Teen Hitmen Plague Colombia Decades After Escobar Hired Kids to Kill
Colombia remains troubled by the issue of teenage hitmen decades after Pablo Escobar’s era. A recent incident involves a 15-year-old charged for attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate, drawing attention to the ongoing recruitment of minors by criminal organizations. Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in this alarming trend. Experts are calling for rehabilitation and a focus on preventing youth from entering the criminal world.
In Colombia, the legacy of Pablo Escobar continues to cast a long shadow as the country grapples with the troubling phenomenon of teenage hitmen. Just last week, a 15-year-old allegedly shot presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe during a rally in Bogotá, an incident that evokes memories of the dark era characterized by violence. Authorities suspect the boy was hired, but it remains unclear who orchestrated the attack on the senator, who is currently hospitalized in critical condition but showing some improvement according to doctors.
The young shooter has expressed willingness to cooperate with the police, claiming he was given orders from a “olla,” which refers to local neighborhoods known for drug activity. Matthew Charles, director of the Mi Historia foundation aimed at supporting vulnerable youth, commented that the recruitment of minors for criminal acts is sadly commonplace in Colombia. Meanwhile, prosecutors have charged a second individual in connection with this case, alleging he was responsible for delivering the firearm used in the shooting.
As was the case during Escobar’s reign, children from impoverished and often troubled communities continue to be drawn into the world of crime, lured by empty promises of wealth and power. Charles noted that many of these young individuals are simply seeking quick fixes to dire financial circumstances, often facing empty stomachs at home.
Criminal organizations exploit this vulnerability, regularly employing minors because they are more easily manipulated. Recent statistics from a UNICEF and Colombian family welfare report highlighted that approximately 530 children were recruited by organized crime between 2020 and 2022. Most of these children, averaging 13 to 14 years old, came from low-income rural areas ravaged by conflict. Another report estimated that 142 minors were recruited in just the first half of last year alone.
Young hitmen are offered payment ranging from $50 to $500 per victim, appealing figures for those with limited education and scant employment opportunities. Sadly, many find themselves misled and left without their promised earnings, according to Charles. Furthermore, official data indicates that about a third of Colombia’s population lives below the poverty line.
In some situations, armed groups resort to drugging children to ensure compliance with their orders, an alarming fact highlighted by ICBF director Astrid Caceres. The Colombian justice ministry revealed that in 2024, approximately 5,000 children aged 14 to 17 entered the criminal justice system across the nation, though they did not specify details of their offenses.
Turning minors into hitmen has become a disturbing tradition that preys on the marginalized, according to criminal lawyer Francisco Bernate. He notes that minors are typically not judged as being fully capable of understanding the repercussions of their actions, leading to a maximum possible sentence of eight years for those under 18, versus up to 50 years for adults. Children are not sent to prison but to specialized centers for rehabilitation, which highlights a path toward redemption, as mentioned by Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo.
The recent assassination attempt against Uribe not only stirs memories of Escobar’s era but also raises crucial questions about the state of youth in Colombia today. Journalist Jorge Cardona reflected on the profound impact of violence during that time, recalling other tragic figures, like a 16-year-old who shot a presidential candidate in 1990 and was later found dead himself. Escobar’s influence may have faded, but the struggles that birthed a generation of child hitmen endure.
Colombia continues to face the grim reality of young assassins in the wake of Pablo Escobar’s legacy. Factors like poverty, manipulation by criminal organizations, and a troubled societal fabric feed this cycle, echoing past atrocities. With the alarming recruitment of minors into violence-related crimes, the focus must now shift towards rehabilitation and addressing the root causes of this issue. The case of Miguel Uribe reminds us that much work remains to be done in securing the future for Colombia’s youth.
Original Source: manilastandard.net
