Despite the reopening of the private pass through the Rumichaca bridge, these roads continue to be an option to pass illegally.
Drafting CARCHI
Although during 20 months the border crossing between Ecuador and Colombia, by the bridge of Rumichaca, it was closedThis did not paralyze the circulation between the two countries.
The uneven roads known as trails, which cross farms, mountains and rivers, were the option for those who crossed the borders illegally.
One of the justifications to accommodate the border opening, according to the presidents of Ecuador and Colombia, was to normalize connectivity between the two countries and put an end to the illicit activity of trafficking in persons and those who extort money for crossing the illegal crossings.
However, following the decision of resume all types of circulation through Rumichaca, from December 18, 2021, the trails continue to operate and mobilizing contraband of all kinds.
No controls
The governor of Carchi, Yaco Martínez, stated that for these uneven roadsDuring the border closure, an average of 3,500 people, the vast majority -he said- are now circulating on the international bridge of Rumichaca.
For his part, the president of the Urbina sector, where one of the near the 30 illegal roads identified, he mentioned that although the percentage of vehicles that travel through the trails it has decreased, it has not totally stopped.
“You still look around here, around the parish, the passage of different vehicles, such as vans, taxis and private cars ”, said Wilmer Tulcán, who also highlighted the lack of controls by the authorities.
Another of the residents of Urbina, who asked to reserve his name, mentioned that the traffic of cars through the irregular passages little by little returns to normal, because with the pandemic it increased considerably. However, he does not believe that the reopening of the official border crossing will put an end to the illicit activity of the trails.
“Although the passage through Rumichaca is closed or open, the trails will continue to function. These roads they do not have permanent controls and they are ideal for those who wish to illegally transport any type of merchandise and even people of other nationalities without documents. In another case, as in the international bridge they ask for the vaccination card, the trails would be an option for those who do not have it, “he said.
Personal foul
Regarding the lack of controls on these roads, the mayor of Tulcán, Cristian Benavides, said that there are no police personnel necessary to execute them, since the contingent assigned to the city also must take charge of the control of vehicular traffic, because the capital of Carche does not have civil agents.
At the time, the Police and the Army explained that crossing the illegal steps is done on foot, using animals, artisan bridges and rustic tarabitas, to move drugs, electrical appliances, liquor, cigarettes, medical supplies, among the most common. .
The uniformed have also detailed that total control becomes a complicated task due to the lack of roads, means and personnel, which practically forces them to delimit their control sporadically and only at certain points, where novelties have been found in each operation carried out. .
They even lose their lives trying to cross illegally
Since the closure of the official passage through Rumichaca, in March 2020, on the illegal roads that link Ecuador and Colombia, in Tulcán and Ipiales, dozens of deaths and rescues have been reported of those who try to cross rivers, mountains and dangerous terrain to cross the border.
Until October 2021, the statistics kept by the firefighters of Tulcán and Ipiales bordered the 20 lifeless bodies rescued from the Carchi river.
At that time, the Tulcán Fire Department registered 15 emergency calls at illegal border crossings, of which 12 were effective. Within the latter, 4 people were rescued alive and 8 dead.
From Ipiales, the firefighters stated that, from March 2020 to October 2021 they organized 25 search operatives, in which they recovered 12 deceased and 14 people alive, including minors.
Few controls in Rumichaca
Local authorities, such as the Mayor of Tulcán and the Prefect of Carchi agree that the reopening of Rumichaca has taken place in a messy and unplanned.
“On Friday I had the opportunity to be in Rumichaca at night and there I was able to witness that there was no control. I think this leaves us doubts, “said the prefect Guillermo Herrera.
For his part, the governor of Carchi, Yaco Martínez, mentioned that on the Ecuadorian side of the border the ID of each citizen and the card with the two doses of vaccines against Covid-19, while in Colombia practically nothing is required.
La reapertura de Rumichaca iba a ser por fases, pero de un día para otro, sin previo aviso, se dispuso que sea total para carros y personas particulares.
