Colombia’s Attorney General arrests the mayor of María La Baja amid a corruption investigation involving 3 billion pesos in royalty funds

Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday that 13 people, including the mayor of María La Baja in the department of Bolívar, were arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged corruption network accused of steering public contracts financed through the country’s General Royalties System.

The coordinated operation, carried out by the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI), took place in Bogotá, Cartagena, Valledupar, Sogamoso, Pereira, and Villavicencio.

Those arrested also include the former mayor of La Paz, Cesar, a contractor, and several former executives and officials of the Sierra Nevada Mixed Fund.

Prosecutors allege the group participated in a scheme that manipulated the awarding of public contracts worth approximately 3 trillion Colombian pesos (about US$730 million) across 19 departments.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the investigation centers on the alleged unlawful direction of contracts funded with public royalty resources intended for regional development projects.

The suspects are expected to appear before a judge in the coming hours for preliminary hearings, where prosecutors will formally present the charges and seek pretrial measures.

The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and did not rule out additional arrests or charges as authorities continue collecting evidence regarding the alleged scheme.