While bank robberies decreased in cities like Cali and Bogotá, in Medellín they increased in this year’s first quarter by almost 200 percent, according to one expert.

Authorities believed the man behind nearly 90 percent of the incidents is Douglas Augusto González Lozano, alias ‘Batola’, who along with his gang of thieves made no exceptions when it came to targeting Medellín’s financial institutions.

For eight months, investigators of the Sijin’s Anti-Theft Unit studied alias ‘Batola’ and his allies in surveillance cameras from banks where robberies had occurred. The 36-year-old, who became Medellín’s most wanted bank robber, was arrested on May 28^th and faces numerous aggravated theft charges; two others were arrested on June 7th and face similar charges.

Proexport and a number of Colombia’s productive sectors are planning to take New York City by storm between June 26th and 29th, in an effort to make the most of the free trade agreement now in effect with the United States. Macro-business rounds, tourism seminars, typical Colombian food samples and a fashion show are just some of the events included in the showcase aimed at giving businesses the chance to acquire new contacts and generate valuable new sales leads.

Proexport president, Maria Claudia Lacouture, said that more than 400 representatives have meetings set up with 377 U.S. importers from 29 states. The textile industry will kick things off with a fashion show in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria.