Is Medellin Safe? Crime and safety in Medellin - 2022

Is Medellin Safe? Crime and Safety in Medellin - 2021

Massive strides have been made in recent years to make Medellin a much safer place. But have both a crippling pandemic and large influx of Venezuelans brought it all to the balance – what is going on in 2021?

By Kaveh Paymayesh

Short answer – Yes – Medellin is safe, enough so for me to highly recommend it as a place to come and enjoy. Millions of civilians live here happily without too much of a problem. Likewise, we are witnessing an exponential growth of foreigners that are falling in love with Medellin.

However, as is true with any city in Colombia, crime occurs and is something to be aware of. Even more so in 2021 as the city grapples with the residual challenges of the pandemic and Venezuelan influx.

Common delinquency

The good news is that the prevalence of violent crime is low. It’s even lower for tourists, ex-pats and foreigners coming here UNLESS you are getting involved with nefarious industries such as drugs and/or prostitution.

The vast majority of bad things that happen to foreigners can be traced to men that lower their guard to women. The typical scenario is that they put themselves in a position where they can be drugged and ultimately robbed.

This is a phenomenon in Medellin.

I recommend that you follow the ‘Expats in Medellin’ group on Facebook. In the search bar type ‘robbed’ and you’ll quickly see that the overwhelming majority of bad things that happen to people are to those deluded enough to allow a beautiful woman too close, too quickly.

There are women out there that will happily take you to the cleaners (and beyond).

Below is a post that I have extracted from the Expats in Medellin Facebook group. This scenario is all too common:

In the above post a man explains how he was drugged by an attractive young woman and later robbed of:

3 computers, gaming equipment, $1,000, 3m COP, amongst other items.

This unfortunate individual above was likely spiked with scopolamine, otherwise known as “Devil’s Breath”.

Scopolamine is a nightmare drug that strikes its users with powerful amnesia whilst rendering them completely suggestible.

Imagine being told to empty your bank account and then doing it with a spring in your step? You do not want to be exposed to this drug. Being reckless can easily make it part of your reality. I’ve covered the dangers of scopolamine in my article on the risks of Tinder.

Mitigating your risk of getting drugged with scopolamine is very easy: if it seems too good to be true then don’t risk it. For example, if you are 20+ years older and she is distinctly beyond your league of attraction then there is likely to be an ominous motive for her wanting to be with you.

If you insist on partaking in these risky encounters then implement safeguards:

1. Ensure that somebody knows what is going on. If you’ll be bringing somebody back to your place then inform your receptionist so that they are receptive to any suspicious activity – don’t worry, they’re not going to judge you.

2. NEVER leave your drinks unattended – take them to the toilet with you. Unattended drinks provide an ideal opportunity for malicious characters to spike them.

3. Accept that by defying the odds of linking up with a woman significantly more attractive than you, that you are in risky territory. Therefore be vigilant!

If sex is something you are going to be looking for you then there are established, regulated avenues for this. Meeting suspect characters such as the one seen above is simply asking for trouble.

Unlike violent crime, common delinquency is indeed common in all major Colombian cities. This includes Medellin. It is an issue that’s embedded within Colombian society; an inevitable outcome of economic disparity.

The contrast between those that do have and those that don’t has been amplified by both the pandemic and mass migration of Venezuelans into Colombia.

As of 24/09/21, there have been 22,442 cases of theft disclosed in Medellin; not all cases of theft are reported in Colombia so this figure likely fails to reflect the full extent of cases.

This represents a 14% increase from 2020. Don’t despair though. You need to factor in the lockdowns of the previous year. Medellin’s streets were empty for large portions of 2020.

The most prevalent manifestation of common delinquency to be aware of:

Robberies! This typically happens via a team of thugs on a motorbike, known in Colombia as Fleteros. Unfortunately, this has proven itself to be a successful activity for criminals.

They are quick and clinical. One individual will stay on the bike whilst the passenger on the back carries out the robbery. This is usually done with a pistol.

Here is a video that illustrates both the brevity and effectiveness of the whole procedure:

I told you! These guys are extremely clinical. This style of robbery is the most common in Medellin and represents the likeliest type of confrontational crime that you’ll encounter.

This is obviously a terrifying prospect but these crimes are rarely violent. The assailants, whilst terrible people, are just interested in your possessions. Crazy, but people rob out here as a profession. It’s therefore not in their interest to cause any physical harm unless you resist them. Things are fairly predictable in this sense.

It’s very important to know what to do when the jiggy is up. Make sure you give them what they want. Don’t try any Jason Statham BS or I swear your ass will be dead on the street.

How to lower your chances of getting robbed

Don’t wander lonely streets at night with things that you aren’t willing to lose
Never resist robbery! Don’t even hesitate – just be cooperative
Walk with conviction – do not appear lost nor vulnerable
No flash items. This includes fancy jewellery

The influx of Venezuelans

My heart goes out to both Venezuela and its people. Once the most prosperous corner of South America, its economy has since plummeted causing widespread poverty and despair.

As of 31/01/2021, Colombia has welcomed more than 1.7 million Venezuelans fleeing the failed state. In my experience, the vast majority of Venezuelans that I’ve met have been very pleasant and as friendly as their hosting Paisas.

Furthermore, the vast majority of these Venezuelans are hard and honest workers, desperate to scratch together a humble existence…

Alas, there is a darker side to this phenomenon. Authorities in Medellin can clearly link a relationship between the surge of migration with an increase in crime in the city.

However, this is not a causational relationship. We therefore should not conclude that Venezualation immigration is responsible for increased insecurity. Rather than blaming the Venezuelan people, it’s a question of poverty. The more of it there is, the more crime and safety concerns there will be.

I will say that a great number of Venezuelan migrants sadly slip through the cracks, and are unregistered and unaccounted for.

Due to the situation of desperation, many of the aforementioned fleteros are Venezuelans robbing their Colombian neighbours.

Even more concerning is that this wasn’t an issue when I first arrived at Medellin 6 years ago. With each passing year, the problem has perceptibly worsened.

The aftermath of Covid

As we march through 2021 things are undoubtedly looking up. As of 1/11/2021, Colombia has finally been removed from the UK’s travel ban.

Tourism can again resume and righteously so – many Colombians depend on it. Just look at Comuna 13; it went from boom to bust in 2020. That means many families were not receiving the income that they were before the pandemic.

In a country that has little in the way of a social safety net, people have really struggled. Of course, crime and safety have taken a big ugly hit as a result of this.

Even now, we are still dealing with the residual effects of the lockdowns. Remember that the economy, which is largely unofficial, must clamper back into action.

Amazingly though, the economy is now recovering with a GDP growth of around 7.7% expected by the end of the year.

Edit The economic output exceeded Q3 predictions by finishing at 13.2%!

Crime & Safety: How is the city responding?

Incompetence, corruption, and underfunding are no strangers to Colombian authorities. Sadly, these are pervasive problems in much of South America.

Fortunately, the Metropolitan Police of the Aburra Valley (which also includes the areas surrounding Medellin) are amongst the best in Colombia. Whilst still prone to the same issues, they have developed into a truly competent force.

Perhaps we can thank the mayhem of the 80s and 90s; in times of such difficulty, the police were forced to evolve in order to handle the madness of the drug-lord era.

Today, they mirror the pride and progress of Medellin and its surrounding municipalities.

The main challenge is that crime management can often appear like a game of cat and mouse. Obviously, preventing a crime in the first place is always going to be better than responding to one.

Having said that, they do take the situation of crime and safety very seriously in Medellin. The Secretary of Security is implementing innovative ways to both deter and capture perpetrators of crime.

In the touristic areas of the city such as El Poblado not only are they benchmarking maximum response times to arrive at the scene but are also introducing undercover cops to different restaurants, shops, and bars. These new actions form part of a wider strategy that has just been implemented in the 2nd quarter of 2021 – as part of the economic reactivation of tourism.

In addition, the installation of CCTV is becomingly increasingly widespread and utilised by authorities. Now, motorbikes used to commit robberies are effectively being traced, tracked and hunted down.

Here is a demonstration by the Mayor of Medellin (Alcaldia de Medellin):

Now, Medellin counts with 2,866 cameras; 400 of which are ‘intelligent’ – meaning that they’re able to recognise registration plates.

Medellin has the most advanced infrastructure in Colombia used against crime.

But it’s not just infrastructure. Overall, the resources available are very impressive, if not militarised.

In Provenza, a popular neighbourhood in El Poblado, the police presence continues to grow.

And it’s working… In Provenza, the capture of thieves has increased by 110% in 2021. This coincides with a decrease in crime in the second half of the year.

So what does all this mean for you?

First and foremost, that you shouldn’t worry! Being conscious is not the same as being worried.

Petty crime did experience a moderate spike following the lockdowns of 2020. This does not mean that the situation is out of control. On the contrary, the authorities in Medellin are responding well to the situation of safety in Medellin.

These new measures (such as undercover police) are a direct response to this spike. What this means is that they are acting diligently.

It also means that when you arrive in Medellin, you’ll likely be surprised by the sheer prevalence of authorities and security all over the place. Whether it’s private security, police or even army officials, you’ll find that you’re never far from feeling safe.

This also means that you’ll know when you’re straying off into more suspect areas. The places where you’ll generally want to be as a tourist are the same places that enjoy heightened security.

In other words, Medellin is a city that makes it quite easy to know when you’re being reckless, foolish or risky.

This brings us on to the next point, which is the disparity or spread of crime and safety in Medellin – like any other city, some areas are not advisable for tourists.

Safest neighbourhoods in Medellin

Depending on the area of the city, expect the following to vary dramatically:

Level of perceived safety & comfort
Actual criminal activity
Degree of protection and security

The following neighbourhoods offer the best overall combination of all these three variables:

El Poblado

El Poblado is by far the most affluent neighbourhood in Medellin. Here, the prowess of the city’s security is on full display. Alongside widespread surveillance, expect to find security on every corner and police patrols passing you by every 2 minutes.

It’s purported that no matter where you are in El Poblado, it takes no longer than 2 minutes for the police to arrive at the scene when called. It’s something that they take very seriously. Foreigners tend to be both surprised and impressed by the presence of security.

Oh yeah, the homicide rate in El Poblado for 2021 is 1.5/100,000 inhabitants. For comparison, Fort Lauderdale’s is 11.37/100,000. That’s 7.5x higher!

There’s a good reason that tourists arriving in Medellin overwhelmingly choose this sector as their home.

Not only is it generally very safe, but also beautiful…

Notice on the map how El Poblado is less grey than the rest of the city and more green?

That’s no accident – the appearance of this neighbourhood is the result of excellent urban planning; where urban landscapes meet lush terrain. Here, you get to experience the best of both urban space and equatorial biodiversity. For many, it’s what makes Medellin one of the most beautiful urban areas on Earth.

When in El Poblado, it’s hard to believe that you’re in ‘Colombia’ – widely portrayed as a dangerous and disturbed part of the world. All that seems hard to remember when relishing the beauty of this amazingly developed, enviable place.

Watch out for the hills; part of the reason that El Poblado is so beautiful is because of how it hugs the south-eastern side of the valley. The biggest gripe people have is with the gradient of the neighbourhood.

Beware: petty crime is still a thing here. Criminals actually favour this sector to carry out thefts because they know that there are more valuable possessions to be picked.

Just remember to exercise common sense. Behave like a competent human and not a fool – you’ll be grand!

Laureles

All things considered, this is my favourite part of town and one that is receiving an increasing number of foreign visitors. With good reason, too. Laureles possesses several considerable benefits over El Poblado:

1. It is flat – walking around is much less strenuous and generally a lot more pleasant as the entirety of the neighbourhood is located within the basin of the valley.

2. Less congested – El Poblado literally means ‘the populated’ in Spanish; an appropriate name as it tends to be very congested on the roads. In Laureles, there is definitely less traffic. This translates to less noise and a more relaxed ambience throughout the area.

3. More local – El Poblado is deemed the touristic hub of Medellin. Whilst that brings its own set of benefits, Laureles is definitely more grounded in the Colombian atmosphere (whilst still being brimmed with bars, restaurants and places of interest). A big benefit of this is that you’ll be more immersed in Spanish.

4. More central – Located pretty much in the centre of the valley, you’ll be able to enjoy increased accessibility to the rest of the city – this includes proximity to the metro.

Of course, we’re talking about crime and safety – Laureles is well cared for with a heavy presence of police, cameras and private security. There’s also a massive police station located in the heart of the neighbourhood.

Another awesome feature is that Laureles fosters an environment of tranquillity. Its tree-lined streets do well to make you feel secure and your soul nourished.

Whilst crime and safety are generally well controlled in Laureles, it is also a hotspot for robberies and theft. Even more so than in Poblado due to the proximity to main roads. Laureles is located in the mid-west of the city. It is easier for crooks to rob and evade.

Let's conclude crime & safety in Medellin

Let’s not forget, we’re talking about a city in South America; a continent plagued by widespread crime and safety issues. The standard of safety in South America is not going to be the same for somewhere like Europe.

Having said that, Medellin boasts some of the best progress on the continent in terms of crime and safety. Massive strides have been made in the last 20 years. The infrastructure in Medellin is excellent and better than any other city in Colombia. This includes the capital Bogota.

2020 has brought with it many challenges – chiefly – an increase in poverty. As we all know, this corresponds with an increase in delinquency as people grow more desperate to survive.

Medellin is a city where you should be careful. Don’t move in shifty circles and certainly don’t give PAPAYA.

However:

I, like many others, consider Medellin safe enough to be a place worth staying in!