HomeNewsBriefFormer Colombia Governor and Alleged Criminal Boss Nearly Released
BRIEF

Former Colombia Governor and Alleged Criminal Boss Nearly Released

COLOMBIA / 16 APR 2015 BY DAVID GAGNE EN

A former Colombia governor accused of several murders and links to paramilitary groups came very close to being freed from jail, a reminder of the scope of the influence this ex-official once wielded in the country's northeast.

A judge in the city of Barranquilla recently accepted a habeas corpus request from Juan Francisco "Kiko" Gomez, which would have freed the former governor of Colombia's northeast La Guajira province, reported El Tiempo. However, authorities refused to release Gomez because of a standing warrant for his arrest and a summons for questioning involving a murder case, reported El Espectador.

Gomez was captured in October 2013 for his alleged involvement in a string of murders and other crimes committed over a period of several decades. Gomez allegedly worked closely with Marcos "Marquitos" Figueroa, the leader of a contraband smuggling network, who was the most wanted criminal figure in northeast Colombia before his capture in October 2014.

Colombia's Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the judge who ordered Gomez's release, reported Semana.

InSight Crime Analysis

Gomez's near release from prison is likely a reflection of the amount of power he wielded as a corrupt politician in Colombia's northeast, the epicenter of a lucrative contraband trade fueled by products from Venezuela. Gomez was a career politician who -- from a young age -- allegedly mixed with local criminal figures, including Marquitos, and established a stake in the regional contraband trade. In 2001, Gomez was among a group of local contraband bosses who reportedly began negotiations with paramilitary groups to divvy up control of smuggling operations. However, Gomez would only reach the height of his power years later with the help of his former partner, Marquitos. 

SEE ALSO: Colombia News and Profiles

When Marquitos returned to Colombia at some point after 2008 -- following a self-imposed exile to Venezuela -- the two allegedly killed off numerous political opponents in the region, according to prosecutors. Marquitos also allegedly used proceeds from his thriving contraband gasoline enterprise to help fund Gomez's 2011 gubernatorial campaign. Once in office, Gomez reportedly repaid Marquitos by providing him with political protection for his contraband business.

According to El Espectador, Gomez is currently under investigation for seven murders, including that of a former mayor in La Guajira. He has been implicated in a number of other homicides as well. 

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

COLOMBIA / 13 SEP 2022

President Petro's Total Peace Plan offers high reward but carries equally high risk for criminal groups and for all of…

COLOMBIA / 2 SEP 2021

The Urabeños, one of Colombia's dominant drug groups, are seemingly ramping up operations along the Colombia-Venezuela border – a gambit…

BRAZIL / 21 JUN 2022

Sergio Roberto de Carvalho, known as the "Brazilian Pablo Escobar," has been arrested in Hungary.

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…