“Death to Kidnappers”: Marxist Guerillas, Cocaine Cartels, and the Bloody Landscape of 1980s Colombia

During the 1980s, Colombia saw the rise of the powerful Medellín Cartel. When left wing guerillas began kidnapping its members, the cartel formed Muerte a Secuestradores to combat the threat

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Guest Post by Kates Lara

Image generated via Midjourney

Background

In the early 1980s, Colombia was a country at war with itself. Cities were bustling with life during the day, but fear ruled the night. Guerrilla groups like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the April 19 Movement (M-19) waged war against the government, claiming to fight for social justice.

But for everyday Colombians, these groups, driven by Marxist ideologies, sought to overthrow the state, leading to widespread violence and instability.