Since May 2018, a network involving several institutions or authorities is known about the operation and entry of contraband merchandise through the port of Buenaventura, thanks to the denunciation of a witness.
"Since the merchandise leaves the Chinese, DIAN officials already know who it is, by the importer, because it is done through a fictitious importer. When they arrive in Buenaventura, they make a selection of all the papers, because they already know what the smuggled goods are and let them leave as if nothing happened. For their operation it helps that chambers of commerce that were created 3,4,5 to 10 years ago and even some created a year ago are mostly false. So the importer was also paper, so there were never obstacles in the procedures "
The Witness, aroused the interest of the US ICE Police who began their investigations and then discovered that senior officials are the heads of this organization, some of the names that have come to light are Omar Ambuila, head of the Internal Working Group of Cargo Control of the Dian in Buenaventura and Emilson Moreno Granja, official of the same dependency, other high officials of different authorities including the Fiscal and Customs Police, are involved in this operation, their names are not disclosed in favor of continuing with the investigation and find your capture.
The modus operandi that was denounced by the witness whose identity cannot be revealed for security, says that:
"There are people in charge of balancing everything with one, that is to say, the price and everything with DIAN officials to enter the merchandise at the port and, they, those of the DIAN, make the arrangement with the Fiscal and Customs Police, but only with low-ranking officials "
This network allowed the entry of any type of contraband merchandise from garments to household appliances and casino elements such as slot machines, it is known that the same modality is also used in the ports of Barranquilla.
For slot machines they are imported as parts for the same, but in reality, the machine arrives assembled or protected under an import register as a new machine, adulterating the identification plate.
Recreativos PH and someone nicknamed MORENO have used this modality for years flooding Williams' technical contraband market mainly.
They made payments in different currencies but mainly in Colombian Dollars and Pesos, money that never entered their bank accounts to avoid suspicion but was sent directly to their relatives abroad so that they acquire goods or services, and in this way continue to increase their wealth.
In the same way, the Prosecutor's Office found that Jenny Lizeth Ambuila Chará, daughter of Omar Ambuila Ex-DIAN official, had two luxury vehicles in her name, the first a Lamborghini that exceeded one billion Colombian pesos, and one Porshe Cayenne valued at close to 500 million Colombian pesos.
Likewise, Elba Chará Gómez, wife of Omar Ambuila and Gustavo Adolfo Rivas Arboleda, who were found guilty of being part of this network of corruption, were sent to jail. All those captured will have to answer for the crimes of money laundering, favoring to smuggling, illicit enrichment and conspiracy to commit a crime.
However, as mentioned above, this is only the tip of the Iceberg and more catches are expected, along with much more accurate information about its operation, including the different merchandise that entered the country illegally.
