US Warns Tourists in Colombia of Drone Attacks by Terror Groups

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia has issued a severe travel advisory for the Norte de Santander department in the country's northeast, bordering Venezuela, and specifically the Catatumbo region. American authorities are urging citizens to completely avoid this area and maintain a distance of at least five miles from the border due to threats of kidnapping and violence. The advisory highlights a concerning shift by armed criminal and terrorist organizations, including the ELN, to employ accessible commercial drones fitted with explosives. These drones, combined with small arms fire, are reportedly used to attack police stations and military facilities with little to no warning. Residents and visitors in the region are also at risk of extortion, kidnapping, and displacement amid power struggles over illegal routes.

While the U.S. State Department generally advises reconsidering travel to Colombia (Level 3), the Norte de Santander region is designated as "Do Not Travel" (Level 4). In parallel, Israel's National Security Council (NSC) maintains an active Level 2 travel warning for Colombia, citing a risk of occasional threats and recommending increased caution. The NSC notes a rise in hostility and antisemitism towards Israelis and Jews globally, with Colombia being a notable location for such incidents, including verbal harassment, threats, incitement, vandalism, and potential physical attacks that could escalate to terrorism.

The security concerns extend beyond border areas. Last week, a fatal shooting near the tourist city of Cartagena resulted in four young men being killed. The Colombian monitoring organization Indepaz classified this as the 95th massacre in the country this year. A threat flyer attributed to the Clan del Golfo crime syndicate was circulated following the incident and is under police investigation. Although this massacre occurred outside Cartagena's main tourist zones, it has raised concerns among travelers. These security issues are compounded by natural disasters, such as the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia in August that caused hundreds of deaths and widespread destruction.