Published: February 24, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Colombia Travel Advisory and Colombia Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy: Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50, Bogotá, D.C.
Tel: +57 (1) 275-2000; After-hour emergencies: +57 (1) 275-4021; Regional Security Office +57 (1) 275-2903/2458.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 0800-1700.
Consular Agency in Barranquilla: Calle 77B, No 57-141, Suite 511.
Tel: +57-5-353-2001.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The OSAC Country Chapter in Bogotá meets monthly. There is also an active Country Chapter in Cartagena that meets quarterly.
Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.
Colombia Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime and terrorism, and exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bogota as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Colombia, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
Large cities throughout Colombia share many of the same crime problems that plague other large cities around the world. The perception of wealth is a primary reason criminals target U.S. and other foreign nationals. The most prevalent daily threat to travelers is street crime. The most common types of crime include mugging, assault, cell phone theft, and burglary; robberies have seen a steady increase in the past 5 years, while the murder rate has remained relatively stable at 25.7 per 100,000 people, the third highest in South America.
During 2024, there were a reported number of 296 private U.S. citizens who were victims of criminal incidences in Colombia. 122 of these incidents were reported as “scoping” (drugging). There was a total of 217 private U.S. citizens who reported their passports stolen while visiting Colombia. Of the 296 victims, the majority were robberies, but also include extortion, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Underreporting affects these numbers significantly.
Thefts and assaults occur frequently on public buses in urban and rural areas. Vehicle break-in, theft, and carjacking are also risks. Cellphones are continually targeted during quick grab‐and‐go scenarios. Limit the use your cellphone while out in public – if you need to use your cell phone, find a secure location away from the street. Avoid displays of high value watches and jewelry while in public. Gangs routinely spot individuals wearing such high-end jewelry while they transit public areas such as the airport, shopping malls, or restaurants, then surveil the victims and rob them, typically at gunpoint or other threat of force. Be cautious when withdrawing large amount of cash from ATMs or transporting money from one place to another. Criminals routinely target individuals who are transporting larges amount of money after departing banking institutions.
Extortion is also a significant security concern. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents not participating in the peace process, the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Clan del Golfo, and other criminal groups have extorted all types of commercial entities in their areas of operation. They may use the threat of violence, or actual violence, including bombings, if targets do not meet their demands.
Criminals conduct a variety of street scams in order to rob people. For example, individuals may pose as police officers by presenting false police identification. They will ask to inspect a victim’s money to verify that it is not counterfeit. They will issue the victim an “official receipt” for their “counterfeit” money and instruct the victim to proceed to a police station to reclaim legitimate currency. When victims submit the “official receipt” to the police, they find out their money was not counterfeit, and that they were scammed. Criminals also use street gambling games to set up victims. Be wary of people who approach you asking for directions, handing out fliers, selling you things, etc. They may be trying to distract you while picking your pockets.
Other scams include the “flat tire scam” which involves the placement of a metal element in the road that slowly flattens a tire. After placement, an individual on a motorcycle typically approaches the unsuspecting driver and advises them that their tire is flat. The motorcyclist typically directs the driver to a nearby mechanic shop who offers to fix the tire at an exorbitant price. If a driver believes they are a victim of such a scam, it is recommended they drive to a safe location and/or a credible mechanic, then negotiate the service before any action is taken.
Approximately 75% of the U.S. citizens incarcerated in Colombia faced narcotics-related offenses. Do not agree to carry packages for anyone without knowing the person well and being certain of the contents of the package. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Colombia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long pre-trial detention and lengthy prison sentences under harsh conditions, with significant expense and great hardship for themselves and their families. Colombian law may require that released offenders serve a lengthy period of parole in country, during which authorities offer no housing and may deny permission to work. Family members must often support the offender until the parole period expires.
Additionally, Colombian criminals often use drugs to rob their victims. The most common drug used has been scopolamine, which can render a victim unconscious for 24+ hours; in large doses, it can cause brain damage and death. Criminals often administer the drug by placing liquid or powder in foods and beverages. Incidents frequently occur in nightclubs and bars where young, attractive women target men they perceive to be wealthy.
Do not travel to Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to crime and terrorism. Do not travel to the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, and risk of detention when crossing from Venezuela from Colombia. U.S. government employees are not permitted to travel by road between most major cities. U.S. government employees may not use motorcycles, hail street taxis, or use public transportation.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Colombia, indicating that criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure, or continue to detain individuals in order to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.
Paseo Millonario (express kidnappings) and other taxi-related crimes commonly involve a cab hailed from the street. After the passenger(s) enters, the driver will stop, and armed robbers will enter the vehicle, sometimes taking the victim to ATMs over several hours to take out as much cash as possible.
Although Colombian government efforts have dramatically reduced the number of kidnappings over the last ten years, the threat of kidnapping remains a concern. Foreigners are potential targets due to their perceived wealth. Kidnappers may also target U.S. nationals because of their potential political significance for terrorist groups. Most kidnappings now fall into the categories of classic kidnap for ransom events, virtual kidnappings, and express kidnappings.
The police and army have effective anti-kidnapping/anti-extortion units called GAULAs around the country. Any victim of kidnapping/extortion, or anyone who knows of a victim, should call the police immediately at 165.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bogota as being a HIGH-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Colombia, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
Colombia has endured a decades-long conflict that pitted the government against several leftist terrorist organizations, some of which remain active. Armed criminal groups have evolved from demobilized terrorist organizations and right-wing paramilitary organizations. The Colombian government signed a peace accord with FARC in 2016 after more than four years of negotiations, although FARC dissident groups such as the People’s Army (FARC-EP) and Segunda Marquetalia remain active. Given the nexus between terrorism and transnational crime, the use of terrorist-like activities, including bombing, kidnapping, and narcotrafficking by those not participating in the peace accord is possible.
Illegal armed groups in Colombia are well-organized criminal enterprises that have carried out kidnappings, extortion, assassinations, bombings, and other terrorist activities throughout the country. Throughout Colombia’s long conflict with the FARC and ELN, more than 250,000 Colombians have died, with six million forcibly displaced from their homes. Given the situation in neighboring Venezuela, criminal or terrorist elements may seek to exploit uncertainty and increased media attention on the Colombia-Venezuela border, especially as border crossings officially re-opened in 2022. Travelers should expect increased police presence in border regions.
The Petro administration has attempted to engage various armed groups, including traditional left-wing terrorist groups like the ELN and FARC-EP, in peace negotiations. However, in September 2024, talks were suspended after the ELN was allegedly involved in the death of two Colombian soldiers. In January 2025, ELN forces attacked multiple FARC installations in the Catatumbo region of Colombia, along the northeastern border with Venezuela. Over 100 people, including civilians and a small number of police, were killed, with over 50,000 people displaced from the area. In response, President Petro enacted a State of Emergency in the region and vowed renewed military action against the ELN.
In February 2024, Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based gang with ties to Colombian organized crime, was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States of America. Tren De Aragua maintains a significant presence on the Venezuelan-Colombian border, and has been involved in human trafficking, the smuggling of firearms and narcotics, and the extortion of transportation and import/export operations.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Bogota as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Colombia, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Colombia is a constitutional, multiparty republic. Presidential and legislative elections were held in 2022. Voters elected Gustavo Petro president in a second round of elections that observers considered free and fair and the most peaceful in decades. President Petro was inaugurated on August 7, 2022.
Protests & Demonstrations
While many demonstrations in Colombia are routinely peaceful, protest activity has the potential to turn unexpectedly violent. Protestors have used Molotov cocktails and homemade improvised explosive devices (papas explosivas) against the police. Active leftist student organizations sometimes stage protests with an anti-U.S. message. Protests center on social and economic reforms, and usually involve union or student group leadership. Protestors often march on major roads, disrupting traffic.
Nationwide protests (“Paro Nacional”) ignited on April 28, 2021 and continued daily for more than a month. Although they were peaceful in most locations, there was violence and systematic attacks on public infrastructure and security forces in some regions.
There was at least one protest in 2024 against rising fuel prices that led to roadblocks on all major roads leading into Bogota, significantly hindering travel in the city, and causing some to panic-buy staple grocery items. Additional demonstrations in 2024 included several peaceful protests which focused on the Hamas-Israel conflict, some of which impacted local transit and access to the Embassy.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There is very little anti-U.S. sentiment in Colombia.
Law Enforcement
The Colombia National Police (CNP) is a nationwide service responsible for enforcing Colombian laws and is under the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry. The Migration Directorate, part of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, is the immigration authority. CNP shares law enforcement investigatory duties with the Attorney General’s Corps of Technical Investigators. In addition to its responsibility to defend the country against external threats, the army shares limited responsibility for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country. For example, military units sometimes provided logistical support and security for criminal investigators to collect evidence in high-conflict or remote areas. Civilian authorities generally maintain effective control over security forces. Members of the security forces have committed some abuses.
Police Response
CNP is a professional organization recognized around the world for its success. However, the force is often overworked and lacks some resources to deter or investigate crime. Response to alarms or emergency calls to disrupt burglaries or crimes in progress can be 15 minutes or longer depending on the area an incident occurs. In urban areas, police are posted at neighborhood substations known as Immediate Attention Centers (CAI). Police patrol on foot and in vehicles. You can also find police and military presence at important facilities and along major routes. The U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services (ACS) section has documented some poor CNP responses to crimes against U.S. citizens—specifically, failure to facilitate filing of police reports.
Although the CNP is a professional force, it has had instances of corruption within its ranks. If you feel you are the victim of police harassment or corruption, call the police complaint line (Transparencia Institucional) at 166.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Colombia, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Colombia.
The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. There have been allegations, however, that authorities detained citizens arbitrarily.
The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively, although officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices without punishment. There were numerous reports of government corruption during the year, particularly at the local level. Revenues from transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, exacerbated corruption.
Cybersecurity
According to the report from Colombia's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, backed by IBM's Threat Intelligence Index, Colombia suffered more than 36 billion cyberattack attempts in 2024. The rise, close to 70% compared to 2023, not only reflects a higher number of attacks but also an increase in their complexity and persistence. It is no longer just about massive phishing attempts or generic malware but rather targeted attacks that exploit specific vulnerabilities and are carried out by advanced and organized threat actors.
In 2024, the Government of Colombia and its national entities have implemented various initiatives to combat cybercrime, addressing both prevention and response to digital threats. At the strategic level, the National Government, through the National Digital Strategy 2023-2026, has defined four key action lines:
- Strengthening digital security planning and coordination, through the creation of a government entity and international cooperation.
- Promoting digital preparedness and resilience, with initiatives for information protection, the establishment of a cybersecurity observatory, and strengthening the state's technological capabilities.
- Protecting citizens, digital infrastructures, and public entities, by implementing digital security strategies and promoting personal data protection.
- Developing legislation for a secure and reliable digital ecosystem, through regulatory adoption and international cooperation to combat cybercrime.
The Joint Cyber Command of the Colombian Armed Forces has emphasized the importance of continuous cybersecurity control, promoting key measures such as personnel training, two-factor authentication (2FA), data encryption, access control to devices and networks, antivirus updates, and the implementation of a robust cybersecurity architecture. Meanwhile, the Cyber Police Center of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol has identified that, in 2024, reports of cybercrimes increased by 23% compared to 2023. The center has intensified its operational efforts, reflected in:
- 29 national operations,
- 362 arrests, including 313 for cybercrimes and 49 related to child sexual abuse material,
- 30,165 blocked websites, including illegal content and illicit gambling sites,
- 11,866 incidents handled,
- 424 preventive alerts issued, and
- 144 prevention talks aimed at strengthening digital security awareness.
To develop its institutional framework and capacity to address cyber threats further, Colombia prepared an updated cybersecurity policy (CONPES 3701) in consultation with the Organization of American States, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and other partners. This policy includes a national strategy and a set of priority goals to minimize risk levels.
To develop its institutional framework and capacity to address cyber threats further, Colombia prepared an updated cybersecurity policy (CONPES 3701) in consultation with the Organization of American States, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and other partners. This policy includes a national strategy and a set of priority goals to minimize risk levels.
Criminals routinely use dating apps to lure victims to meet in public places such as hotels, restaurants, and bars, and then later assault and rob them. Numerous U.S. citizens in Colombia have been drugged, robbed, and even killed by their Colombian dates. Over the course of 2024, the U.S. Embassy saw an increase in reports of incidents involving the use of online dating applications to lure victims, typically foreigners, for robbery by force or using sedatives to drug and rob individuals. The Embassy regularly receives reports of these types of incidents occurring in major cities, including, but not limited to, Medellin, Cartagena, and Bogota. These types of crimes routinely go underreported as victims are embarrassed and do not want to follow through with the judicial process.
Import/Export Restrictions
Colombian law prohibits tourists and business travelers from bringing firearms and ammunition into the country. Colombian law also restricts the importation of plants and animals (or products made from either). There have been no reports of limitations on the import or use of personal satellite phones. Colombia does not allow the sale of certain psychiatric medications, so travelers using these medications should carry a sufficient supply for their trips and a copy of their prescription.
Colombian law forbids the export of pre-Columbian objects and other artifacts protected by cultural patrimony statutes. U.S. customs officials are obliged to seize pre-Columbian objects and certain colonial religious artwork brought into the United States. A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
