This occurred in April 2023, this is not a current 2024 crime wave fear monger, I’m a latino american, do not look american whatsoever, pass for brazilian (important for later) and am fluent in spanish with a slight accent that could sound brazilian.
I was invited out to Vintrash Bar (Gringo Tuesdays) by a friend in Bogota colombia, I was hesitant to go and did not really like this club I had a free cover charge so I just went to go along, I brought along my burner iPhone 11 who’s Sim card stopped working that exact night, no banking apps or anything other than navigational apps and uber.
I did not also bring any credit card or debit card because I do not want to spend any at this bar that I did not like in the first place because of the people it attracts. About 30 minutes after we get in I decided I wanna go home because I did not like this, my data was not working and my friends were nowhere to be found so I made the worst possible decision and wandered off by myself down the Avenidad Calle 85 at around 11:30 at night. I stupidly started trying to hail a taxi with a collared shirt on and some nicer shoes on, making me a target.
After about the first three taxis that did not stop to pick me up one that looked extremely legitimate which was a much newer taxi (2020 it looked) who’s plates lined up with the sign on the alcadia stopped and picked me up. he asked where I was going and I let him know the direction after that he started driving and suspiciously did not turn on the meter, I had to remind him of that and he did it afterwards, he didn’t really speak a single word until the kidnapping started. One red flag that even in the moment was suspicious, the guy had a brand new iPhone 14 and was communicating via text to somebody although I just wanted to go home so this did not really phase me.
all of a sudden the guy hits the brakes and two other guys jumping with knives and immediately pointed towards me and my stomach and my thigh me telling that they’re robbing me and they’re gonna kill me and to empty my pockets. they padded me down trying to look for cards and cash as they do typically during express kidnappings. they get me to unlock my phone and start looking through my apps although this was just a burner phone and they were asking me Where the money in my banking apps were and I just had to tell him I was a tourist from Brazil so I know how the streets work and that I respect their hustle because it’s an necessity to survive.
at this point the guys are still putting pressure on the knives and I’m grabbing both of their wrists in case they start to stab me. The guy in the front during this time is speeding erratically towards the south of the city. He takes breaks to slow down and hits me with his phone telling me they’re gonna kill me if I don’t give them everything. after they realize that they everything that’s on my possession I keep diffusing the situation by telling them that this is all respect and nobody needs to get hurt. One of them gets a call from his baby mama telling them that they need diapers and he just lets her know that “he’s working” and to call later, yes I’m not exaggerating the situation in this country being a kidnapper is a profession.
After a bit of more driving they tell me they’re not gonna kill me. from there they had me in my apartment keys back and I realize I’m not gonna die tonight and that they’re leaving me somewhere on the street, they drop me off on some corner and tell me not to look back because if I do they will kill me. I start walking and the shocks wears off and i start sprinting. I managed to find some nice taxi driver and he helped me get back to my place, I gave him a nice little tip and I called off work that day. I never made a report to the police station because the justice system is so shit and nothing will ever happen to the criminals because of soft on crime policies and judges who let the criminals right back out crime not being reported is a very common occurrence in this country.
i’ve been in a lot of sketchy violent situations but this is one of the closest I’ve come because if I did not give those men what I had in my pockets they would’ve killed me, they had such a strange energy as if they’ve done it before and would not hesitate to do it. The tonality, the force supplied, the lack of sympathy, these men were truly career criminals and they’ve probably caused some damage before. they happen to be Venezuelan as well, two dialects that I recognize from Caracas, and one from the coast.
Takeaways: UBER UBER UBER. I would’ve avoided this entire situation if I was just prepared with my Sim card and didn’t take a taxi at night, 100% my fault
Colombia is DANGEROUS and not for the rookie traveler, Spanish at an intermediate to fluent level is required you have to study the social you have to study the socioeconomic levels and history of the country prior to traveling there because if you’re coming from a US suburb straight into a big city you’re just waiting to become a victim.
Carry a burner phone. I could’ve lost thousands of dollars if this wasn’t the case there’s way more I can mention but this is just my only bad experience in Colombia and almost 2 years of traveling to it, risk exposure and law of probability I guess but it could’ve gone a lot worse so I’m very glad and thankful. I don’t mind answering your questions while I’m on this account.
This is the gang that got taken down that was operating. They victimized dozens more, Colombia’s specialty is organized crime. Beware.
– Huge-Tower5384
