Colombian cartels warned residents in nearly half the country's states that armed fighters would kill anyone who disobeyed coronavirus lockdown restrictions, a new report claimed. COVID-19 instructions also included limits on opening days and hours for shops as well as bans on access to communities for foreigners and people from other communities. Some conflicting mandates by cartel groups that surpassed measures put in place by the government in terms of strictness left already struggling communities without proper food and necessities, the report said. In Tumaco, armed cartel fighters overruled a government rule that allows street vendors to sell food as long as they avoid crowds. “The government should urgently ramp up its efforts to protect these communities, ensure they have adequate food and water, and protect their health from the effects of Covid-19.”

Source: Fox News July 16, 2020 16:30 UTC