The Colombian government has warned that the upcoming regional elections could present an opportunity for drug traffickers to launder money through campaign sponsorship, Caracol Radio reported.
Minister of Interior and Justice German Vargas Lleras said that a candidate who enters the race with no political weight may simply be used by criminals as a front to launder their drug money.
“With candidates who are not competitive they simply put a front for laundering money and if they are competitive candidates the sponsorship could be used to capture a city of particular interest [for the criminals],” said Vargas.
The country’s financial watchdog UIAF will investigate the origins of political campaigns funding during the upcoming October regional elections.
In February, Vargas forewarned of the potential influence criminal gangs could have over October’s elections as a result of their increasing influence in certain cities in the country.