Colombia city's new tourism boom has a dark side

Colombia emerges as a tourist destination with a dark side

What you probably already know: Since the fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, violence in the Colombian city of Medellín has fallen off dramatically. The balmy, tropical weather and natural beauty have started to attract tourists, many of whom are American. But there’s a dark side: The city has become a destination for men seeking underage children for sex.

Why? While Escobar may be gone, gangs still rule the city and many have turned to the sex trade now that the drug trade has been cut back. The age of consent in Colombia is 14 and sex work is legal there, though workers are supposed to be 18. A Wall Street Journal reporter spoke to law enforcement there who are trying to crack down on the growing problem.

What it means: Approximately 1.5 million visitors came through the city last year, and many came for very legitimate reasons, they said. But police have also discovered 72 underage victims in that time and have investigated several pornographic films created and then sold online featuring underage girls. Criminals are allegedly using cryptocurrency to pay, which makes it harder to track.

What happens now? Men who have been convicted of child exploitation can be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison in Colombia, so the risk is significant. And migration officials have begun turning people away at the border if they suspect they’re visiting only for sex with minors, thanks to help from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Angel Watch program that tracks sex offenders when they travel.