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Colombian General and Intelligence Official Suspended Amid Allegations of Ties to Dissident FARC Leader

A Colombian army general and a senior intelligence official were suspended after prosecutors said recovered messages and documents indicate they may have provided intelligence to a dissident FARC commander known as "Calarca." The evidence, reportedly taken from devices seized in July 2024, suggests the officials helped the rebels bypass security and obtain weapons. Both men deny the allegations and are under investigation by the attorney general's office and the defence ministry. President Gustavo Petro has questioned the reporting and suggested foreign intelligence may be involved.

11:23 PM, 11/27/2025Conflict
Colombian General and Intelligence Official Suspended Amid Allegations of Ties to Dissident FARC Leader

A Colombian army general and a senior intelligence official were suspended this week after prosecutors said messages and documents indicate they may have shared sensitive information with a dissident FARC commander known as "Calarca." Authorities say the material appears to have helped the commander evade security controls and obtain weapons.

What happened

Prosecutors reported that intelligence extracted from phones and other devices seized in July 2024 formed the basis of the allegations. That material reportedly includes communications and documents suggesting coordination between the two officials and dissident fighters who rejected the 2016 peace agreement.

Allegations

Investigators allege the officials assisted the dissidents in establishing what appeared to be a legitimate security company, a setup that allowed the rebels to travel in armored vehicles without detection and to carry arms. The two accused deny the charges.

Investigations and political response

The attorney general's office and the defence ministry have opened investigations, and the officials were suspended by the oversight body responsible for public servants. The accused face both disciplinary and criminal inquiries.

President Gustavo Petro — a former leftist guerrilla — publicly questioned the accuracy of the published material and alleged that foreign intelligence links may be involved, referring to the CIA and its connections to past U.S. administrations. Officials have not publicly confirmed that claim, and investigators continue to examine the evidence.

Context

"Calarca" leads a dissident faction that broke from the former FARC group after the 2016 peace deal. That faction is reportedly participating in ongoing peace talks with the government, and some suspects detained in July were later released because of their involvement in the negotiating process.

The situation is evolving as investigators review seized devices and related records. Both accused officials maintain their innocence as formal inquiries proceed.

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