Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [251]
Armed hold-ups in the cities can occur even in some more upmarket suburbs. If you are accosted by robbers, it is best to give them what they are after, but try to play it cool and don’t rush to hand them all your valuables at once – they may well be satisfied with just your decoy wad. Don’t try to escape or struggle – your chances are slim, and people have been murdered for pocket change. Don’t count on any help from passersby.
Be careful when drawing cash from an ATM as some robberies have been reported. Criminals may watch you drawing money, then assault you either at the ATM or a convenient place nearby. It may be safer to get an advance from the cashier inside the bank, even if this takes a while.
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Police
While the Colombian military is highly trustworthy and the federal police have a reputation as untouchables, local cops have more of a mixed reputation. They don’t get paid a lot of money, and incidents of bribery and bullying of tourists are commonplace.
Always carry a photocopy of your passport with you, including your entry stamp, and never carry drugs of any kind, either on the street or when traveling. If your papers are in order and they can’t squeeze you for a bribe, they have no excuse to bother you.
In tourist areas, there are an increasing number of so-called tourist police; many speak some English. They are uniformed and easily recognizable by the Policía de Turismo labels on their arm bands. Go to them first if you can.
If your passport, valuables or other belongings are stolen, go to the police station and make a denuncia (report). The officer on duty will write a statement according to what you tell them. It should include the description of the events and the list of stolen articles. Pay attention to the wording you use, include every stolen item and document, and carefully check the statement before signing it to ensure it contains exactly what you’ve said. Your copy of the statement serves as a temporary identity document and you’ll need to present it to your insurer to make a claim. Don’t expect your things to be found; it’s unlikely your claim will be followed up much beyond filing the report.
If you happen to get involved with the police, keep calm and be polite, and always use the formal ‘usted.’ Keep a sharp eye out when they check your gear.
Be wary of criminals masquerading as plainclothes police. They may stop you on the street, identify themselves with a fake ID, then ask to inspect your passport and money. Under no circumstances should you agree to a search. Call a uniformed police officer, if there happens to be one around, or decent-looking passersby to witness the incident, and insist on phoning a bona fide police station. By that time, the ‘officers’ will probably have discreetly walked away.
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Drugs
Cocaine and marijuana are cheap and widely available in Colombia. Purchasing and consuming drugs, however, is not a good idea. Never travel with drugs (strip searches are not uncommon), and if you insist on purchasing drugs be very careful who you buy from. Most police aren’t interested in busting you, but rather in shaking you down for a bribe (although this can’t be said of every policeman). The standard bribe for possession hovers between COP$500,000 and COP$1,000,000, although people have been known to cut their trip short after forking over US$3500.
Sometimes you may be offered drugs on the street, in a bar or at a disco, but never accept these offers. The vendors may well be setting you up for the police, or their accomplices will follow you and stop you later, show you false police documents and threaten you with jail unless you pay them off.
There have been reports of drugs being planted on travelers, so keep your eyes open. Always refuse if a stranger at an airport asks you to take their luggage on board as part of your luggage