Medellín Megaoperativo October 2026: 135 Arrests, 153 Raids

On October 27, 2026, police, army and prosecutors raided 153 sites across Medellín and Antioquia and made 135 arrests, according to preliminary figures cited by Colombian media (data cut at 6:30 a.m.). This Medellín megaoperativo of October 2026 comes one day after the mayor promised more action in Parque Lleras, so it matters for El Poblado nightlife. Last updated: October 27, 2026. We found no official Policía Nacional, Presidencia or Alcaldía statement with these totals yet, so every figure below comes from press reports and may change.

What happened in the Medellín megaoperativo (October 27, 2026)

President Abelardo De la Espriella announced the results after the operation, run by the Police’s Bloque Operacional de Seguridad Urbana (BOSUR) with the Army, the Fiscalía and the Medellín and Antioquia governments. El Colombiano reports the data was cut at 6:30 a.m. with about 85% of the information processed.

Preliminary totals, per that report and Minuto30:

• 135 arrests. The reported breakdown (54 in flagrante, 66 by judicial order, 11 foreign nationals and 4 further apprehensions) does not add up to 135, as Minuto30 itself flags, so treat it as provisional.
• 153 raids (allanamientos).
• 98 “expulsions”, a figure neither source defines (see below).
• Seized: COP 717 million and €25,000 in cash, 10 firearms, 40 kg of cocaine, plus coca base, marijuana and synthetic drugs.

Two caveats. First, the sources we found don’t explain what the 98 “expulsions” are (for example, whether they are all foreigners or administrative measures). We could not verify this, so we left the figure out of the headline.

Second, early numbers moved a lot. An earlier overnight El Colombiano report cited “more than 100 raids” and 60 arrests.

That earlier report also says De la Espriella, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and Antioquia governor Andrés Julián Rendón accompanied the deployment, and that Gutiérrez confirmed around 3:20 a.m. that interventions were still under way.

Who was targeted

Authorities said the targets were structures linked to homicide, extortion, theft and drug trafficking. The president said alias “Primo Sangre,” described as second-in-command of the FARC dissident Frente 36 in Antioquia, was killed by Police after resisting, per the same El Colombiano and Minuto30 reports. That is the president’s account as relayed by the press; we have not seen it independently confirmed. De la Espriella’s message to criminal groups was “el miedo cambió de bando” (“the fear has switched sides”) and that the offensive will continue against members, leaders and their financing.

Parque Lleras: the mayor says operations will continue

The day before, on October 26, Telemedellín reported that Gutiérrez said operations in Parque Lleras will continue. He called the area a base for international criminal groups, citing crypto money laundering and illegal gold, and said “se depurará la matriz turística de la ciudad” (the city’s tourism sector will be purged) if needed.

He also said some closed venues face asset forfeiture (extinción de dominio), reportedly tied to criminal leaders including alias “El Mexicano,” already extradited. Businesses that comply with the law, he said, will have full institutional backing. Telemedellín gives no figures tying the October 27 totals to Parque Lleras, so don’t assume those 135 arrests happened there.

What it means for expats and visitors

This is a continuation, not a one-off. Our earlier report on Parque Lleras’s decline covered bar closures and police checks, and the A3C cartel coalition announced days ago shows the security push is also political. Practical takeaways:

• Carry your passport (or a clear copy) and keep your migratory status in order. Foreigners were reportedly among those detained, and police checks in El Poblado are covered in our Parque Lleras decline report.
• Expect more document and venue checks in and around Lleras, and possibly more closures. Licensed, law-abiding venues are the stated beneficiaries.
• Avoid anything that looks like drugs or sex tourism. Authorities have been explicit about both, as in our coverage of foreign sex offender arrests.
• Don’t read this as the city being unsafe tonight. Large raids target specific networks; the risks for visitors (drink spiking, late-night robbery) are the same ones covered in our late-night safety piece.

Quick answers

Was Parque Lleras raided on October 27? None of the sources we found say so. The 135 arrests and 153 raids are citywide and regional totals; Telemedellín’s Lleras coverage is from the day before.

Do foreigners need to carry a passport in Medellín? Carrying your passport or a clear copy is the prudent approach, particularly in El Poblado, where checks are common. Confirm current requirements with Migración Colombia.

What are the 98 expulsions? Unknown. Neither El Colombiano nor Minuto30 defines the term, and we will update this page if an official source does.

For updated totals, follow the official channels @PoliciaMedellin and @AlcaldiadeMed, and check your government’s travel advisory (for US citizens, travel.state.gov) before you travel.