The FARC finance their war against the Colombian State with the smuggling of cigarettes, a report of the International Center for Public Integrity (ICPI) revealed Monday.
According to a publication by investigators, the FARC uses the cigarette smuggling to launder money obtained by drug trafficking.
The FARC’s alleged illegal cigarette business is confirmed by Alvin James of the DEA. “Especially Marlboros, Kents and Lucky Strikes, are largely produced with goods smuggled from Colombia to the U.S.”.
Not just the FARC, but also the traditional drug cartels and right wing paramilitary groups all are involved in the tobacco business, the ICPI says.
The players and brands have changed over the years but according to the researchers the market remains the same.
According to the report of the ICPI, at least half a dozen terrorist groups in the world, including Al Qaeda, Taliban and the Real IRA are funded through the traffic of cigarettes.