Bosconia merchants block main road over extortion threats

Merchants and citizens in Bosconia, Cesar department, Colombia blocked the Troncal de Oriente highway on Wednesday. The demonstration was organized by the Union Nacional de Comerciantes (Undeco), which also called for a voluntary shutdown of shops from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to protest the rising wave of extortion targeting local businesses.

Protesters said extortion has become a major problem for the commercial sector, causing fear, economic losses and uncertainty for families that depend on retail activity. They demanded a stronger response from authorities to curb criminal groups and restore safety. The road blockage disrupted traffic for several hours while the demonstrators pressed for concrete government action.