For the third consecutive month, the homicide rate in Cartagena has dropped in comparison to numbers from last year.
Local website Aja Cartagena reported on Wednesday that official statistics reflect that there was one less murder in September of 2010 than in September 2009.
In the last seven months, there were 120 homicides in Cartagena, compared to 137 in 2009. In October of 2009, there were 30 murders. In October of this month, there have only been three so far, suggesting that this trend may hold.
Gang violence, oftentimes accelerated by the abuse of alcohol, is to blame for much of the violence. Recently, a strong police presence has led to the capture of more violent criminals. Faced with the reality of a high rate of interpersonal and domestic violence, authorities have created new laws restricting the sale and consumption of alcohol in several neighborhoods around Cartagena.
Unfortunately, violence has not been reduced in all of Colombia as both Medellin and Cali have seen their homicide rate increase in the last 18 months.
