Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC is attempting to extort the Colombian offices of multinational companies like Microsoft, Nike and Toyota, and oil companies, President Juan Manuel Santos said Saturday.
According to the Colombian President, authorities found 130 extortion letters addressed to the internationals and major local companies like retailer Exito, bus company Expreso Bolivariano, clothing chain Arturo Calle “and many oil companies and individuals.”.
The letters, which according to Santos were ready to be sent, were found in the central department of Meta during an operation in which one of the FARC’s Eastern Bloc’s commanders was arrested.
The arrested guerrilla commander, “Brayan,” is considered one of the FARC’s main extortionists by the Colombian authorities.
The guerrilla group has used extortion as a means to finance its war against the state for decades, but has always focused mainly on local companies in FARC-controlled areas in the south of the country.