Youth and Crime: How Gangs Exploit Minors in Colombia’s Political Attacks

Bogota, Colombia, June 8, 2025 — The shooting of Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe by a 15-year-old suspect in Bogota has brought renewed attention to the alarming trend of organized crime groups exploiting minors to carry out violent attacks, posing a significant threat to the nation’s political stability ahead of the 2026 election.

A Senator Targeted, a Minor Arrested

On Saturday afternoon, 39-year-old Miguel Uribe, a rising star in the Centro Democrático party, was shot twice in the back during a campaign event in Bogota’s Fontibon district. Video footage captured the chaos as gunshots interrupted his speech, with Uribe collapsing and bystanders scrambling for safety. Police swiftly arrested a 15-year-old boy, found carrying a Glock pistol, as the primary suspect.

Uribe, now in critical condition at the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation hospital, underwent neurosurgical and vascular procedures, with his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, urging supporters to pray for his recovery. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, vowing to pursue the “mastermind” behind it and highlighting the use of minors as a tactic of organized crime.

The incident has sparked widespread concern about how criminal networks are increasingly relying on vulnerable youth to execute high-profile political violence.

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The Exploitation of Youth by Criminal Networks

Organized crime groups in Colombia have long exploited socioeconomic vulnerabilities, but their recruitment of minors has surged recently. According to a 2024 report from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, over 3,000 minors were involved in gang-related activities last year, a 20% increase since 2020. Poverty, limited access to education, and a youth unemployment rate of 12.9% in early 2025, as reported by Colombia’s National Statistics Department, create fertile ground for recruitment.

In urban hubs like Bogotá and Medellín, gangs offer money, protection, and a sense of belonging to teens from marginalized communities. The 15-year-old suspect in Uribe’s shooting, whose identity remains protected due to his age, exemplifies this trend. Security expert Dr. Sandra Borda told local outlet El Tiempo that minors are often used for high-risk tasks like assassinations because they face lighter penalties—up to seven years under Colombia’s penal code—compared to adult offenders.

The attack on Uribe, a vocal advocate for tougher security measures, suggests that criminal groups may be targeting political figures to destabilize the democratic process as the 2026 presidential race heats up.

Did you know?
Under Colombian law, minors under 16 convicted of serious crimes face a maximum of seven years in juvenile detention, a factor that makes them appealing operatives for criminal organizations seeking to minimize legal consequences.

Analytical Insight: A Systemic Threat to Democracy

The use of a minor in the attempted assassination of a prominent senator reflects a calculated strategy by organized crime to exploit legal and social vulnerabilities. Data from the Colombian National Police shows that in 2024, over 2,800 minors were detained for crimes linked to organized gangs, with firearms like the Glock used in Uribe’s attack increasingly accessible through illicit markets.

This trend is compounded by systemic issues: a 2025 study by the Bogota-based think tank Fundación Ideas para la Paz found that 60% of recruited minors come from households below the poverty line, often in neighborhoods controlled by gangs. The targeting of Uribe, whose party champions anti-crime policies, indicates an intent to intimidate political leaders and erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Without targeted interventions—such as increased funding for youth education programs, which received only 3.8% of Colombia’s 2025 national budget, according to government reports—the cycle of youth recruitment threatens to escalate, potentially disrupting the 2026 election and beyond.

The attack has drawn condemnation from across Colombia’s political spectrum, with former presidents Ernesto Samper, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Juan Manuel Santos, and Iván Duque calling it an assault on democracy. International leaders, including Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, expressed solidarity, urging action against political violence.

As vigils continue outside the hospital where Uribe fights for his life, Colombia grapples with the urgent need to address the exploitation of its youth to safeguard its democratic future.