Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently revealed a disturbing discovery: an inventory of military weapons showed the disappearance of more than a million bullets, thousands of explosives, including grenades, as well as some missiles from the bases Colombian soldiers. Petro was quick to point the finger at corruption as being responsible for the worrying loss.
In a joint statement with the defense minister and the head of the armed forces, Petro ordered the dismantling of any network of corruption within the security forces. He stressed the importance of this action, saying that these networks could be responsible for the illegal marketing of weapons, using legitimate weapons from the Colombian state.
Concerns about the final destination of these weapons are also legitimate. Petro suggested they could have been picked up by Colombian armed groups or even smuggled into Haiti, or worse yet, sold on the international arms black market.
To ensure national security and restore confidence in the armed forces, Petro stressed the need to completely separate the armed forces from any acts of corruption. This measure, according to him, is crucial to protect Colombian citizens as well as the integrity of the armed forces themselves.
The missing inventory also includes sophisticated weapons such as Israeli-made Spike anti-tank missiles and Nimrod missiles from the same manufacturer. Thousands of grenades, mortars and more than 550 rocket-propelled grenade launchers are also missing.
Investigations are currently underway, according to Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez, who also announced the removal of some officials from their posts. This action aims to determine who is responsible for the management of weapons storage areas and to strengthen verification and transparency procedures.
The revelation also highlights a persistent problem of corruption within Colombia’s security forces, with members convicted in the past on various charges of corruption and human rights violations.
