Migración Colombia denied entry to an American known on social media as Casey Red Beard at Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado in Bogotá on Saturday, May 23, returning him on an immediate flight to Miami after officials confirmed prior alerts linking him to the alleged promotion of sex tourism and private gatherings in Medellín. The traveler has been barred from entering Colombia for 10 years.

The decision drew on existing anotaciones registered by the agency’s Regional Antioquia-Chocó office, derived from public denouncements made in earlier years. According to Migración Colombia, the man had used social media to promote private gatherings in apartments in Medellín aimed at foreign visitors, marketed under the name Programa de Inmersión en Medellín. The agency described packages priced in US dollars that included private dinners, exclusive parties, excursions, and food and transport for women attending the events.

A message attributed by Migración Colombia to the organizers of the parties read: “Mis clientes son millonarios y me pagan muy bien para lanzar fiestas donde solo haya chicas educadas (…) ellos no quieren conocer las chicas que están en el Lleras a las 2 a.m.” (“My clients are millionaires and they pay me very well to throw parties where there are only educated girls (…) they don’t want to meet the girls who are at Lleras at 2 a.m.”)

“In several posts, he brags that his “white advantage” helps him attract Latin American women and urges men to get their passports.” – Jessica Van Meir in The Baffler #77, January 2025

Statements from Bogotá and Medellín

The Director General of Migración Colombia, Gloria Esperanza Arriero, said the agency “no solo tiene rigor en el control migratorio, sino también capacidad en las verificaciones y en la toma de decisiones para combatir la trata de personas y la explotación sexual de niños, niñas y adolescentes con todos los elementos posibles” (“not only enforces migration controls rigorously, but also has the verification and decision-making capacity to combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents with every available element”). Arriero added that the agency would continue strengthening control mechanisms to prevent the entry of persons it determines pose risks to communities.

The Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, addressed the case on his X account: “Otro más. Go Home‼️ Un estadounidense conocido en redes sociales como Casey Red Beard llegó a Bogotá en un vuelo desde Miami y fue devuelto a su país por Migración Colombia, luego de confirmarse que estaba en la lista Alertas Medellín, por promoción explícita de turismo con fines de explotación sexual, organizando fiestas en apartamentos de la ciudad.” (“Another one. Go Home‼️ An American known on social media as Casey Red Beard arrived in Bogotá on a flight from Miami and was returned to his country by Migración Colombia, after it was confirmed he was on the Alertas Medellín list for the explicit promotion of tourism for the purposes of sexual exploitation, organizing parties in apartments in the city.”)

“Let it be clear: there is no place here for foreigners who come to promote disorder and skirt the law.”— Federico Gutiérrez, Mayor of Medellín

The Alertas Medellín list cited by Gutiérrez is a municipal mechanism maintained by the Alcaldía de Medellín that flags foreign nationals associated with criminal activity, security risks, or conduct authorities consider incompatible with public coexistence. The list is shared with Migración Colombia for use at points of entry.

Identifying the Subject

Authorities publicly identified the man only by his social-media handle, Casey Red Beard, and the affiliated X account @RedBeardRants1. The individual operating under the handle is Casey Brown, an American previously identified by name in a January 2025 essay in The Baffler by journalist Jessica Van Meir, who described him as “a self-proclaimed red-pilled dating coach” who advertised “gringo parties” in Medellín “for American tourists to meet Colombian women.” Van Meir cited a 2023 report in the Colombian feminist outlet Manifiesta alleging that Red Beard and an accomplice had engaged in sex trafficking. A LinkedIn profile consistent with the same identification also presents him under the name Casey Brown. Migración Colombia has not commented on legal-name identification.

Self-Styled ‘Red-Pilled’ Dating Coach

The public profile cultivated by the subject sits squarely within the so-called “red pill” or “manosphere” online community — a network of self-styled male-dating influencers whose best-known international figure is the British-American social-media personality Andrew Tate, currently under indictment in Romania on charges including human trafficking and rape. On his YouTube channel, which operates under the handle @redbeardrants, and in his publicly indexed marketing materials, Red Beard describes his stated mission as one to “destroy loneliness in men” and promotes a method built around mass online-dating outreach, paid virtual assistants, and copy-paste messaging “funnels.” His published guidance to clients includes an explicit recommendation to “leave the west (USA, Canada, UK, etc.). Go to a more favorable dating market like Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, etc. where the women are more feminine, beautiful, cooperative, and easier to obtain.” His listed past collaborations include Myron Gaines and the Fresh and Fit Podcast, a manosphere-adjacent program in the same broader subculture.

Investigators reviewing his social-media output cited the same framing in their internal alerts. Beyond the “chicas educadas” message attributed to the organizers by Migración Colombia, the agency noted that Red Beard’s published content has historically marketed Medellín itself as the destination commodity, with the city’s Parque Lleras nightlife district and surrounding El Poblado sector positioned as the operational base for his promoted experiences.

Mayor’s Office Has Made Vice and Sex Tourism a Signature Enforcement Priority

Federico Gutiérrez has positioned the protection of women and children from sexual exploitation as a defining priority of his second, non-consecutive mayoral term, treating the suppression of vice tourism as both a public-safety obligation and a city-brand imperative. The May 23 Casey Red Beard inadmission fits a sustained two-year enforcement push that began in his first weeks back in office in early 2024. Within weeks of taking office, the administration imposed a curfew restricting unaccompanied minors from designated zones — including La 33, La Candelaria, and the Corredor de la 70 — to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children. In April 2024 the mayor used emergency powers to outlaw prostitution in the El Poblado sector, including the Parque Lleras zone, and authorities sealed a guesthouse called Gotham marketed through Airbnb on grounds related to alleged organized criminal activity, with extinción de dominio (asset forfeiture) proceedings sought against the property.

The enforcement push has been backed by explicit US support. In April 2024 the US Ambassador to Colombia, Francisco Palmieri, met with Gutiérrez in Bogotá and pledged the “total cooperation of the US government and its resources” to support Colombian law enforcement against sexual exploitation and human trafficking, including the extradition of US citizens to Colombia where applicable. A bilateral operational pattern was already visible in March 2024, when two US citizens were arrested for the sexual exploitation of minors in Colombia following coordinated raids. Subsequent arrests in August 2024 involved direct coordination with the US Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on a transnational case involving a Mexican operator and routes through El Poblado, Belén, Cancún, and Mérida.

Municipal prevention has run alongside enforcement and has been framed around the protection of minors and women in conditions of economic vulnerability. The Secretary of Security and Coexistence of Medellín, Manuel Villa Mejía, has overseen periodic mega-operativos involving more than 300 agents drawn from the Policía Nacional, the army, Migración Colombia, and municipal agencies, targeting establishments and accommodations linked to alleged exploitation. In October 2025 the Alcaldía launched training for owners and administrators of tourist accommodations in coordination with Fundación Renacer, a Colombian non-governmental organization specializing in the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children. City-government figures from October 2024 reported a 160% increase in arrests for sexual violence against minors and 22,000 calls to the city’s 123 emergency line for child and adolescent protection requests during that year, even as overall foreign tourist arrivals rose 26% — a data pairing the Alcaldía has used to argue that brand recovery and enforcement are complementary rather than competing objectives.

The broader foreigner-safety beat in Medellín has continued to draw international attention. In March 2026, the death of an American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) flight attendant in Antioquia following her disappearance focused renewed attention on escopolamina-related crime targeting foreigners and locals in the city.

Otro más. Go Home‼️

Un estadounidense conocido en redes sociales como Casey Red Beard llegó a Bogotá en un vuelo desde Miami y fue devuelto a su país por Migración Colombia, luego de confirmarse que estaba en la lista Alertas Medellín, por promoción explícita de turismo con… https://t.co/EWBfr9qwdK

— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) May 23, 2026

Enforcement Numbers for 2026

In what has elapsed of 2026, Migración Colombia has inadmitted approximately 90 foreign nationals nationwide for risks associated with sexual exploitation and conduct linked to trata de personas (human trafficking), a figure already approaching the 110 cases recorded for all of 2025. In Medellín alone, more than 60 inadmission procedures have been carried out so far this year, compared to 80 for all of 2025. The agency’s Regional Antioquia-Chocó office accounts for 63 of the 2026 cases.

Broader expulsion and deportation activity is running at a pace comparable to the previous year. Through May 23, the agency reported 310 expulsions or deportations of foreign citizens in 2026, comprising 157 deportations and 153 expulsions, compared to 1,652 cases recorded during all of 2025. Deportations were concentrated in the agency’s Nariño, Oriente, Atlántico, Eje Cafetero, Antioquia, and Andina regional offices, while expulsions were most frequent in Oriente, Andina, Antioquia, Nariño, and at the El Dorado station.

According to Arriero, expulsion and deportation decisions are taken in accordance with the Constitución Política de Colombia and applicable law, with due-process considerations, and respond to immigration violations, threats to public order or national security, judicial orders, and requirements from international organizations including the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Migración Colombia retains discretionary authority under Decreto 2136 de 2021 to deny entry to or order the return of foreign citizens it determines pose risks to national security or public order.

Pattern of Recent Cases

The Casey Red Beard inadmission follows several high-profile expulsions earlier in 2026. In April, Migración Colombia expelled Steve Newland, a US citizen and social media operator known as “Chill Capo,” accused of promoting party experiences with alleged ties to sexual exploitation and of publishing content advising visitors on how to evade migration controls. The same month, the agency expelled Samuel McVey, a former teacher from New Rochelle, New York, following incidents at schools in the eastern Antioquia municipality of Rionegro and in the Las Palmas sector of Medellín. Migración Colombia also detected and again removed Russian citizen George Laevsky after he attempted to re-enter the country following an April expulsion linked to repeated disturbances at an apartment in the El Poblado sector.

Colombian authorities have framed the escalating enforcement as targeting precisely the use of social media and digital platforms to market tourism packages that allegedly conceal sexual exploitation, with women in conditions of economic vulnerability described as the principal victims. The agency has previously stated that prevention of Explotación Sexual Comercial de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes (ESCNNA) is a particular priority, citing cooperation with international intelligence agencies and the Angel Watch program, which has resulted in more than 470 entry denials since 2016 for reasons associated with sexual offenses.

A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Ramon Arellano Sandoval, 65, of Antioch, Tennessee, on charges of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted production of child sexual abuse material involving a 14-year-old victim residing in Medellín, Colombia. A US federal district judge subsequently sentenced Arellano Sandoval to 30 years in federal prison, according to Alcaldía de Medellín Mayor Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez, who confirmed the sentence on May 21, 2026.

The case, prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida under case number 24-cr-20519, represents the tenth conviction obtained under a joint US-Colombia enforcement initiative targeting foreign nationals who travel to Medellín to sexually exploit minors. Three other US citizens previously sentenced in connection with the program include Stefan Correa and Manuel Poceiro, who each received life sentences, and Mohamed Anaswed, who received 21 years in federal prison.

According to court records and evidence presented at the February 24 trial, Arellano Sandoval exchanged thousands of text and video messages with the victim, who was 14 years old at the time, and who lived in a rural area near Medellín. Prosecutors presented evidence that the defendant knew the victim’s age, repeatedly solicited sexually explicit videos from her, directed her to produce illicit material in exchange for electronic payments, and traveled to Colombia to engage in commercial sex with her.

“The evidence showed that this defendant pressured a child to create sexually explicit videos and even traveled overseas to abuse her. That conduct is predatory, criminal, and intolerable.” — Jason A. Reding Quiñones, US Attorney, Southern District of Florida

The jury found Arellano Sandoval guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, and attempted production of visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

“The jury’s verdict delivered justice for a 14-year-old victim who was targeted and exploited by a 65-year-old man who knew exactly what he was doing,” said US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence showed that this defendant pressured a child to create sexually explicit videos and even traveled overseas to abuse her.”

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami under Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa, with operational support from HSI Colombia. Assistant US Attorneys Tim Farina and Camille Smith handled the prosecution. On the Colombian side, the arrest and evidence collection involved the Alcaldía de Medellín, the Policía Nacional through its Dirección de Protección y Servicios Especiales (DIPRO), the Fiscalía General de la Nación, and Migración Colombia.

“La justicia no tiene fronteras cuando se trata de proteger a nuestros niños, niñas y adolescentes,” Gutiérrez wrote on his X account, referring to cross-border judicial cooperation in cases involving the exploitation of minors. The mayor indicated the administration would continue pursuing similar prosecutions, stating that any foreign national traveling to Medellín to exploit minors would be pursued until obtaining a conviction, including in their country of origin.

‼️La justicia no tiene fronteras cuando se trata de proteger a nuestros niños, niñas y adolescentes.🚨Otro condenado más.

Ramón Arellano Sandoval, de 65 años de Estados Unidos, fue sentenciado a 30 años en prisión federal de ese país, por los delitos de intento de explotación… pic.twitter.com/mepkNuOURX

— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) May 21, 2026

The Arellano Sandoval case follows a similar prosecution earlier in 2026 against Michael Jaime Inofuentes, also a US citizen, who was sentenced by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to 18 years in federal prison. Court evidence in that case established that Inofuentes sexually abused a 15-year-old in Medellín and paid for encounters in hotels, resulting in a pregnancy in early 2024. The investigation, triggered by a complaint from the victim’s mother to Colombian authorities, led to Inofuentes’s arrest in Miami. Prosecutors introduced WhatsApp conversations, financial transfers, and the defendant’s own admissions, which included statements that he had fathered other children in Colombia under similar circumstances. Related court documents and additional case information are available through the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov and through the PACER system at pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20519.

The city of Medellín is scheduled to host the second edition of the “WOBI on AI and Business Transformation” summit on April 28, 2026. The event, which will take place at Plaza Mayor, represents the sixth major collaboration between the Alcaldía de Medellín and WOBI since the partnership began in 2017. This year’s forum focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence into corporate leadership and operational strategy, reinforcing the city’s status as a Special District of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Martha Lucía Maldonado Nieto, Managing Director of WOBI Colombia, detailed the evolution of the event series, noting that previous editions held between 2017 and 2019 attracted more than 4,300 business owners. “Since last year, we have shifted these digital transformation conversations toward an unavoidable topic: Artificial Intelligence,” Maldonado stated. She emphasized that the summit is designed to analyze how AI supports macro-management themes rather than providing purely technical instruction. “WOBI is not about providing technical content. Our goal isn’t to teach people how to operate a specific AI tool, but rather to support them in their roles as leaders.”

“We are certain that only by sensitizing our leaders will we achieve real changes in organizations.” — María Fernanda Galeano Rojo

The upcoming summit features a lineup of international speakers covering diverse facets of the technology. Terry Gutiérrez, the General Manager for Tesla (TSLA) in Mexico and Latin America, will present on leadership algorithms. Nathan Furr, a professor at INSEAD, is set to discuss using AI to scale business models. Other speakers include marketing expert Giuseppe Stigliano and Andrew Mayne, a former prompt engineer at OpenAI, who will provide insights into the development of ChatGPT. Maldonado noted that the curation of this content is managed by WOBI’s team in New York to identify global trends relevant to executive decision-making.

María Fernanda Galeano Rojo, the Secretary of Economic Development for Medellín, will also address the assembly on the role of “Cities that Think.” Galeano Rojo highlighted the city’s commitment to ensuring high-level technological discourse reaches multiple sectors of the local economy. “We will have 600 leaders, more than 70% of whom will be from our city,” Galeano Rojo said. “At the same time, we will have parallel activities where we will be talking with these same speakers, as well as with entrepreneurs and university students. What we want is for all this knowledge to reach different sectors of our city.”

The event structure has transitioned to a membership model as of 2024, though individual tickets remain available. Maldonado confirmed that the average cost for participation is approximately $1,990,000 COP. The summit aims to build on the success of the inaugural AI edition, which saw 800 attendees from 350 companies and has since been exported to Madrid and Milan. “Artificial Intelligence is not just another trend; it is a new reality,” Maldonado added. “It is going to change and impact us in much the same way that the internet at some point changed the way we function.”

The Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico continues to prioritize digital skills and AI training as part of its broader economic strategy. According to Galeano Rojo, the objective of the Alcaldía de Medellín is to use these international platforms to drive social and organizational transformation. “We are betting on digital skills training and AI training,” she remarked. “We are certain that only by sensitizing our leaders will we achieve real changes in organizations.”

The one-day academic session will begin at 9:00 AM. Key regional entities including Rappi, McKinsey, and Procter & Gamble (PG) were cited as background for the expertise being brought to the stage, reflecting the professional trajectories of the invited speakers.

The History Channel is scheduled to premiere a new documentary titled Parceros on April 29, 2026. The 43-minute production, developed in collaboration with the Alcaldía de Medellín, examines the social challenges facing youth in the city’s communes and the state-led initiatives designed to mitigate the influence of criminal structures.

The documentary focuses on the Parceros program, an initiative managed by the Secretaría de Seguridad y Convivencia of Medellín. The program provides psychosocial support, academic training, and employment pathways for children, adolescents, and young adults at risk of recruitment by organized crime. According to municipal data, approximately 350 criminal groups operate within Medellín, involving an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 individuals. The program has served over 9,000 participants between 2024 and 2025, with a target of reaching 15,000 individuals by the end of the current four-year term.

“When the public sector works hand in hand with social organizations and media with global reach, the impact is multiplied.” — Federico Gutiérrez, Mayor of Medellín.

Federico Gutiérrez, the Mayor of Medellín, stated that the partnership with international media outlets aims to increase the visibility of the city’s social transformation. He noted that the collaboration between the public sector and global organizations facilitates a broader impact for regional infrastructure and social programs. The documentary features Argentine actor and producer Michel Brown, who serves as the primary narrator and interacts with participants to document their transition from informal or illegal activities toward stable employment and entrepreneurship.

The production follows the individual trajectories of three participants: Marcela, Alejandro, and Juan Sebastian. These accounts detail the transition from situations involving homelessness, illegal activities, and exploitation toward roles in municipal security management, private business ownership, and the local tourism sector. Paulina Patiño, director of the Parceros program, indicated that the initiative focuses on building human capital and providing alternatives to the economic incentives offered by local criminal organizations.

Produced by A+E Networks (NYSE: DIS) in association with Loso Producciones and co-produced by Lulo Films, the project reflects a trend of utilizing high-production-value media to document ESG-related social investments in Latin America. Cesar Sabroso, Senior VP of Marketing at A+E Networks Latin America, emphasized the company’s objective to distribute these narratives across the region to highlight successful intervention models.

Medellín continues to be a focal point for international observers due to its ongoing social transformation and its status as a hub for the global creative economy. The documentary intends to provide a technical look at how targeted social spending and public-private partnerships can alter the demographic trajectory of urban centers in Colombia and the broader US interest area.

Headline photo of Medellín’s Comuna 13 (photo © Loren Moss)

MEDELLÍN — The mobile film festival SMARTFILMS announced the launch of its third edition in the “City of the Eternal Primavera” on March 17, 2026. The initiative aims to democratize cinema and foster local creative talent through technology and audiovisual narratives. The program’s goal is to train 4,000 participants in the technical skills required to produce films using mobile devices.

The launch is supported by the Alcaldía de Medellín (Medellín mayor’s office), which is providing 3,300 training slots, the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá (Aburrá Valley metropolitan area) with 300 slots, and the Cámara de Comercio de Medellín para Antioquia with 250 slots. Additional strategic partners include EPM and Fenalco Antioquia, organizations that focus on regional innovation and commercial development. The official opening, led by CEO Yesenia Valencia, took place at the Poblado branch of the Chamber of Commerce,

“SMARTFILMS is not just a festival; it is a platform that demonstrates that to tell a great story, one only needs a good idea and the device everyone carries in their pocket.”

The 2026 program utilizes a four-phase methodology designed to transition creators into digital entrepreneurs. The first phase involves mass training for 4,000 individuals in mobile audiovisual production. In the second phase, 400 selected participants will attend a specialized bootcamp at the Cámara de Comercio de Medellín para Antioquia featuring industry experts. The third phase focuses on business skills for 40 finalists, covering marketing, digital advertising, budgeting, and legal contracts.

In the final stage, participants must produce advertising content for three local neighborhood businesses to assist in their digital transition. Financial incentives include prizes of $10 million COP for first place, $5 million COP for second place, and $3 million COP for third place. Additionally, finalists receive seed capital of $1.5 million COP per person for recording equipment. Registration is managed through the cineconcelular.com platform.

The festival reports a significant regional economic impact, generating 115 direct jobs and over 300 indirect jobs. The direct positions include 33 payroll staff and 82 contractors based in Medellín. Since its inception, the model has trained 8,000 people and led to the creation of 120 businesses nationwide. These creative enterprises currently report monthly revenues ranging from $2 million COP to $10 million COP.

The 2026 version of the project seeks to expand its reach across all districts of the metropolitan area to stimulate the development of cultural companies and social transformation. Documentation from the organizers highlights a 0% desertion rate among participants over the last two years.

Medellín. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

The training sessions are scheduled for October 14 and 16 at the Museo de Antioquia, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The sessions will be conducted in collaboration with Fundación Renacer, a Colombian non-governmental organization with over three decades of experience in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.

According to the city government, the training will provide participants with tools to detect suspicious behaviors and unusual patterns that may indicate exploitation. The program will also cover protocols for action and procedures for coordinating with relevant authorities. Attendees will work on developing best practices to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of minors and to foster safe and responsible environments within the tourism sector.

Medellín launches training for tourist accommodation owners to prevent and identify child sexual exploitation, promoting safe and sustainable tourism. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

At least 50 participants are expected to attend the sessions. The initiative is part of a broader strategy involving both public and private sector entities to address and prevent crimes associated with tourism in Medellín.

Interested parties can register for the training through the official registration form or seek further information by contacting the city’s tourism office.

For additional details, the Secretaría de Turismo y Entretenimiento can be reached at +57 300 784 3629.

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga announced plans for the festival, including 21 musical stages distributed across the city’s 16 communes and five corregimientos, all offering free admission. The Alcaldía de Medellín (Mayor’s Office of Medellín) has allocated $336 million COP (approximately $81,000 USD) for the renewal of attire for 535 silleteros and silleteras—flower farmers who carry elaborate floral arrangements. This update marks the first such renewal since 2017. The new attire includes trousers and shirts for men, and skirts and blouses for women, along with traditional accessories such as cotizas (sandals), paruma (wrap-around skirt), aprons, hats, and scarves.

Mayor Gutiérrez stated that the Feria de las Flores remains a public event, with over 110 activities organized by the Mayor’s Office. He emphasized the role of the silleteros as central to the festival, representing the region’s values and customs. Both adult and child silleteros are expected to debut new uniforms.

Above photo of Medellín’s “Feria de las Flores” (Flower Festival) courtesy of Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Under the theme “Medellín Te quiere celebrando lo que somos” (Medellín Loves You, Celebrating Who We Are), the program includes five parades. These are the second edition of Avenida Primavera, the Classic and Antique Cars Parade, the Chivas and Flowers Parade, and the Heroes of the Homeland Parade.

The 68th edition of the Iconic Silleteros Parade will feature 535 silleteros and silleteras, including five children with neurodiversity. Martín Atehortúa, a silletero from Santa Elena and president of the Corporación de Silleteros de Santa Elena (Cosse), acknowledged the inclusion efforts, noting it as an advance for equality. The parade is scheduled for Sunday, August 10. On this day, which marks the close of the Feria de las Flores, each silletero will wear a black ribbon in honor of victims of winter weather in the metropolitan area and nationwide.

The District Administration will provide 44 grandstands with a total capacity of 22,000 people per parade, each accommodating 500 attendees. Over 50% of these spaces will be open to the public without charge to ensure broader access. A specialized module with a capacity for 50 individuals with reduced mobility will also be available. The remaining grandstand spaces will be managed by the Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau for commercialization among festival sponsors and tourism operators.

Throughout the 10-day festival, musical stages will return with artistic programming in each of the 16 communes and five corregimientos, aiming to decentralize the event’s reach. Attendance at these stages is projected to range from 10,000 to 40,000 attendees per stage.

The inaugural concert is scheduled for Friday, August 1, in the Obelisco sector, featuring artists such as Jorge Celedón, Fernando González, and Jessi Uribe. Additionally, the Parque Cultural Nocturno (Night Cultural Park) will take place at Plaza Gardel, offering high-level performances. The program includes Colombian, Afro, and bolero music, along with a tribute to the 50th anniversary of El Combo de las Estrellas.

The 19th edition of the National Trova Festival Ciudad de Medellín will hold its semifinal rounds on August 1 and 2 at the Parque de los Deseos. The grand final for the Rey or Reina de la Trova (King or Queen of Trova) will be on Friday, August 8, at Plaza Gardel.

Other scheduled activities include the Silleteritos Parade and Sancochos Festival in Santa Elena, the La Floresta Silleteritos Parade, the Feria al Ritmo de Bici (Fair to the Rhythm of Bike) Parade, the Canine and Pet Walk, Plazas de las Flores (Flower Plazas), Fondas de Mi Tierra (My Land’s Inns) at Aeroparque Juan Pablo II, and “Florecer: orquídeas, naturaleza y tradiciones” (To Blossom: Orchids, Nature, and Traditions) at the Jardín Botánico de Medellín.

Mauricio Londoño, president of the Corporación de Silleteros de Santa Elena (Cosse), noted that grandstand ticket sales for 2025 will include the experience of visiting a silletera farm, aiming to increase visibility for these farms and allow visitors to experience them firsthand.

Migración Colombia projects that between 55,000 and 60,000 international passengers will arrive during the Feria de las Flores 2025, with at least 55% being foreign visitors and non-resident Colombians. Terminales Medellín estimates that land transport passenger arrivals will range between 250,000 and 260,000 people. Cotelco, the Colombian Hotel and Tourism Association, forecasts hotel occupancy rates between 77.0% and 81.0%, indicating an upward trend.

Medellín’s Féria de las Flores. Photo credit: Loren Moss

The City Hall also revealed that 95.6% of these trips were for tourism, while the remaining percentages were for business, events, or medical treatments. These figures have solidified Medellín’s position as the second most connected city in Colombia, with 5,452 monthly flights, and 65.9% of them are domestic flights.

However, Medellín continues to battle against sexual exploitation.

In September 2024, six establishments were temporarily closed due to irregularities. In 2024, the local administration carried out 97 inspections of establishments, 28 visits to commercial sites, and issued 25 temporary suspension orders. Between January and August, Medellín assisted 139 minors at risk of exploitation, with 59 of them entering legal processes for the restoration of their rights.

The City Hall extended curfews for minors in high-risk areas until December 2024. Manuel Villa Mejía, Secretary of Security, stated: “The number of reports has increased, and we want to emphasize that reporting these crimes is truly about protecting children; we urge the public to stay vigilant so that together, we can safeguard them.”

What is the protocol for handling sexual offenses?

Medellín has activated the phone line 324 574 3645 for reporting suspected cases of child sexual exploitation, which alerts a special response team. Additionally, the ‘Parceras’ helpline at 324 574 3647 is available as a support channel for victims of violence or sexual exploitation, where they can receive professional orientation.

As of September 23, 2024, which was marked as the International Day Against Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, the City Hall reported that 139 minors have received support for cases of sexual violence in Medellín, with arrests for this crime increasing by 160%. Captain Jeyson Rodríguez, Head of the Childhood and Adolescence Division of the Metropolitan Police of Medellín, added: “We’ve received a total of 22,000 calls to the 123 line, compared to 13,271, specifically related to child and adolescent protection requests.”

Photo credit: City of Medellín.

According to the organizers, the four-day event attracted over 92,000 visitors, surpassing previous records. This included approximately 5,400 international attendees from over 58 countries, indicating a growing global interest in the Colombian motorcycle market and the F2R event.

The Secretaría Distrital de Desarrollo Económico de Medellín estimated that the F2R 2025 generated an economic impact of $33.9 million USD for the city. This benefited various sectors, including hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, commerce, entertainment, and tourism services. Official figures reported an 82% hotel occupancy rate during the event.

The trade show floor hosted 535 exhibitors, including 104 international participants and 300 representatives from delegations from China and India. Over 2,000 brands were showcased, providing a comprehensive overview of the motorcycle and light mobility industry. Commercial activity was notable, with over 1,600 motorcycles sold during the fair. The business roundtables facilitated over 150 meetings between entrepreneurs, further establishing the F2R as a key networking hub for industry development.

Innovation was a central theme at F2R 2025, with the “Ruta de la Innovación” featuring more than 61 new vehicle launches. Fourteen national and international assemblers and dealers presented their latest models and technologies in dedicated spaces across the venue, including the Gran Salón de Convenciones, Pabellón Blanco, Pabellón Verde, and the new Pabellón Naranja.

The event also emphasized knowledge exchange and training, with 23 academic events attracting over 1,930 registered participants. New additions to the program included the 1st Panel on Sustainable and Light Mobility, the 1st Road Safety Seminar, and the 1st Business Leaders Meeting. These sessions, alongside ongoing talks, forums, and workshops, covered topics such as electric mobility, mechanics, sustainability, traffic laws, and the inclusion of women in motorcycling.

Local entrepreneurship was supported through a partnership with the Alcaldía de Medellín. Thirteen local ventures showcased innovative products in accessories, specialized clothing, and technological solutions for the two-wheeled sector, including developments for individuals with reduced mobility. Noteworthy participants included Matt Movilidad, presenting devices for improved mobility; Orbit Wear, featuring motorsport-inspired apparel; and ImpercapImpermeables, manufacturing garments from recycled plastic.

Sports events on two wheels were a major attraction, drawing over 23,000 spectators. The Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox, sponsored by Nitrox, featured competitions in open, high-cylinder, 2-stroke, and 4-stroke categories. Other sporting highlights included the Festival Stunt F2R Nitrox, BMX and BikeTrial acrobatics, and GYMKHANA AKT competitions featuring AKT Motos.

Winners in the Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox Open category were Luis Bernal (1st), Juan Manuel Zambrano “Juancho Stunt” (2nd), and James Alejandro Pieñeros “James Stunter” (3rd). In the high-cylinder category, Pablo Zapata “Vocha” took first place, followed by Julián Arias (2nd) and Marco Ramírez “Marco Stunt” (3rd). The 2-Stroke category saw Neider Messino “Neider Stunt” in first, Cristian Zuluaga “Virni” in second, and Jhon Mario Ortiz “Jhonma_Baylay” in third. Finally, in the 4-Stroke category, Juan David Zuluaga claimed the top spot, with Jhonny Zapata “Jhonny Stunt” second and José Edison Hernández “Goku Stunt” third.

The final round of the Copa Stunt highlighted the skills of the top nine riders, with Neider Messino, Cristian Gil Zuluaga, and Jhonny Zapata securing the top three positions. James Mejía won the Gymkhana AKT competition, followed by “Baby Stunt” and Gaviria.

The test drive track remained a popular feature, with over 1,850 tests conducted on gasoline-powered vehicles and more than 563 tests on electric and sustainable mobility options. This allowed attendees to experience the performance and technology of various models firsthand.

The inaugural day of F2R 2025 commenced at Parques del Río with a welcoming ceremony for over 500 national and international exhibitors, media representatives, and motorcycle enthusiasts. Guillermo Pajón, director and creator of the fair, emphasized the event’s significance in the business, academic, and cultural spheres of the global two-wheeled industry.

Academic sessions on the first day included a conference by Dr. Carlos Hernán González Parias from Tecnológico de Antioquia – ITM on the geopolitical implications of a potential new trade war for the automotive sector, highlighting Colombia’s reliance on imported auto parts, particularly from China. Another conference by Dr. Francia Inés Hernández Díaz from Forvis Mazars focused on optimization opportunities in customs tariffs, duties, and logistics related to sourcing and investment processes in Colombia and Latin America, with a particular focus on Asian markets.

Looking ahead, the organizers of the Feria de las 2 Ruedas have announced the dates for the next edition, which will take place from May 21 to 24, 2026. Additionally, they have invited industry stakeholders and enthusiasts to Expo2R in Bogotá at Corferias from October 23 to 26, 2025, and to the Autoshow, scheduled for August 29 to 31, 2025, which will focus on sustainable mobility and the automotive industry. These events underscore the sector’s commitment to economic growth and the promotion of new transportation modes in Colombia and the Americas.

Throughout the event, various industry voices shared their perspectives. Adriana Sanjuan, manager of Repsol lubricants for Colombia (BME: REP, OTCQX: REPYY), highlighted the value of direct consumer engagement and product showcasing at the fair. Angelo Acosta, a journalist from Moto.it in Italy, noted the passion and the strong need for mobility observed during the event, suggesting significant growth potential for F2R.

The Simposio de Clubes Moteros featured prominent figures, including former professional racer Álex Barros, who shared his career journey, and Silvio Frasson from Repsol, who discussed the importance of preventive maintenance and safety gear. Journalist Martín Urruty from MotoGP encouraged attendees to pursue their passion and seek new opportunities.

The final day of the fair included autograph sessions with Agustín Ostos (Soy Tribu), riders from Team Yamaha (TYO: 7272), and Tomás Puerta (Tomás Puerta). The day also featured the finals of the Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox, the Gymkhana AKT, the Festival Stunt F2R Nitrox, a show by Stunt Bike Factory, miniriders competitions, Biketrial, and BMX events. The Monster Energy (NASDAQ: MNST) Rock Fest F2R provided the closing entertainment for the event.

Photo credit: Feria de las 2 Ruedas.

The incident occurred on November 23, 2023, in El Poblado neighborhood. According to the investigation, the woman was allegedly detained against her will by Cornish and another man, who were staying in the property. She was repeatedly assaulted to force her to disclose information about the location of a ring and money that they accused her of stealing.

According to Bogotá daily El Tiempo, the CCTV footage from the building shows the moment in which the woman is grabbed and forced into the apartment. Due to injuries the woman suffered at the hands of the men, the 42-year-old victim received a 15-day medical disability certificate after seeking medical attention. Following a judge’s decision, the Canadian was retained briefly in a Colombian jail but released.

She was repeatedly assaulted to force her to disclose information about the location of a ring and money that they accused her of stealing.

In January 2025, Cornish was finally apprehended in a coordinated operation while dining at a restaurant in the El Poblado neighborhood and pled not guilty to the charges against him. Following preliminary hearings, he was placed under preventive detention in a Medellín facility, where “he will have to face Colombian justice for the alleged crimes of aggravated kidnapping, torture and aggravated qualified theft. The supervisory judge decided to impose a security measure or deprivation of liberty in a penitentiary establishment,” Commander of the Fourth Brigade, Brigade General Jorge Ricardo Hernández Vargas, explained.

Manuel Villa Mejía, Secretary of Security and Coexistence, provided further details about the case. “Through the coordinated efforts of the Mayors’ Offices of Medellín, the military GAULA (Groups of Unified Action for Personal Freedom) of Antioquia, our National Army’s Fourth Brigade, and the CTI (Technical Investigation Corps), the arrest of Raymond Arthur JR Cornish, a 34-year-old Canadian citizen, was achieved through a judicial order.”

“We welcome everyone who visits within the framework of responsible tourism. However, those who come here to commit crimes are not welcome. The authorities have definitively returned to the city’s streets to deliver results and protect the freedom and safety.” Mejia added.

Headline Photo: Raymond Arthur JR Cornish, a 34-year-old Canadian citizen captured in Medellín (Photo: Office of the Attorney General of Colombia)