High ranking police officials in the department of Nariño are being investigated for extortion and arms dealing based on the testimony of demobilized ELN guerrillas.
Colombian media reported on Thursday that prosecutors will investigate claims that Colonel William Montezuma, commander of the Nariño police force, demanded nearly $340,000 to release Gabriel Tamayo Giraldo, the legal representative of mining company Conminas.
According to the guerrilla’s testimony, police captured Giraldo after he was betrayed by a guerrilla. He allegedly paid half of what Montezuma demanded to secure his freedom.
Another leading police commander, General Marco Antonio Pedreros, is also being investigated over claims he sold a batch of guns and ammunition to ELN guerrillas.
The weapons were allegedly stashed in the Juan Atalaya de Cucuta area before being escorted by police operating under the orders of Pedreros to a drop-off point.