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Soccer Corruption Hits Peru with Leading Arrest

The arrest of former president of the Peruvian Soccer Federation, Edwin Oviedo, showcases a new chapter in the profitable relationship between soccer and corruption in Latin America.

On December 6, Oviedo was arrested for crimes he allegedly committed as a member of the “White Collars of the Port“, based in Callao, including influence peddling and bribery,

Led by former Supreme Court Judge César Hinostroza, the White Collars were made up of business leaders, judges and other judicial officials, among others.

Oviedo allegedly covered up illicit expenses by Hinostroza during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and gave him several tickets for matches by the Peruvian national team, according to a witness under protection.

 SEE ALSO: Soccer Crime Coverage

In exchange for these gifts, Oviedo was seemingly favored in a legal case against another criminal network he is suspected of belonging to, known as the Wachiturros of Tumán. He is accused of having led the group, which allegedly orchestrated the murder of two trade unionists at the Tumán sugar company, owned by Oviedo’s conglomerate.

“There was a criminal organization within the sugar mill that silenced anyone who opposed the judicial administration chosen by Mr. Edwin Oviedo,” said prosecutor Juan Carrasco, who is in charge of the Wachiturros case.

Right now, Oviedo is in detention awaiting the next steps in the White Collars case, while Agustín Lozano has been named acting president of the FPF. However, Lozano is close to Oviedo and is also under investigation.

InSight Crime Analysis

When the FIFA graft scandal broke, it was the biggest corruption scandal in the history of soccer, leading to the downfall of 16 leaders of soccer governing bodies across in Central and South America and other high-ranking figures within FIFA. Many of those implicated in the case were accused of bribery and illicit enrichment.

It was hoped that the scandal would be a wake-up call and usher in a new push for transparency in soccer associations, especially throughout Latin America. But that has not come to pass, as more cases continue to make headlines and tarnish the reputation of the most popular sport in the world.

SEE ALSO: Jail Time for LatAm Officials Won’t Kick FIFA Corruption Problem

Crooked soccer executives throughout South America have a thorough understanding of how powerful the fanaticism the sport generates can be. They take full advantage of the sport’s ability to distract while it entertains in order to amass their illicit profits. The love affair between soccer and organized crime has not only manifested itself in acts of corruption and fraud, but also drug trafficking and money laundering. In some cases, it has gotten to the point where supporter groups of particular teams have become comparable to all-out gangs, as with many of Argentina’s barras bravas.

As further cases are revealed, current soccer scandals may barely be the tip of the iceberg.

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FARC Dissidents Growing Faster than Colombia Can Count

Two Colombian intelligence reports, published three months apart, show contradictions in the number of ex-FARC Mafia and their rate of expansion, although they both agree these splinter groups are growing.

According to an intelligence report seen by the newspaper El Tiempo this week, 1,749 ex-guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) can now be counted as dissident and have abandoned the peace process.

The report, which has been presented to Congress by the Ministry of Defense, shows that the number of former fighters abandoning the peace process is growing.

However, another intelligence report from October contradicts this report, stating that the FARC dissidents already number between 2,500 and 3,000 members across 10 departments. In comparison, the December report counts fewer dissidents but states they are spread across 19 departments.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of FARC Peace Process

The Colombia government appears to be unclear about how many ex-militants have abandoned the peace process and where they are located, given the glaring contradictions in these two reports.

However, both intelligence reports reflect mounting concern about the growth of FARC dissidents. Of the more than 10,000 FARC soldiers who demobilized, thousands now once again represent a threat to national security.

Furthermore, according to the same El Tiempo report, criminal groups recognized by the Colombian state now number more than 7,200 people in total, with the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN) the largest with 2,206 men.

InSight Crime Analysis

Discontent in the peace process and a lack of opportunities when returning to civilian life may be driving former FARC members to return to their criminal roots. On top of this, a number of conditions laid out in the Havana peace agreements have been breached or modified, including a lack of protection for those who have demobilized, some of whom have been prosecuted.

      SEE ALSO: 50 years of the Farc: War, Drugs and Revolution

Added to this, Venezuela is providing an all too tempting breeding ground for criminal activity and the country’s population, driven to leave in droves, are being recruited in large numbers. FARC dissidents may already have made alliances with other groups in Venezuela, as indicated by the recent meeting between some of its members and the ELN in Apure to define drug trafficking routes and reach collaboration agreements.

The Colombian government is finding it difficult to accurately track the growth of these groups, in large part because it has proven next to impossible to follow their actions or their recruitment drives inside Venezuela due to the complex diplomatic relations between both countries and a total absence of bilateral cooperation.

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