Daily life

Special Edition—Crime Statistics in Medellín 2024

Author: Pacho Viloria

Table of Contents

Medellín Has Evolved in the Fight Against Crime

The city of Medellín has lived through the traumas of violence and social inequalities in its recent past. Therefore, the issue of security and crime has always been and will continue to be a priority and a general concern for its residents.

In this article, we will address everything related to this pressing issue that affects both locals and foreigners alike. To do so, we have gathered historical crime statistics for the city as well as data from the first part of 2024. This will allow us to gain firsthand insight into how the fight against insecurity is progressing and, more importantly, what challenges the city faces in terms of criminality. Join us in this special edition on crime and public safety

Crime Investigation Methodology

Obtaining accurate and updated statistics on crime in Medellín is made difficult by the diversity of information sources, including the National Police, the Security Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics) and private organizations. As each entity employs different methodologies and update frequencies. Which makes it difficult to consolidate data in real time. For this reason, our analysis will take as a starting point the police reports and those of the Mayor’s Office of Medellín, integrating them with other sources to build a more complete and reliable picture of the crime situation in the city.

Homicide Rate per Capita in Medellín: From the Dark Ages to Systematic Reduction

The homicide rate in Medellín is a key indicator that allows us to understand the current situation and future trends, as it is a crime that has a high impact on any society. In 1991, Medellín’s homicide rate reached a record high of 395 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. At that time, the city was living through a veritable hell and was ranked as the most violent city in the world. It is no coincidence that this occurred when the feared drug lord, Pablo Escobar Gaviria, operated with impunity from Medellín and imposed his criminal authority on an entire society.

During those times, the city was experiencing a war between various criminal groups vying for criminal hegemony. This situation changed on December 3, 1993, when the so-called “patron of evil,” Pablo Escobar, was killed by Colombian authorities in the operation known as “Operation Orion.“ Since then, the security situation has evolved favorably.

How Does Medellín Rank in The 2023 Violence Rankings?

According to a recent report published by the Ministry of Defense and a study by the National Police of Colombia for 2023, Medellín is ranked 19th among the 20 most dangerous cities in the country, with an average of 12.9 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The report also reveals that Cali and Sincelejo are the most violent cities in the country, with an average homicide rate of 44.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Similarly, Medellín is not on the list of the most violent cities in the world, which includes five Colombian cities: Cali (32nd place, with a homicide rate of 42), Buenaventura (43rd place, with a rate of 35 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), Cartagena (47th place, with 31 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), Palmira (48th place, with a rate of 30 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants), and Cúcuta (49th place, with an average of 29 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants).

General Overview of Crime Reports as of The Year 2023

According to Medellín’s Security and Coexistence Information System (SISC), the city ended 2023 with 375 homicides, representing a 4.1% decrease compared to the previous year. While this data is positive, the figure remains concerning and requires constant attention from authorities.

Young men, aged 18-24 and 33-38, continue to be the most affected groups. The problem of homicide of young people has cost the city the lives of 58,306 people from 1979 to 2023, with an annual average of 1,295 young people murdered in the city in 45 years, according to a study that is often linked to poverty and violence in poor neighborhoods. This is why the government seeks to give better opportunities to the lower classes to reduce this indicator and keep young people away from the risk of falling into a labyrinth of criminality and death. While overall homicides decreased, femicides increased, highlighting the need to strengthen gender policies.

Homicides by Commune Medellín 2023

Six communes concentrated 52% of the homicides in Medellín in 2023. La Candelaria once again led the incidence of homicides with 76 cases (20%), followed by Aranjuez (29: 8%), Robledo (25: 7%), and in a technical tie, Manrique and Villa Hermosa (both with 23: 5% each). Castilla closed out the top 5 with the remaining 20:5%.

Regarding other crimes, thefts of persons and motorcycles increased, contrasting with the reduction in thefts from businesses and residences.

Medellín has made a significant turnaround in the fight against homicide, reducing its rate by nearly 20% since 2020. This achievement is the result of a combination of factors, such as more effective security strategies, cutting-edge technology, and greater coordination among authorities.

Comparative of Thefts 2021-2023 in Medellín

Regarding thefts, there are significant contrasts between achievements and challenges, as the incidence figures have been fluctuating, representing a real challenge for authorities and the public alike.

In 2023, thefts targeting individuals increased by 5%, with 29,068 reported cases. Motorcycle thefts ranked second, closing the year with 5,988 cases, a 4% increase from the previous year, which is concerning. On the other hand, thefts from businesses decreased, closing with 2,545 cases, 19% less than in 2022. As for residential burglaries, there were 30 fewer cases, reflecting a 2% reduction. Finally, car thefts decreased by 6%, with 938 cases reported. Overall, there was a 2% increase when summing all types of thefts, highlighting the ongoing challenge of reducing crimes against private property in the city.

Analysis of Thefts Targeting Individuals in Medellín 2023

The data on thefts targeting individuals in Medellín reveal that the age groups with the highest incidence were 18–24 years and 33–38 years, respectively. 52% of these thefts were reported during nighttime and morning hours. Additionally, 60% of the victims were men (17,441 people), while the remaining 40% were women (11,627 people).

The main modalities of this crime were: mugging with 12,824 cases, representing 44%; negligence with 6,760 cases, accounting for 13%; and pickpocketing with 4,912 cases, representing 17%, among others. The most frequently used weapons by criminals were: firearms, with 5,764 cases, representing 20%; followed by bladed weapons, used in 4,385 cases, or 15%; and scopolamine, used in 437 cases, accounting for 2%, among others.

Crime Statistics in Medellín: Data Updated To August 2024

In the following section, we will analyze the crime statistics as of August 23, 2024, according to reports from the Information System for Security and Coexistence managed by the Medellín District Mayor’s Office, through the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Coexistence and the National Police of Colombia.

As of this edition, the incidence of homicides in Medellín shows an overall reduction of 21% compared to the same period last year, with 50 fewer cases. Regarding the gender of the victims, in 2024, 91% are men and 9% are women.

In terms of the method used, 99 cases of homicide have been reported involving firearms (52%), followed by 65 cases with sharp objects (34%) and 12 with blunt objects.

Five communes account for 47% of the homicides, with a total of 65 cases. La Candelaria remains the leader in criminality with 38 cases, representing 20% of the homicides in Medellín. Castilla follows with 15 cases, equivalent to 8%, while San Javier ranks third with 14 cases (7%). Belén reports 12 cases, which represents 6%, and in fifth place is Comuna 12 de Octubre with 10 homicides, constituting 5% of the total

Medellín Crime Analysis 2020-2024

According to reports from the Colombian National Police, Medellín shows an overall decrease in most high-impact crimes (-44%), compared to the previous year. The homicide rate is the lowest in 40 years. On the other hand, according to the Security Secretariat, robbery with firearms has decreased by more than 35% and theft modalities such as theft from commercial establishments has decreased by 49%.

Regarding crimes such as personal injuries, extortion, kidnappings, as well as thefts of persons, businesses, residences, cars, and motorcycles, a significant improvement in citizen security is also evident, except for the crime of threats, which continues to show an increasing trend with 1,428 cases to date, 9% more than in 2023. Similarly, sexual violence cases are concerning, with 1,160 incidents reported at the time of this edition. If this trend continues over the next four months, it is highly likely that the incidence of this crime will continue to rise, which would require additional efforts from authorities to control it.

Types of Homicide with The Highest Incidence in Medellín 2020-2024

To understand the levels of violence in Medellín and characterization of homicide victims, we will now analyze the 5 homicide modalities with the highest incidence in the period 2020 to 2024.

According to statistics from the National Police of Colombia, 47% of homicides in Medellín have been contract killings, commonly referred to as “sicariato,” with 684 cases over four years. The second leading cause of homicide in the city is altercations, accounting for 36% of homicides during the same period. In third place are robberies with violence, which have resulted in 124 deaths, representing 8% of these incidents. Next, homicide related to personal injuries accounts for 81 cases, equivalent to 6%. Finally, rounding out the top five homicide modalities, we have 36 cases of domestic violence, which represent 2% of the city’s homicides.

Ranking Homicides by Commune in Medellín 2020-2024

To continue the analysis of the historical crime statistics for major offenses over the past 4 years, it is observed that 6 communes account for 54% of homicides in Medellín, totaling 883 cases. This highlights where authorities should focus their efforts in the fight against homicidal violence. We will see that the statistics are similar when analyzing each year or the accumulated 4-year period, with few variations. The city center is a red zone where citizens risk their lives every day; no one wants to be part of this harsh reality in Medellín.

In the previous table, we can observe that the La Candelaria sector holds the first place in homicide incidence in the city with 311 cases, representing a solid 19%. In second place is Aranjuez, with 125 homicides accounting for 8%. The third position is held by Robledo with 121 cases, representing 7% of the city’s homicides. In fourth place, there is a technical tie between the communes of San Javier and Castilla, each with 110 homicides during the 2020-2024 period, making up 7% of the total. To close the Top 5, we have Belén, which has 106 cases, representing 6% of the homicides that occurred in Medellín

Trend of High-Impact Crimes in Medellín During 2024

The general crime trend in Medellín at the close of this edition is positive. The following chart shows that theft to persons is the most frequent crime, with 14,777 cases and a monthly average of 1,847 victims. Although police reports indicate a 22.4% reduction in cases compared to 2023, this is still not enough for the citizens of Medellín. Who fear becoming part of the statistics every day. In second place is domestic violence, with 4,245 cases and a monthly average of 531. The third most reported crime is motorcycle theft, with 3,963 cases, approximately 495 per month.

In fourth place is the crime of personal injury, with 2,872 reports and a monthly average of 359. This indicator worries authorities. Who are struggling to control street violence hotspots in some areas of the city, as these often trigger more serious crimes. In fifth place is commercial robbery, with 1,559 cases and a monthly average of 195.

The sixth place is occupied by the crime of threats, which has increased in Medellín, with 1,428 cases to date and an average of 179 victims per month. In seventh place are sexual violence crimes, whose trend is also concerning, with 1,160 cases and an average of 89 per month. The eighth place is occupied by residential burglaries, with 942 cases and a monthly average of 118. In ninth place is car theft, with 708 cases and an average of 89 per month.

In tenth place among the most frequent high-impact crimes are homicides, with 172 victims and a monthly average of 22 cases. According to authorities, 2024 has seen a general decrease of 20% compared to the previous year. Men aged 14 to 32 are the most affected by this crime. According to reports from the Medellín Mayor’s Office, the city has reached record levels of homicide reduction not seen in over 40 years.

In terms of the methods most commonly used in homicides, firearms lead with 104 cases, followed by bladed weapons with 98 cases so far in 2024. These data reaffirm that the problem of street violence is closely linked to poverty; despite the city’s achievements in recent years, criminal gangs still persist and fight to maintain their dominance in some areas.

Femicides have decreased by 28.6%, with 10 cases so far this year, four less than in the same period of 2023. Another positive indicator is the 73.8% increase in the seizure of 784 firearms, which improves citizen security and reduces the risk of homicides by this criminal modality. To close the list of these crimes, five cases of kidnapping have been reported so far this year.

Case Study: Crimes Involving Expatriates in Medellín - The Absence of Reliable Official Data

Finally, after analyzing historical and recent crime reports and gaining a clearer understanding of the issue, we will address a concerning situation: the deaths of foreigners, mostly tourists or expatriates who reside in or visit Medellín.

First, it is important to highlight that there is no precise statistic that characterizes the victims of this population group provided by the Colombian Police. This has been confirmed directly by the official source. In reality, all crime statistics, whether related to theft or homicide, undergo the same characterization and investigation process without considering the nationality of the victims. It is the Department of Forensic Medicine that determines the cause of death in Medellín. In other words, the deaths of foreigners are already included in the reports we have analyzed previously. However, the challenge lies in rigorously breaking down who among these victims are Colombians, residents, or foreign tourists. Given that there is no reliable source, except for some isolated data provided by the Personería of Medellín, any indicator that might be provided would be merely speculative.

For this investigation, we contacted the Personería of the Medellín District, which, through the Tourism Observatory, consolidates some related figures on crimes against tourists and expatriates. Unfortunately, we have not received an official response to our request.

The results of our independent investigation, based on the reports from Personería de Medellin and journalistic sources, are revealing. This institution maintains a report on violent deaths of tourists, which includes a wide variety of situations beyond “intentional homicide.” To our surprise and bewilderment, we see that they report virtually any cause of death, including accidents, falls, complications from cosmetic surgeries, drug overdoses, suicidies, and even natural deaths due to illnesses

Conclusions

Crime Reduction: Medellín has successfully reduced most crimes, with a significant drop in the homicide rate, now at 12 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest in over 40 years.

New Challenges in 2024: Theft, threats, and sexual violence require priority attention.

Robberies: The numbers are fluctuating, posing a constant challenge for both the police and citizens.

Tourists: While theft is concerning, many cases are linked to sex tourism. There are no reliable figures indicating widespread victimization among tourists.

Caution: As in any city, it is important to be prudent to avoid risks, especially for those seeking entertainment.

Questions, comments? Contact me today and I will be happy to discuss any of these issues further with you.

Pacho Viloria

Pacho is an editor and contributing writer for Medellín Advisors. He had worked on the website remotely since March 2020 and in March 2021 he moved to Medellin from Panamá City.