On 15 March 2025, in Villa del Rosario (Norte de Santander), an unidentified gunman opened fire on a group of people attending a billiards tournament in the Villa Antigua neighborhood. The shooter managed to slip away among the attendees while firing, killing two men and injuring four others. Authorities are investigating whether one of the deceased, a moneylender and currency exchanger, was the intended target or if the attack was related to extortion against the billiards club owner. The area is known for the presence of the ELN, the Gulf Clan, the Tren de Aragua, and other local gangs. 2 fatalities.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1. Summary

On March 15, 2025, a shooting incident occurred at a billiard hall in Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander department, Colombia, resulting in 2 deaths and 4 injuries. The incident may have targeted a currency exchanger and is believed to be organized crime related to extortion, deepening security instability in the border region.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Increased logistics risks in Venezuela-Colombia border region: Norte de Santander department serves as a major trade corridor between the two countries, with concerns of truck transport and customs clearance delays during security deterioration
• Oil and gas transport security risks: The region connects Colombia's eastern oil fields with Caribbean ports through pipeline networks, potentially increasing infrastructure security threats
• Agricultural export logistics disruptions: Norte de Santander is a major production area for coffee, bananas and other key agricultural products, with organized crime expansion potentially reducing transport safety between farms and ports
• Cash circulation network instability: Targeted attacks on currency exchangers could lead to informal financial network contraction, potentially causing funding difficulties for small-scale trading companies

3. Watch points

• Colombian government's border region security enhancement measures and military/police deployment status: Monitor whether logistics transport security improvements occur
• Changes in Venezuela-Colombia border traffic and trade volumes: Monitor whether increased use of alternative logistics routes occurs due to security instability