HomeNewsBriefColombia Moves Against FARC Dissenters' Criminal Assets
BRIEF

Colombia Moves Against FARC Dissenters' Criminal Assets

COLOMBIA / 24 FEB 2017 BY JAMES BARGENT EN

Authorities in Colombia have seized close to $100 million in assets allegedly belonging to FARC dissidents, as the state begins the mammoth task of identifying and dismantling the vast illicit interests that are being taken over by criminalized guerrilla splinter groups.

The Colombian military and prosecutors executed raids in four departments around Colombia, occupying 277,000 hectares of lands believed to be owned by breakaway factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - FARC), reported El Tiempo. In addition, prosecutors identified several companies allegedly used as FARC money laundering fronts, including the mining companies that disguised the origins of illegally mined coltan and tungsten.

Most of the assets were linked to factions of the 1st, 7th and 40th Fronts of the FARC in the east of the country that have broken away from the guerrillas' ongoing demobilization process. Colombian authorities say so far they have identified splinter groups from five FARC fronts, with approximately 500 guerrilla fighters abandoning the peace process, according to El Tiempo.

The FARC that remain committed to the process, meanwhile, have begun to hand over their assets, with the National Land Agency (Agencia Nacional de Tierras - ANT) reporting the guerrillas had turned over 293,000 hectares for the Land Fund set up as part of the peace process.

InSight Crime Analysis

It is an encouraging sign that the Colombian authorities are already moving on the assets held by FARC splinter groups. However, the value of the seizures empathizes just how much wealth will be up for grabs with the FARC's departure from the underworld as a national force, and just how tempting those riches will be for guerrillas unconvinced of the merits of participating in the peace process.

SEE ALSO: Special Investigation: The FARC, Peace and Possible Criminalization

The authorities' most recent estimates that 500 FARC fighters -- amounting to nearly 7 percent of the guerrilla fighting force identified by the government -- have broken away from the peace process and remain in arms underplays the levels of risk of FARC dissention and criminalization.

Although the bulk of the FARC's guerrilla fighters are now concentrated in demobilization zones, an estimated 10,000 or more members of militias remain outside the process. The chaotic implementation of the accords so far significantly increases the risk more fighters will drop out of the process and return to the underworld further down the line.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

COCAINE / 3 FEB 2022

Central American countries seized a record amount of drugs last year, underscoring how the region has become one of the…

COLOMBIA / 27 APR 2022

Before his arrest and extradition, Otoniel, both a former guerrilla fighter and ex-paramilitary, has an unparalleled reputation in the underworld.

COLOMBIA / 28 JUL 2022

Colombia's Urabeños are killing police officers, letting the incoming government know they're still a force to be reckoned with.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…