Colombia is becoming the preferred haven for the most wanted international criminals

First you will find Alonso Alvaro, of Italian origin, who headed the Ndrangheta, one of the most powerful and violent Italian mafias in Europe, with drug trafficking operations in Spain, France, Malta, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Albania and the United Kingdom, It moved between Cúcuta and Bogotá since 2017.

The Russian engineer was also in Colombia, Sergey Shuspanov, He worked in Colombia for several years in an aviation company, despite having a pending trial in Russia for the illegal receipt and disclosure of information; specifically to steal and commercialize the patents of the Slavic helicopter TV3-117 engine.

In addition to Spanish, Carlos Garcia Roldan, Catalan by birth, who for several months had worked in Buga as a domicile on a motorcycle, although a red Interpol circular warns that it is one of the most wanted scammers in the world after fleeing with $ 7 million that more than 300 people have invested in the purchase of luxury homes in the resort of Palmas de Mallorca.

While none of these criminals have any common bond or relationship, they all have in common that they have all chosen Colombia as a place to hide the justice of their countries.

In this sense, all kinds of criminals from other countries have also arrived in the country: pedophiles, drug traffickers, arms traffickers, art thieves and precious metal dealers, among others, have put an end to their criminal activity after the incursions of the authorities in several departments of Colombia.

Why does Colombia end up being attractive to these criminals?

According to Colonel (r) and security expert John Marulanda, quoted by the newspaper El País de Cali, there are three characteristics that make Colombia an attractive country for these criminals.

First, the lack of border surveillance, especially that of Venezuela, which is very difficult to control.

Secondly, the levels of corruption which are so high and which allow a foreigner to easily obtain documents certifying their citizenship.

And third, impunity because justice does not work as it should and here they can buy anything and it is difficult for justice to challenge them (sic) “, explains Marulanda.

How do they enter?

Criminals take advantage of the porous borders and the thousands of kilometers bordering Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil that make it nearly impossible to maintain control over these border crossings.

A police intelligence officer, quoted by Valle del Cauca, explains that many of those captured in Colombia enter legally and before a red circular is issued in their name and remain here. Others manage to cross land borders with illegal documentation.

“Many of these fugitives do not hide among the people but rather get involved in illegal organizations which somehow help them hide their identity and stay away from the authorities; many in remote rural areas, “the officer said.

“We must add that the border with Panama, through the Urabá, is the largest open vein of legal migration in all of Latin America. A large number of people from Pakistan, Africa, the Middle East, Cuba and all corners of the world pass through there on their way to Central America with final destinations in the United States and Canada, ”adds Marulanda.

Furthermore, the national authorities also point out that many foreigners whose final destination is Colombia, first disembark in neighboring countries and then enter Colombia by land through illegal passages and with false documents to carry out illegal activities.

In this sense, according to information from national bodies, there is knowledge of the presence of Italian mafias in various regions of the country; the arrival of Mexican drug traffickers in Catatumbo and Nariño; of the Albanian mafia, with a presence in Cauca and Nariño, and of structures of the Chinese mafia involved in illegal gold mining.

Authorities caught a net in 2019 that infiltrated the Chancellery and Chancellery and was selling certified passports. Three years ago, another organization that was doing the same was dismantled in Bogotá.

Facilities to stay

In addition to the ease of entry through border crossings, they are also attracted to the facilities to stay in the country. Well, it’s a safe place where they can get a new identity and nationality.

This was confirmed at the end of January this year when three Syrian citizens were detained in the United States. They were accused of being part of the Al Qaeda network, carrying passports that identified them as Colombian.

In fact, according to the documentation that was held from them at the Dallas airport, the alleged Colombian citizens, Tuameh Tuameh, Al Raefee and Al Harari Al Harari, were born in Cartagena and registered their passports in La Guajira.

Even so says General (r) Marulanda, “In my book on jihad in Latin America (John Marulanda tells us) I tell with information from the United States the situation of several Hezbolla members, recognized terrorists, whose second citizenship is Colombian and appear as residents of San Andrés, Barranquilla or La Guajira “, She said.

He added that “La Guajira is a transit point for Syrians and Palestinians. There is a lot of Lebanese in Maicao and Paraguachón, traditionally known as the Turks and there they made collections for Hezbolla. There they have the second largest mosque in Latin America and that makes it easier for people from those countries to pass through Venezuela, “he says according to his research.

In April 2016 Franco-Algerian Karim Belabes was arrested in Bogotá, one of the most wanted traffickers in France and linked to cartels in Colombia and Sinaloa, Mexico.

In February of this year, the Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with Migración Colombia, dismantled an organization made up of former DAS agents, notaries and registry officials who charged between $ 5 and $ 30 million for a Colombian passport, plus upon identification and birth departure, to travel to the United States

Similar historical pasts

On the other hand, according to political scientist Fernando Giraldo, Latin roots also influence people from Portugal, Spain, Italy and the south of France, among others, to find affinity and feel comfortable in Colombia.

“But they also have the perception that the strength of drug trafficking in Colombia has an enormous capacity for territorial and national deterrence, including the justice, police, political sectors and various state bodies, and they feel they find here a favorable environment of protection; and not only because of corruption, but also because of officials who prefer to look the other way to safeguard their lives and that of their family, ”says Giraldo.

Those who cross the Atlantic in search of new opportunities

But Colombia doesn’t just attract criminals fleeing justice to their countries, in fact, many have crossed the Atlantic and entered the country legally to subsequently interfere in activities such as arms trafficking, drug trafficking or illegal mining.

For example, in 2013 the Iranian citizens Hassan Jalali Bidgoli and Amir Mohit Hermani entered, known as the Chocó gold czars and internationally wanted by Interpol for crimes related to money laundering and illegal mining.

In 2014, the authorities arrested seven Chinese citizens for illegal gold mining in Bolívar; In 2018, a group of Israelis was discovered who created an entire facility for sex tourism with girls in Cartagena.

Today, a group of Serbs and other Balkan countries who have been involved in illegal activities with groups from the eastern lowlands are on the radar of the authorities.

Finally, in 2016 the Italian was arrested Claudio Di Vita, addicted to drug trafficking in Europe and who settled in Colombia leading an ostentatious life as a DJ in some bars.

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