Bucaramanga strengthens security alliance with the United States and begins installing more than 100 high-tech cameras

NewsThe mayor Cristian Portilla stated that these tools will strengthen the biometric identification of people. The District made an investment in 2023 in the acquisition of cameras that the current administration received. Photo: EL TIEMPO ArchiveJOURNALIST02.10.2026 09:51 Updated: 02.10.2026 09:51 Bucaramanga is moving forward in strengthening its security capabilities with two new tools announced by Mayor Cristian Portilla: a cooperation with authorities from the United States that will allow access to technology for the biometric identification of people, and the installation of more than 100 high-tech cameras at different points in the city. Cooperation with the United States will strengthen biometric identificationDuring his remarks, Mayor Cristian Portilla highlighted what he described as a significant alliance between Bucaramanga and authorities from the United States, through which the city received technological equipment intended to support the identification of people entering the country who may be using identities other than their real ones. Of the 808 security cameras, only 600 are currently working. Photo: Bucaramanga Mayor's Office press."What this allowed us was to receive a series of devices, equipment, and technology to identify the faces, the biometric link of criminals arriving from other countries, for whom we do not have a database and who claim to be called one thing but are actually someone else," Portilla explained. According to the mayor, the equipment contains information from more than 47 countries and more than 90,000 data records that, according to the mayor, are relevant to United States security agencies and other international agencies. Portilla stated that this technology has already begun to produce results in the city with the capture of two members of the Tren de Aragua. "This has allowed us in recent weeks to capture two criminals from the Tren de Aragua with an Interpol red notice and blue notice," he said. Cameras that the current administration received. Photo: EL TIEMPO ArchiveThe mayor argued that this international cooperation represents a new tool for local authorities, especially regarding crimes involving people from other countries who may attempt to hide their true identity. Bucaramanga will install more than 100 security camerasThis international cooperation strategy is complemented by the modernization of the video surveillance system of the capital of Santander. The Mayor's Office began installing more than 100 high-tech cameras, with automatic license plate reading and facial recognition systems. Official information indicates that the project is part of a security modernization strategy and that the devices will be connected to the Metropolitan Police monitoring system. "It is an honor for me to tell all the people of Bucaramanga that Bucaramanga, after 10 years, will have more than 100 high-tech security cameras," Portilla said. The figures for inactive security cameras are not unified. Photo: Bogotá Mayor's OfficeAccording to the mayor, the installation of the poles that will support the new equipment has already begun, some of which exceed 35 meters in height. The system includes 80 LPR cameras, intended for the automatic identification of vehicle and motorcycle license plates, and 24 facial recognition cameras. The Mayor's Office has reported that the investment allocated to this new technology is around 10 billion pesos. In recent statements, Portilla had indicated that the purpose is to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Police and improve the tools available for investigating criminal acts. The mayor explained that the LPR cameras will detect vehicles that have theft reports or that are related to judicial investigations. "These cameras will identify plates of stolen vehicles in order to contain the crime of theft, but also vehicles that have been used to commit different crimes," he said. The mayor of Bucaramanga, Cristian Portilla, confirmed that the installation of the first security cameras of the city's new surveillance system has already begun. In total there will be 100 cameras with license plate identification and facial recognition technology #MañanasBlu pic.twitter.com/Xu9L5iy28C— Blu Santanderes (@BLUSantanderes) October 1, 2026 In addition to serving as a surveillance and response tool, the municipal administration hopes that the images obtained can provide elements for the Attorney General's Office investigations. "This is the strengthening of the Police, but it is also an evidentiary capability to increase the percentage or rate of crime clearance for our Attorney General's Office," Portilla added. YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:Dozens of people lined up all night and early morning Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. 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