Medellin

Medellín Cartel’s Fabio Ochoa Vasco Returns to Colombia After U.S. Prison Term

Fabio Enrique Ochoa Vasco, a former insider of the defunct Medellín Cartel, and once accused by Pablo Escobar of betrayal and marked for death, has quietly returned to Colombia after serving a prison sentence in…

RICHARD EMBLIN May 5, 2026

---

American Airlines flight attendant missing in Medellín prompts cross-border search

The disappearance of a U.S. flight attendant during a brief layover in Medellín has sparked an urgent search involving Colombian authorities, airline officials and U.S.…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF March 26, 2026

---

Colombia bars 10 foreigners in single-day crackdown on suspected sex tourism

Colombia’s migration authority Migración Colombia denied entry last week to 10 foreign nationals suspected of seeking sex tourism, marking the largest single-day refusal of its…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF March 16, 2026

---

Suspected drone attack disrupts high-level visit to Colombia’s Hidroituango

Colombia’s security forces alerted late Sunday Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón to cancel a planned visit to the Hidroituango hydroelectric…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF March 2, 2026

---

Colombia Rescues 17 Minors From Ultra-Orthodox Lev Tahor Sect

Colombian authorities have rescued 17 minors belonging to Lev Tahor, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect widely accused across several countries of child abuse, forced marriage, kidnapping…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF November 23, 2025

---

Medellín’s Gutiérrez clamps down on transnational mafias, bolsters U.S. ties

Medellín mayor Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez launched a crackdown on transnational mafias operating in Parque Lleras, vowing the city “will not be a refuge” for crime.…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF October 1, 2025

---

Colombian Mayors Demand More Protection After Petro invites Crime Bosses to Medellín Rally

President Gustavo Petro sparked national outrage after sharing a stage with jailed crim bosses during a rally in Medellín, just weeks after an assassination attempt…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF June 23, 2025

---

Artist of Earth and Time: Colombian artist Hugo Zapata dies at 80

Hugo Zapata (1945–2025), renowned Colombian sculptor, passed away at 80 in El Retiro. Known for monumental black stone works evoking earth and ancestral memory, Zapata…

RICHARD EMBLIN June 3, 2025

---

Heavy rainfall in Antioquia triggers emergencies and Red Alerts across department

Heavy rains across Colombia’s Antioquia department have triggered over 1,000 emergencies, with 87 municipalities under red or orange alert. Medellín and surrounding areas face flooding,…

THE CITY PAPER STAFF May 7, 2025

---

Carlos Lehder’s sudden return to Colombia revives legacy of Medellin Cartel

Carlos Lehder, one of the founding leaders of the Medellín Cartel and a key figure in the history of cocaine trafficking, was arrested by Colombian…

RICHARD EMBLIN March 31, 2025

---

SER: The Hat Couture of Medellín designer Andrea Agudelo

Designer Andrea Agudelo launches SER, a hat couture brand blending fashion, art, and mindfulness. Her debut collection, Born from Light, features handcrafted headwear symbolizing identity…

RICHARD EMBLIN March 24, 2025

---

Medellín’s Comuna 13 rejects Pablo Escobar memorabilia

Medellín's Comuna 13 attracts nearly 900,000 visitors annually, blending vibrant art with community-focused tourism. The merchandise and tours glorifying Pablo Escobar have overshadowed the identity…

RICHARD EMBLIN January 7, 2025