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 of a city rooted in culture and innovation.
Colombia’s JEP and missing persons entity UBPD have uncovered human remains at La Escombrera, Medellín’s largest municipal dump, and remains linked to over 500 forced disappearances during the internal conflict.
Medellín mayor Federico Gutiérrez wants to clamp down on narco-tours of the city’s Comuna 13 and the sale of merchandise that references the druglord of the infamous drugs cartel.
Medelli?n’s Comuna 13 is promoted to foreigners as one of the city’s curious attractions given its resident grafiteros and community-led tours. But how safe is “safe”?