Colombia is investigating whether a former capo of the Norte del Valle cartel had Colombia’s former chief prosecutor, a congressman and 16 generals on his payroll, radio station La FM reported Wednesday.
According to the radio station, extradited drug trafficker Juan Carlos Ramirez, alias “Chupeta,” noted his monthly payments to state officials in a diary that had been in the possession of Colombian police authorities since 2006 but not handed over to prosecutors until March this year.
In the drug trafficker’s diary, Chupeta names the now retired officials and the amount of money they are suspected to have received monthly.
Among the incriminated officials are former Prosecutor General Luis Camilo Osorio — already facing accusations of ties to paramilitary drug traffickers — 16 police and army generals, six colonels and two admirals.
Additionally, Chupeta made notes about payments to FARC commanders Rodrigo Granda and “Jhon 40,” several commanders of the now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC and the extradited and convicted money launderer David Murcia.
Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office reportedly is investigating the former officials and verifying whether the named transactions were made.
Chupeta was arrested in Brazil in 2007 after which he was extradited to the U.S. to face drug trafficking, murder and RICO charges.
Military officials on Chupeta’s alleged payroll (extract)
- General Daniel Castiblanco (retired)
Bogota‘s former Police Commissioner
$45,000 per month - Admiral Jose Alfonso Diaz (retired)
Navy Rear Admiral
$55,0000 per month - General Luis Felipe Paredes Cadena (retired)
Former Join Chiefs of Staff chairman
$102,500 per month - General Gomez Vergara (retired)
Former commander of the Army’s 3rd Brigade
$135,000 per month - General Gabriel Ramon Diaz (retired)
Former commander of the Army’s 2rd Brigade
$35,000 per month - Admiral Carlos Humberto Pineda Gallo (retired)
Former second in command of the Navy
$75,000 per month - General Jaime Calderon Valenzuela (retired)
Former commander of the Army’s 7th Brigade
$60,000 per month - Admiral Juan Aldana Torres (retired)
Navy commander
$33,500 - Admiral Ivan Aguilar Valle (retired)
Navy commander
$16,000 - General Jorge Ardilla Silva (retired)
Former commander of the Army’s counter-narcotics Brigade
$90,000