William Acosta, CEO of Equalizer Investigations for FinGurú
Introduction
The sun burns over the sandy roads in the Colombian Caribbean, where children play in the breeze while adults watch the horizon with a mix of resignation and fear. In this land that once believed in the promise of the uniform, disillusionment runs deeper than the heat: soldiers, once seen as guardians, now appear in rumors and headlines, pointed out as accomplices of those who stain the valleys and the mountains with violence. Every family remembers the last time bullets shattered the stillness of the night, wondering if that ammunition came, perhaps, from the same arsenal that should have protected them.
It is not easy for communities to distinguish where the institution ends and where crime begins, when the line blurs between the barracks and the war zone. At heart, every news story about stolen weapons, clandestine routes, pacts, and betrayals is also the tale of tired communities and a country that is in pain, still waiting for justice to return by their side. Because this case is not just a scandal: it is the open wound of Colombia, raw flesh, asking for firm and humane answers.
Network under fire: the Army and the Pachenca mafia on the Colombian border
Through the dusty streets of Valledupar, in high Guajira and the imposing Sierra Nevada, rumors became certainty. In the region's barracks, where each cartridge should defend the homeland, ammunition ended up out of place; in the hands of those who see the State as an enemy to be overcome. The case of the network of military infiltrated by Los Pachenca is not just a note for the judicial archive: it is the real drama of a silent internal war, where the protagonists have names, histories, and even families suffering the consequences.
The heart of betrayal: Soldier Rendón, from hero to criminal cog
Among the captured, Soldier Rendón stands out. Fifteen years of service, a specialist in ammunition, an expert in handling explosives. A veteran, as he is nicknamed in the military halls, who went from guarding arsenals to opening the door to the highest bidder. FARC dissidents, the ELN, Los Pachenca: all had access to the Colombian military arsenal, 5.56 caliber cartridges at 10,000 pesos each and fragmentation grenades that changed sides in record time (Semana, 2025; Infobae, 2025).
The operation was as sophisticated as it was routine
Payments were corroborated with videos where bills and ammunition made their presence known.
Alias “the Veteran” provided the contact, “Pinocchio” authorized the shipment, and the network of assistants—still under investigation—facilitated the extraction. Each delivery represented minutes of tension, business closed in the shadows of the military barracks and the bustle of the border.
Origin and criminal power of Los Pachenca
Los Pachenca, also known as Self-Defense Conquistadors of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), arose from former paramilitary blocs and gained strength in Magdalena, La Guajira, and Santa Marta. They control drug trafficking routes, extortion, and areas of armed conflict against rival organizations such as the Gulf Clan. Today, their presence extends over 97 communities, exercising social control and generating a constant climate of violence and terror (Sur.org.co, 2020; Colombia Reports, 2023; Infobae, 2025).
The heart of betrayal:
Soldier Rendón, from hero to criminal cog
Noted for fifteen years of service and experience in explosives, Soldier Rendón organized the diversion of ammunition—5.56 cartridges at 10,000 pesos each and fragmentation grenades—from official depots to armed groups like the FARC dissidents, the ELN, and Los Pachenca (Semana, 2025; Infobae, 2025). Payments were confirmed with "proof of life" videos, showing bundles of bills and shipments. Alias “the Veteran” coordinated sales, while “Pinocchio” led the mafia structure, and collaborators facilitated extractions, route usage, and cover-ups. The illegal flow was as systematic as any official logistical operation.
A map of crime: international routes and clandestine logistics
Stolen weapons and ammunition followed routes from Florida (USA), through Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela before arriving in Maicao, Nazareth, and Uribia in Colombia. The arsenal was stockpiled and distributed by boatmen and undercover vehicles—including suspicions about the use of military trucks—in regions where the line between State and crime is barely perceptible (Infobae, 2025; Periódico UNAL, 2025; Semana, 2025).
The modernization of the Venezuelan military allowed the diversion of FAL and AK-47 rifles, resold by corrupt officials to Colombian mafias, strengthening the armament of Los Pachenca with R-15 rifles, Bushmaster, Barrett, and Five-Seven pistols, known among the military as “cop-killers” (Infobae, 2025). In April 2025, a large-scale operation delivered ten Barrett rifles in exchange for half a ton of cocaine, using the same ships that transport drugs to the Dominican Republic (Infobae, 2025; Semana, 2025).
Official figures on diverted ammunition
The extent of internal corruption was evidenced by the audit of the Army and the Prosecutor's Office: in 2024 and 2025, the disappearance of over one million ammunition was reported, though the audited figure was revised to 131,000 projectiles and 5,850 grenades, most linked to illegal networks in the Caribbean and the border. Authorities implemented electronic controls and strict audits, but much of the material ended up in the hands of the ELN, Los Pachenca, and other armed organizations, fueling regional violence (El Financiero, 2024; Voz de América, 2024; Infobae, 2025).
Beyond the rifles: What is at stake for society?
Not only routes and arsenals changed: the mother-in-law of Soldier Rendón moved 400 million pesos in just four months, and he himself amassed about 2 billion, according to the Prosecutor's Office. The black money circulated through hotels, transportation companies, and billiard halls. The stolen bullets ended in crimes and attacks, claiming the lives of soldiers and civilians. Fear and distrust mark daily life today in towns and cities in the region.
The State responds: arrests, hearings, and necessary purging
In response, the Dijín, the Prosecutor's Office, and Military Intelligence captured 23 key people: from logistical leaders to those responsible for the maintenance and stockpiling of weapons. Rendón, the Veteran, and six logistical links face charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, arms trafficking, and money laundering. The criminal proceedings remain active and under constant scrutiny, reflecting the magnitude of the challenge to cleanse and protect military institutions (Semana, 2025; Infobae, 2025; La Guajira Hoy, 2025).
Conclusion:
A social wound and a collective challenge
What has happened in the ranks of the Colombian Army and its coexistence with mafias like Los Pachenca has left a deep wound in public trust, social fabric, and national identity itself. The diverted bullets not only arm criminal hands but also break the hope of those who still believe that the uniform represents protection and justice. The daily drama of the affected communities translates into constant fear, forced displacements, invisible victims, and a youth that sees violence as the only viable exit or, worse yet, a profitable business (Plan Colombia 2.0, 2025; Diálogo Político, 2025).
Each figure of stolen ammunition summarizes years of negligence and corruption, but also the urgency of a vigilant and transparent State. Stigmatization and pain drag entire families of soldiers and civilians alike, sowing resentment and distrust. Community leaders have paid with blood and threats for denouncing these acts, and Colombia today bears the ethical and political responsibility to break this cycle.
The state reaction, effective in arrests and judicialization—must be accompanied by prevention, logistical improvements, technology for monitoring arsenals, and an institutional culture based on ethics and service. Reconstructing institutional trust will be long but essential to restore peace and hope to the most affected regions.
The collective challenge is to transform indignation into reforms, where transparency and real protection of communities prevail over any criminal interest. Only then can Colombia finally break the vicious cycle of violence and begin to heal the wound that this case leaves among its most intimate ranks (Ideas para la Paz, 2025; Indumil, 2025).
About the Author: William L. Acosta is a graduate of PWU and the Alliance University. He is a retired police officer from the New York Police Department, as well as the founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc., a licensed agency in New York and Florida, with international projection.
Since 1999, he has led investigations into narcotics, homicides, and missing persons, as well as participating in criminal defense at both state and federal levels.
Specializing in international and multijurisdictional cases, he has coordinated operations in North America, Europe, and Latin America.
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