Gagged and tortured. What is happening to foreigners in Laureles?
The popular district of Laureles has experienced a recent string of violent events occurring to foreigners. With a clear pattern emerging, police fear this may indicate a new method of robbery within the city.
By Kaveh Paymayesh
In less than 24 hours, two foreigners in Medellin were found to have been violently subdued & robbed in their hotels located within Comuna 11, otherwise known as the Laureles-Estadio area.
Unfortunately, of the two separate incidents, one victim was killed whilst the other was left with “serious” injuries.
The first victim
An Australian national was restrained in his hotel room, located in San Joaquin, Laureles.
The victim had solicited a meetup which was mediated online.
Although the Australian’s possessions were stolen, his life was spared, despite enduring both a physical and psychological beating by the assailants.
San Joaquin is a popular neighbourhood among tourists and is situated a few blocks from La 70; a prominent street known for its nightlife and restaurants.
Through the implementation of CCTV, police have been able visualize the entry of two assailants into the hotel, where they would then beat and rob the aforementioned victim. Police hope that the footage obtained will be enough to result in an eventual arrest.
The second victim
This incident took place in the neighbourhood of La Castellana, located in the south-western area of Laureles.
Date: 15/02/2022 – Tuesday.
The second victim has been identified as a 38-year-old Venezuelan-Colombian, named Sahmir Javier González Sarmiento.
The Venezuelan national was found lifeless in his hotel room with his hands and feet bound. A sheet was wrapped around his neck in addition to blade injuries inflicted on his body.
Police have indicated that the male, just before his death, had likely coordinated an intimate meetup via a mobile application. Specific details have not been confirmed but authorities have implied it was either/similar to Tinder.
Furthermore, witnesses purport to have seen the victim entering the hotel, accompanied by two other men. Consequently, despite evading capture, they are assumed to be involved in the crime.
According to Colonel Rolfy Jiminez, “After soliciting sexual services on the internet, a number of individuals entered the building of residence, then muzzled the victim before beating him. Apparently (we think that), through suffocation, the victim was left without signs of life”.
This is a rough translation of the public announcement made by Coronel Jiminez, of the Metropolitan Police of the Aburra Valley.
Additional details provided by Infobae claim that the victim was discovered not by hotel staff, but by his partner, who had grown anxious about his inactivity.
Video can be found here:
My thoughts
Firstly, I send my condolences to both victims. Sahmir Javier González Sarmiento, may you rest in peace.
Clearly, a pattern is emerging whereby those pursuing women, especially through online means, are growing more susceptible to danger.
It appears that as the demand for sexual tourism grows, so too do the number of violent incidents associated with it.
As I’ve said in my article on Tinder, dating apps can spell trouble, if not disaster. Men are very vulnerable in the pursuit of sex.
Concerningly, authorities have shared that there are gangs in Medellin dedicated to the growing use of these apps, such as Tinder. There are malignant delinquents out there that see this as a business operation. And the prevalence of these events is likely to coincide with the growth of sexual tourism.
These incidents, happening within almost immediate succession, took place in one of the most touristic & protected regions of the city. It just goes to show that giving papaya in Colombia is very risky, regardless of the safeguards implemented by the police. When it comes to risky endeavours, your safety is in your hands, as it always has and will be.
Does this mean you should be worried? Not necessarily. Again, the most salient detail is that both victims were soliciting women, thus exposing themselves to risk.
This comes less than a week after another foreigner, a Canadian citizen, was found dead with a bloodied nose whilst in a jacuzzi. Guess where? Laureles. Again, rest in peace.
What this reaffirms is that being reckless is particularly risky in Medellin. Perhaps, even more so in Laureles.
As a reader has pointed out, those particularly vulnerable are those ignorant of the dangers that loom. Under the euphoric spell that one feels when arriving in Medellin, it’s hard to anticipate such a harrowing circumstance.
Stay safe out there!
Disclaimer: All information in this article has been sourced from content in the two videos provided in the article. Courtesey of Noticias Caracol & Hora 13 Noticias.
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