The New Dark Side Of Colombia’s Tourist Hotspots: Sex Trafficking and Tourist Killing

There was once a bloody conflict between the Colombian government, drug cartels, and other armed organizations in the beautiful valley that surrounded Medellin. But the second-biggest city in the nation has seen a sharp decline in crime, which has spurred a tourist boom due to the city’s eye-catching hues, busy cafés, and exciting nightlife. Over 1.4 million tourists visited Medellin in the previous year, with a large portion of those visitors being Americans.

Although there have been economic gains from the tourist boom, authorities now face a new set of difficult problems. The rise in sex trafficking and the stories of Colombian women and visitors being slain after meeting on dating apps are alarming issues. Federico Gutiérrez, the mayor of Medellin, was recently cited by the AP as stating, “This area has spun out of control,” when visiting a park that is well-known for the sex trade.

Although Medellin has always struggled with drug tourism and sex difficulties, things became worse near the conclusion of the previous year. Eight American men sadly died in November and December of last year; several of them had met local women who were supposedly duped by criminal organizations preying on foreigners who were not as vigilant. This was a worrying pattern.

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota issued a warning in January about the deaths, stating that some visitors had been given narcotics and had subsequently been robbed or slain. Men were advised by American authorities not to use dating apps. The applications provide a means of locating sex workers, whose industry is legal in Colombia.

Crimes with comparable trends

According to AP, lead prosecutor Yiri Milena Amado Sanchez said that the majority of the events had a common thread—tourists falling for a risky scam. Usually, a visitor would meet a local lady on social media or a dating app, only to have their drink laced with drugs like scopolamine, which would cause them to pass out and lose their memory. This evil strategy has led to people being stolen of their possessions and, sadly, sometimes even their lives.

The terrible example of Minnesotan activist and comedian Tou Ger Xiong stands out among the others. After his family paid a ransom to free him, Xiong was abducted, tortured, and ultimately thrown down a cliff, turning his meeting with a Medellin lady into a nightmare. Even though Colombian officials made it clear that Xiong had no connection to prostitution, many people are disturbed by the facts of his horrific murder.

Beyond Xiong’s case, police are looking into the deaths of five more visitors this year alone, demonstrating the worrying pattern. Three Americans, a Lithuanian who investigators believe may have committed suicide, and a Dutch tourist who was discovered dead in a hotel are among the casualties. It is shocking to learn that foreigners have also been involved in certain acts of violence.

Laura Lopera, a Colombian woman of 20 years old, was discovered dead inside a suitcase earlier this month. According to an AP story, authorities believe her middle-aged Canadian ex-boyfriend, whom she met on a dating service, was probably responsible for the tragedy.

Based on statistics gathered by the city, 1,259 occurrences of potential sexual exploitation of children were reported to the authorities in 2023—nearly 60% more than the previous year.

Medellin’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking valley scenery, and complex past all entice tourists, even in spite of the city’s growing sex tourism industry.