Immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal seen on a boat in the Cacarica river while their coyotes push their boats through shallow waters, Colombia, May 15, 2016.
In 2015, the total number of irregular migrants from countries as far as Somalia, Bangladesh and Nepal detected in Turbo was 2,942, compared to just 502 in 2014. So far this year, migration authorities have already recorded 3,830 migrants making their way north, almost all of them transiting through Turbo – a few hours away from Panama by boat.
Colombia has dealt with the growing arrival of Cubans by issuing them with eight-day transit permits, which encourage them to quickly move north or face arrest.