos think they are safe. Remember where the fuck you are.

I am not trying to put anyone off from coming to Colombia. The nice areas of Colombia are completely safe and great to visit. But it would seem many on ISG go to only the worst areas to save some money. What you seek is eventually going to turn on you, and when it does, you will not have a second chance. If you are poor then go to Thailand where things are safe for poor gringos but stay away from the ghettos of Medellin like Majorista and Central if you want to live.

On Sunday, Feb 22, I left for the airport in the afternoon. During the 10 miles stretch preceding the airport, I began to notice an armed soldier every 1/4 mile. Not sure why...maybe VIP in transit that afternoon, but it would be nice if others report similar sightings or worthy legitimate news. I bring this up because I have been there many times and just do not remember seeing this before. Frankly, I prefer to see armed presence as it promotes safety. Many Americans freak out even though it is much more common now in the US, especially in airports.

ok, I just googled Medellin "Social Cleaning" and got nada.

Nice way to scare mongers and total horseshit. Just come right out and say that you are trying to cleanse mongers from going to Medellin.

Not sure if those are empty threats or not...will find out next week when I'm on the streets of mde.

Heard about theses pamphlets last week from a friend living down in there. Not sure if the threats are real or not, but from the article, I recognized those hills and am concerned.

I was once restricted by machine gun armed police to go up those hills to meet girls that wallstreet knew. I did manage to get up there during the daytime with my sg friend and it's ghetto. If I knew who to post pics, I'd post some I took from the area.

http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/3062-outlaw-group-impose-curfew-on-medellin-neighborhoods.html

As far as airport safety, the kidnappings and muggings coming in and out of mde airport are a real threat.

(Message edited by socrates69 on March 05, 2009)

We had a similar thing in South Africa years ago, any white women court with a black guy…do I have to write the rest? It turned out to be a bunch of teenagers. I am not saying that we shouldn’t take these kinds of threats seriously and it’s good to see that the police and army are flexing their muscles but I don’t think we should over react either. I am heading to Colombia in May and I am not running to change my plans.

ACTUAL cut and paste OF THE actual FLYER! gotten from another group!



LLEGO LA HORA DE LA LIMPIEZA SOCIAL

AHORA LE TOCA EL TURNO A LAS MALPARIDAS PUTAS BASUQUERAS Y SIDOSAS,
VENDEDORES DE DROGAS, LADRONES CALLEJEROS Y APARTAMENTEROS, JALADORES DE
CARROS, SECUESTRADORES Y JOVENES CONSUMIDORES

YA LOS TENEMOS IDENTIFICADOS

Para el pueblo en general, Ustedes han notado una creciente de la violencia, robos o atracos, prostitucion y
consumo de droga… etc. en los últimos tiempos, debido a todo esto nuestra organización ha tomado la
irrevocable decisión de atacar la violencia con VIOLENCIA.

Ya no van a contagiar de SIDA a nadie más, solamente a los gusanos.
Tienen las horas contadas, todas las putas de los bares y cantinas y las malparidas prepagos.
Han contagiado a mucha gente de SIDA. Prepárense HIJUEPUTAS…!

Todo malparido que se encuentre en estos bares después de las 10:00 PM no responderemos si caen inocentes.
Este más con su familia.

Jóvenes, no los queremos ver en las esquinas parchados drogándose, estamos en limpieza esto es serio. No
consuma droga, estudie mas y esté con sus padres reciban sus consejos y los buenos ejemplos. Esto esta
PODRIDO.

Vendedores de Drogas, últimamente se esta creciendo el negocio de hasta vender droga en las esquinas, ya no
mas, métanse esa droga por el CULO ARRIBA, no mas

Ladronzuelos, dejen trabajar a la sociedad. Pilas que están PILLADOS…. JUICIO O MUERTE; USTED LO
DECIDE… YA TENEMOS UNA LISTA DE BARRIDO INICIAL.

La organización lo ha decidido así, esta limpieza se necesita.

Empezaremos muy pronto, le pedimos perdón a la sociedad si caen inocentes.
ESTO ES SOLO POR UNOS MESES

SEÑOR PADRE DE FAMILIA ESTE MAS CON SUS HIJOS, NO SEA UNO DE ELLOS LOS QUE CAIGA
EN ESTA LIMPIEZA… DIALOGEN.

Ogdis.

Si Usted encuentra esta hoja, sáquele varias copias y repártalas a los amigos, vecinos, o a un familiar suyo que
no caigan por no enterarse.

La organización no puede entregar esta hoja en cada casa, por eso pedimos su colaboración.

I have been living on the streets of MDE for better than 2 years now. This is no joke.

However, if you use common sense, you can still enjoy MDE. I have no plans to move any time soon.

im going to medellin to stay with a friend who has been living there over a year , and he told me that its true but nothing to worry about

Dont get Drugged!

Be careful about inviting girls to your apt, hotel that you just met. Guys have been drugged, and robbed of everything when they finally snap out of it the following day or two. I heard of a colombian guy that was at Mongos. A girl was smiling at him, he invited her over. They started kissing. She excused herself to the bathroom and came back to the table. She let him suck on her boobs and that is the last thing he remembers. She had placed a strong drug on her tits. He lost his car and everything on him and was placed in a cheap hotel downtown. I have heard of gringos drugged also. It is always with a girl they just met. Remember these poor girls here are dangerous. They often are working with guy and looking for targets. Just dont be so trusting of everyone you meet is my advice. Especially prostitutes you meet in the street or a bar.....