The Colombian police have seized over 200 assets belonging to members of guerrilla group the FARC, including houses, vehicles and farms, registered under the names of “front men,” reports Colombian media.
After a year-long operation by the national police’s money laundering department, authorities were able to seize 202 separate assets bought with illegally obtained money and registered under the names of non-FARC members, eleven of whom were arrested as a result of the investigation.
The money laundering scheme, which police discovered through information found on the seized computers of FARC leader alias “Jerome Galeano,” is thought to have been the main source of funds for one of the guerrilla group’s drug-trafficking cartels.
According to reports, the arrested front men are thought to have been acting under the leadership of FARC bosses Julio Silva Soto, alias “El Chivo,” the alleged finance officer of the FARC’s central command, and Genner Garcia Molina, alias “John 40”, leader of the guerrilla group’s 43rd Front.
Among the assets seized were houses, farms, vehicles and commercial establishments, registered in the Colombian departments of Tolima, Meta, Casanare, Huila and Cundinamarca.
The eleven arrested men will be investigated on charges of money laundering.