COLOMBIA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- What is happening Prison officers searched 19 cell blocks at La Picota in Bogotá and seized 582 phones, 3,754 SIM cards and six Starlink dishes.
- Why it matters The government says extortion rings run from prisons, with phone threats against businesses and residents across Colombia.
- The numbers Also seized: 38 modems and 356 bladed weapons. That is more than six SIM cards for every phone.
- Who is who Abelardo De la Espriella is president since 7 August. INPEC is the national prison and penitentiary service.
- What to watch Whether prosecutors charge anyone, and how the devices got into the prison, which officials say they are still analysing.
- What it means for you US firms and residents in Colombia should treat unexpected calls demanding payment as possible extortion and tell the police.
A surprise search of La Picota prison in Bogotá found hundreds of phones and satellite internet dishes. President Abelardo De la Espriella announced the results on Tuesday, 3 November.
Colombian authorities searched 19 cell blocks at La Picota prison in Bogotá. They seized 582 mobile phones, 3,754 SIM cards and six Starlink satellite-internet dishes, the president announced on Tuesday, 3 November.
La Picota is a major prison in the south of the Colombian capital. The raid matters to foreigners because officials say extortion rings run from prison phones target shops, firms and residents across the country.
What the Search Found
The operation was a general search of 19 pavilions, or cell blocks, which the president called a “mega-operation of registration and control.” The prison service INPEC (the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute) ran it. Besides the phones and SIM cards, officers took 38 modems and 356 bladed weapons.
They also found narcotics, cash and electronic accessories, but the amounts were not published. The SIM cards outnumber the phones by more than six to one.
Officials have not said what the surplus cards were used for.
Why the Starlink Dishes Matter
Starlink is a satellite internet service run by the US company SpaceX. A dish connects to the internet without local phone or cable networks.
Officials have not said how the six dishes were used. They have also not said whether any dish was working when it was found.
Extortion From Behind Bars
De la Espriella has made extortion a priority since taking office on Friday, 7 August 2026. He has ordered prison transfers and searches, and this raid is part of that effort.
“Prisons cannot keep being centres of criminal operations,” he wrote on X, adding “prison is prison.” He also said, “The nonsense is over.”Related Rio Times coverage includes the government’s mega-prison plan and a bill offering gangs lighter sentences.The Colombia security guide explains the wider picture.
What It Means for You
Extortion by phone is a risk for businesses and residents in Colombian cities, including foreigners who run shops, rentals or restaurants. Treat a call demanding payment as a possible scam or threat, do not pay, and contact the police.
US travellers should check the State Department’s Colombia advisory before visiting. More is on the Colombia hub and the Bogotá city page.
What Is Not Known
Officials have not said how the phones, SIM cards and dishes entered the prison. They are still analysing the seized material, and no arrest or charge has been announced.
The amount of cash and the type and weight of the narcotics have not been confirmed. The number of inmates involved is also unknown, and none has been named, so all are presumed innocent.
What Comes Next
Investigators will examine the devices to trace how they got in and which calls they made. Prosecutors would decide on any charges against inmates or staff.
The raid does not prove that every seized phone was used for extortion. It also does not mean the prison is now free of contraband.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did officials find at La Picota?
They seized 582 phones, 3,754 SIM cards, 38 modems, six Starlink dishes and 356 bladed weapons in 19 cell blocks. They also found narcotics and cash.
Who carried out the raid?
The national prison service INPEC ran the search. President Abelardo De la Espriella announced the results on Tuesday, 3 November.
What is La Picota?
La Picota is a major prison in southern Bogotá, the Colombian capital. It is part of the national system run by INPEC.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet service from the US company SpaceX. It connects users without local phone or cable networks.
Sources: Colombian presidency, statement by President Abelardo De la Espriella on X (3 November 2026), presidencia.gov.co; INPEC, Colombia’s national penitentiary and prison institute, inpec.gov.co; Ministry of Justice, minjusticia.gov.co; US State Department, Colombia travel advisory (accessed 3 November 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief