The news that in Villavicencio (Meta) a suspected money launderer for the ELN guerrilla was handed over to justice went almost unnoticed and the only thing that emerged was a piece of information given by President Abelardo De La Espriella: that the individual would have moved more than 33 billion pesos from criminal activities of this group classified as narcoterrorist.
However, judicial sources assure that this is one of the most important links in an international laundering network connected to that guerrilla. EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit investigated and established that the alleged rancher, identified as Gildardo Quinchía Giraldo, has an active investigation for money laundering and illicit enrichment and that, since 2023, properties in luxury condominiums, bank transactions, and high-end SUVs have been tracked to him.
Relative of alias Pablito?
According to intelligence reports exclusively obtained by this newspaper, Quinchía Giraldo would be a relative of Gustavo Aníbal Giraldo, alias Pablito, third leader of the Central Command of the armed group, and main leader of the Eastern War Front, which operates in the departments of Meta and Arauca.
The individual moved money through bank transactions and real estate purchases under the guise of a prosperous rancher from Meta.
In the same file, Gerly Sánchez Villamizar, alias Mono Gerley, alleged main coordinator of the criminal network accused of laundering 885 billion pesos from the ELN’s Eastern War Front, who was extradited from Spain last March 20, is also mentioned.
The laundering network, whose tracking extended to Argentina, would have been laundering money for about 20 years for the ELN’s Domingo Laín front in Arauca, Norte de Santander, Casanare, Nariño, Amazonas, Cundinamarca, and Bogotá.
And Quinchía Giraldo, originally from Arauquita, would be one of the key links of this network in Meta.
The fortune
For this reason, the individual’s assets are already being investigated, which are spread across farms in Arauca, condominiums in Villavicencio, and high-end SUVs.
EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit accessed Giraldo’s assets and established that he owns two houses in two luxury condominiums in Villavicencio: Portal de Trapiche and Quintas de Santa Clara.
Additionally, 3 plots located in Arauca, named La Sarabia, Villa Maylen, and Santa Fe.
It was also established that he moved around in a 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in which he traveled around Villavicencio and made visits to Bogotá.
The laundering network
Also, he had a commercial registration dedicated to cattle and buffalo breeding and the trade of agricultural products. He also had a business establishment in Villavicencio named Fruticampo del Meta.
It is being investigated whether Quinchía Giraldo was contacted by the ELN to move to the Meta department and from there develop the laundering scheme, as the other individuals mentioned in the file did.
(Check here all the articles from EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit)
In the investigation for money laundering and illicit enrichment, Harold Ronne Ardila Urbina, Jesús Alberto Velas Navarro, Mayerly Zulay Arévalo Carrascal, and Yasser Husseir Ardila Urbina also appear.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
u.investigativa@eltimpo.com
@UinvestigativaET
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