The violence that Uribe tried to cover up with fraud and bribery [View all]

by Adriaan Alsema | Jul 28, 2025

The fraud and bribery practices of Colombia’s far-right former President Alvaro Uribe failed to obstruct mounting criminal investigations into his family’s decades-long ties to organized crime.

These criminal investigations are mainly due to the Uribe Clan’s alleged ties to paramilitary groups that killed thousands of people in the former president’s native Antioquia province alone.

In particular, Uribe tried to obstruct investigations into his family’s role in the creation of the 12 Apostles and Bloque Metro paramilitary groups between 1992 and 1997.

Both groups were allegedly created in the Antioquia province under the leadership of the former president’s brother, Santiago Uribe, and other associates of the Medellin Cartel.

According to the prosecution of war crimes tribunal JEP, Santiago Uribe was the commander of the 12 Apostles, which assassinated at least 525 people in northern Antioquia between 1992 and 1996.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/the-violence-that-uribe-tried-to-cover-up-with-fraud-and-bribery/