A former Ecuadorean deputy Interior Minister, who recently was arrested on drug
trafficking charges, admitted he was a personal friend of slain FARC
commander ‘Raúl Reyes’.
“I was a friend of Raúl Reyes and I met him,” José Chauvín told the General Prosecution during one of the hearings for his alleged ties to a drug trafficking network that works closely with the FARC.
The scandal involving the former deputy Minister forced another ex-official, former Minister of Security Gustavo Larrea, to step down as candidate congressman for the upcoming elections in April.
Colombia accused Larrea of having collaborated with Colombia’s largest rebel group. Larrea and Chauvín are known to have been very close.