The Shottas: Profile of a Leading Criminal Group in Buenaventura

The Shottas are a prominent criminal organization based in Buenaventura, Colombia, primarily engaged in drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping. Originating from the demobilized Calima Bloc paramilitaries in the late 1990s, the group evolved through various iterations, including the Empresa and the Local, before splintering into the Shottas and their rivals, the Spartans, in 2020. Led by Diego Bustamante, alias Diego Optra, the Shottas control strategic coastal estuaries used for launching drug shipments. Their violent rivalry with the Spartans historically imposed informal curfews and severe human rights abuses on civilians. In 2022, both gangs joined President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace plan, resulting in a significant temporary reduction in homicides. However, the truce collapsed in early 2025 after the Spartans exited negotiations following an arrest warrant for their spokesperson. Both groups subsequently refused to renew the agreement, citing government disinterest, leading to a resurgence in violence. This profile highlights the group's historical roots, operational methods, and the fragile nature of peace efforts in Colombia’s port cities.