Buenaventura, Columbia - Bishop Rubén Darío Jaramillo Montoya of Buenaventura explained Wednesday that drug gang violence in the Colombian port city has forced the churches to celebrate Masses before the evening since the criminals dictate when people can be out on the streets.

At approximately 6:30 p.m on Aug. 30, a confrontation broke out in the Juan XXIII neighborhood between the Los Shottas and Los Espartanos trafficking gangs. Moments later, a group of police officers appeared and exchanged fire with the criminals.

Speaking to Noticias Caracol television on Aug. 31, Bishop Jaramillo said that this “is not an isolated event, but rather it happens continually with many times when the community hasn’t slept” due to the bullets fired in the streets which hit the houses, putting “in danger the whole society.”

The prelate said that these groups go around with rifles, bringing their fights “from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.”
“They send out a statement that at six in the evening everyone has to be at home. So everyone has to obey,” he recounted.