Colombian Admiral Cleared of Drug Charges

BOGOTA – Adm. Gabriel Arango Bacci was cleared on Thursday by Colombia’s Supreme Court, which investigated his alleged ties to drug traffickers.

The high court’s investigators did not find any evidence linking drug traffickers to the admiral, who was forced into retirement, considering the allegations a “set-up” against him.

The judges ordered an investigation of navy commander Adm. Guillermo Barrera and former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos for allegedly giving false testimony.

The Colombian Inspector General’s Office had said the allegations against Arango Bacci were a “set-up,” and the Attorney General’s Office called a short time later for the charges to be thrown out.

Arango Bacci, who was held for 16 months at the Infantry School in Bogota, was alleged to have ties to drug trafficker Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia’s organization.

It was alleged that the retired admiral allowed drug shipments to go through by pulling navy vessels under his command away from the smuggling routes used by drug traffickers. EFE

Source: laht.com/