09 October 2011

COLOMBIA : As War Against Drugs Cuts Profits...Extortion Surges.

                                         LATIMES / C.KRAUL

     Extortion is now a growing problem in many parts of Colombia...as easy profits from coca cultivation are harder to come by.
     In the coastal town of Cienaga, most businesses refused to open for a day to protest the murder of a store owner who refused to pay a "vaccination"/extortion payment.
    In the city of Tumaco, officials estimate that nine of 10 businesses pay protection money... with extortion cases are up 80%...since 2009.