{"code":"24763","sect":"Centroam\u00e9rica","sect_slug":"centroamerica","hits":"2934","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/en\/202008\/centroamerica\/24763","link_edit":"","name":"Trafficking Cocaine in the Name of God: Guatemala\u2019s Evangelical Narco Pastors","slug":"trafficking-cocaine-in-the-name-of-god-guatemala-rsquo-s-evangelical-narco-pastors","info":"Evangelical Christianity and the drug trade are not always worlds apart. In Guatemala, evangelicalism is a widespread and deep-rooted movement that has attracted people from all walks of life \u2014 including criminals seeking protection or profit.","mtag":"Corruption","noun":{"html":"Asier Andr\u00e9s","data":{"asier-andres":{"sort":"","slug":"asier-andres","path":"asier_andres","name":"Asier Andr\u00e9s","edge":"0","init":"0"}}},"view":"2934","pict":{"cms-image-000034328-jpg":{"feat":"1","sort":"34328","name":"cms-image-000034328.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034328.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034328.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000034328-jpg","text":"<p>Testifying in U.S. court, Pastor Reginaldo Archila (pictured above) described Mario Ponce as a good Christian, despite Ponce\u2019s reputation as a violent drug trafficker. Photo: Prince of Peace Facebook page.<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003ETestifying in U.S. court, Pastor Reginaldo Archila (pictured above) described Mario Ponce as a good Christian, despite Ponce\u2019s reputation as a violent drug trafficker. Photo: Prince of Peace Facebook page.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000034329-jpg":{"feat":"0","sort":"34329","name":"cms-image-000034329.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034329.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034329.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000034329-jpg","text":"<p>The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez founded Casa del Alfaro, which eventually grew to become one of the largest and most important churches in Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast region. The church\u2019s main temple is in Mazatenango, Suchitep\u00e9quez Department. Photo: Casa del Alfarero Facebook page.<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez founded Casa del Alfaro, which eventually grew to become one of the largest and most important churches in Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast region. The church\u2019s main temple is in Mazatenango, Suchitep\u00e9quez Department. Photo: Casa del Alfarero Facebook page.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000034330-jpg":{"feat":"0","sort":"34330","name":"cms-image-000034330.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034330.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034330.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000034330-jpg","text":"<p>The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez was killed in 2010 in a confusing and still unexplained shooting that occurred during the attempted police capture of Guatemalan drug trafficker Mauro Salomon Ram\u00edrez. Photo from Obed L\u00f3pez\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez was killed in 2010 in a confusing and still unexplained shooting that occurred during the attempted police capture of Guatemalan drug trafficker Mauro Salomon Ram\u00edrez. Photo from Obed L\u00f3pez\u2019s Facebook page.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000034331-jpg":{"feat":"0","sort":"34331","name":"cms-image-000034331.jpg","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034331.jpg","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000034331.jpg","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000034331-jpg","text":"<p>Chamal\u00e9, Pocho and JR (from right to left): Three prominent narcotraffickers who posed as evangelical Christians and either worked as pastors or financially supported churches. Illustration by J\u00falia Ledur.<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EChamal\u00e9, Pocho and JR (from right to left): Three prominent narcotraffickers who posed as evangelical Christians and either worked as pastors or financially supported churches. Illustration by J\u00falia Ledur.\u003C\/p\u003E"}},"pict_main__sort":34328,"date":{"live":"2020\/08\/28"},"data_post_dateLive_YY":"2020","data_post_dateLive_MM":"08","data_post_dateLive_DD":"28","text":"\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThis story was originally published in Spanish by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/nomada.gt\/pais\/la-corrupcion-no-es-normal\/narcos-y-pastores-en-guatemala-traficar-cocaina-en-nombre-de-dios\/\"\u003EN\u00f3mada\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.no-ficcion.com\/project\/narcopastores-guatemala-cocaina-dios\"\u003ENo-Ficci\u00f3n\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=1024&ImageHeight=683&ImageId=34331 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"Chamal\u00e9, Pocho and JR (from right to left): Three prominent narcotraffickers who posed as evangelical Christians and either worked as pastors or financially supported churches. Illustration by J\u00falia Ledur.\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E Chamal\u00e9, Pocho and JR (from right to left): Three prominent narcotraffickers who posed as evangelical Christians and either worked as pastors or financially supported churches. Illustration by J\u00falia Ledur. \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe first clue was a body lying on the floor in the basement of a Guatemala City shopping mall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EOn September 15, 2010, during a police operation to capture Mauro Salom\u00f3n Ram\u00edrez, a major drug trafficker wanted in the United States for cocaine smuggling, something happened that has still not been fully explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThat day, two teams of police attempted to arrest Ram\u00edrez as he left the parking lot of Tikal Futura, an upscale shopping and hotel complex in Guatemala City. The narco and his multiple escorts managed to escape, shooting their way out. But in the shopping mall\u2019s underground parking garage, a man lay bleeding to death on the ground.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe man had sought shelter from the shootout by hiding under his car \u2014 a shiny new silver Land Rover \u2014 but the vehicle had been riddled with bullets, and some of them had hit the man. Why the officers fired on this particular vehicle remains unclear. Perhaps they had information that the man was with the narcos, or perhaps, noting that he drove a luxury SUV, they jumped to conclusions. Maybe it was just an accident.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAdding even more confusion to the incident was the dead man\u2019s identity. His name was Obed Benshalom L\u00f3pez, founder and leader of Casa del Alfarero, a major evangelical church with thousands of adherents throughout Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EL\u00f3pez was one of a handful of pastors from Guatemala\u2019s Pentacostal movement \u2014 an ultra-religious leader known for his fiery sermons about the power of the Holy Spirit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=1024&ImageHeight=768&ImageId=34330 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez was killed in 2010 in a confusing and still unexplained shooting that occurred during the attempted police capture of Guatemalan drug trafficker Mauro Salomon Ram\u00edrez. Photo from Obed L\u00f3pez\u2019s Facebook page.\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez was killed in 2010 in a confusing and still unexplained shooting that occurred during the attempted police capture of Guatemalan drug trafficker Mauro Salomon Ram\u00edrez. Photo from Obed L\u00f3pez\u2019s Facebook page. \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe pastor had just returned from a trip to the United States and was staying in a hotel located inside the Tikal Futura shopping complex. Ram\u00edrez was staying in the same hotel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThere is no hard evidence that L\u00f3pez and Ram\u00edrez ever met, but according to the Interior Minister at the time, Carlos Menocal, when the authorities began investigating L\u00f3pez, they noticed certain suspicious evidence pointing to the possibility that the two men had been in the parking lot together during the shooting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe pastor had returned from his trip to the United States a day early. Security camera footage later revealed that instead of going home, he had spent the day wandering around the shopping center, as if waiting for someone. A police search of L\u00f3pez\u2019s vehicle, Menocal explained, found various \u201ccaletas,\u201d secret compartments. Both men, the narco and the pastor, operated in the same part of the city. In fact, when Ramirez was captured a month later, police found him in a house located only seven kilometers from L\u00f3pez's main church.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EMost surprising and suspicious of all, however, was the story of the pastor\u2019s rise to fame. L\u00f3pez started out preaching in a modest neighborhood in San Francisco Zapotitl\u00e1n, a town of 22,000 people where 60 percent of residents are considered poor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn less than two decades, and despite facing considerable competition from other similar churches in the area, L\u00f3pez had managed to build a huge temple in\u00a0 Mazatenango, the capital city of Suchitep\u00e9quez Department, and had started other affiliate churches along Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast, eventually establishing branches in the United States, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Casa del Alfarero\u2019s website claimed to have 33 churches in Mexico alone. \u201cWhen Guatemalan Civil Intelligence profiled the church, they noted its impressive growth and also found that the church was making large money transfers to Tamaulipas and other areas of Mexico in the narco corridor,\" Menocal explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=1024&ImageHeight=526&ImageId=34329 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez founded Casa del Alfaro, which eventually grew to become one of the largest and most important churches in Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast region. The church\u2019s main temple is in Mazatenango, Suchitep\u00e9quez Department. Photo: Casa del Alfarero Facebook page.\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E The \u201capostle\u201d Obed L\u00f3pez founded Casa del Alfaro, which eventually grew to become one of the largest and most important churches in Guatemala\u2019s Pacific coast region. The church\u2019s main temple is in Mazatenango, Suchitep\u00e9quez Department. Photo: Casa del Alfarero Facebook page. \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ESome former officials interviewed for this investigation argue that the entire incident was just an unfortunate accident \u2014 that the pastor was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the events were never fully investigated. Because L\u00f3pez died, and Ramirez was extradited to the United States shortly thereafter, the whole incident was soon forgotten.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe notion that these two ostensibly separate worlds \u2014 narcotrafficking organizations and evangelical religious institutions \u2014 had any kind of relationship with each other was initially just speculation.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe death of Pastor L\u00f3pez was the first indication that these connections not only exist, but are not uncommon. In fact, Guatemala has a number of qualities that encourage such relationships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThousands of tons of cocaine pass through the country every year on their way to the United States, and drug trafficking is the main economic activity in several border areas.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAt the same time, there are officially 3,200 different evangelical churches in the country \u2014 each with many, sometimes hundreds, of individual houses of worship. Roughly 40 percent of the population identifies with these Pentecostal-style cults, which demand adherents maintain socially conservative lifestyles and promise miracles, prosperity, and the privilege of feeling the constant presence of God.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EResearch for this multi-part investigation \u2014 itself part of the larger transnational investigative series Para\u00edsos de Dinero y F\u00e9 (Paradises of Money and Faith), a project of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.elclip.org\/\"\u003ELatin American Center for Investigative Journalism (Centro Latinoamericano de Investigaci\u00f3n Period\u00edstica, or CLIP\u003C\/a\u003E) \u2014 found that in the nearly 10 years since the 2010 shootout at Tikal Futura, the U.S. justice system has prosecuted at least four drug traffickers with close ties to evangelical pastors and churches.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn this four-part series, we explore the relationship between narcotraffickers and religious institutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPart one focuses on the high-level narco Juan \u00d3rtiz, alias Chamal\u00e9, and the role of No\u00e9 Mazariegos, a pastor at Torre Fuerte Ministries, an evangelical church in San Marcos, in Chamal\u00e9\u2019s criminal organization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPart two examines the links between the Bethania Church in Quetzaltenango and Erik Su\u00f1iga, alias Pocho, the former mayor of Ayutla and a known drug trafficker, as well as another narco in the region, Nery Manfredo Natareno, alias Pastor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPart three tells the story of Jorge Ren\u00e9 Garc\u00eda Noguera, alias JR, an organized crime boss in Zacapa who posed as a businessman and evangelist, with ties to the Lluvias de Gracia church in Guatemala City.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EReligion has proven useful to the drug trade in several ways. By bankrolling churches and associated charity projects, narcotraffickers garner social support and gain greater control over their territories. For some, becoming an evangelical worshipper or even a pastor has served as cover for interacting with and influencing politicians and businessmen, or as part of legal defense arguments in U.S. courts. Others have directly exploited church members, using them as front men or scapegoats, or integrating them into their organizational structure in other ways.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EOrganized crime\u2019s interest in infiltrating evangelical churches, and especially churches with an international presence, suggests something else as well: The possibility that criminal organizations are using religious institutions to launder money or transfer funds between countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EDoing so is made easier by the fact that churches in Guatemala are subject to very limited regulation. Until 2013, churches were not subject to any anti-laundering oversight, and only a very small percentage currently provide information to the Intendencia de Verificaci\u00f3n Especial (IVE), the government agency tasked with preventing such crimes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EMoreover, since churches rely largely on donations, their income can be highly variable and easy to account for, making it difficult for banks to determine whether transactions are suspicious enough to warrant being reported to the IVE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\"Churches function as a giant shield, because there's no way to follow the money trail. They can be used as a means of protecting financial activity [from government scrutiny],\" said anti-drug prosecutor Gerson Alegr\u00eda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EBut in Guatemala, whether such activity occurs has yet to be investigated \u2014 itself a testament to the benefits organized religion has to offer organized crime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn a country with one of the largest evangelical populations in the world, serving as a pastor, reciting verses from the Bible, and showing oneself to be obedient to and fearful of God is, for many Guatemalans, synonymous with being an honorable person.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPoliticians have often used religion to signify honesty, and to win votes. Drug traffickers have likewise sought protection in religion, using it to dispel suspicions about them or their financial affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=1024&ImageHeight=683&ImageId=34328 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"Testifying in U.S. court, Pastor Reginaldo Archila (pictured above) described Mario Ponce as a good Christian, despite Ponce\u2019s reputation as a violent drug trafficker. Photo: Prince of Peace Facebook page.\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E Testifying in U.S. court, Pastor Reginaldo Archila (pictured above) described Mario Ponce as a good Christian, despite Ponce\u2019s reputation as a violent drug trafficker. Photo: Prince of Peace Facebook page. \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWhen Pastor L\u00f3pez was killed on September 15, 2010, the notion that an evangelical pastor \u2014 a preacher of the Gospel (\u201cel Evangelio\u201d) \u2014 would accept money from someone involved in murdering, kidnapping, and drug trafficking was inconceivable to many Guatemalans. The mere fact of being a pastor was his best defense.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn 2012, Mario Ponce, a powerful Guatemalan drug trafficker from Izabal, stood trial in Miami, Florida. Ponce called numerous witnesses to his defense. One witness was a man named Reginaldo Archila, pastor of the Pr\u00edncipe de Paz church, one of the country\u2019s first evangelical churches, now well-established throughout Guatemala as well as in the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EArchila explained that Ponce regularly attended his church, and even organized services at his own mansion in the town of Playitas, on the border with Honduras. He described Ponce as an honorable man who had prospered by raising cattle and buying and selling land, according to the transcript of the court hearing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cSir, you never made any drug deal with Mario Ponce, did you?\u201d asked U.S. prosecutor Adam Fels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u201cNo. Never,\u201d replied Archila, adding, \u201cI\u2019m an evangelical pastor,\u201d as if mentioning this fact alone would serve as a sufficient answer to Fels\u2019 question.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAnd yet, on occasion, even evangelical pastors traffic drugs, or help traffic them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E*Translated by Max Granger\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/wOKmGx4CHYISc-jMMNJ-Vmr38_urRGYl5K94slLiYdCz9BxRD9jO0DUxSyBo2S0aDBoKpVLv4b0apBxjNV-XAbvfvX-mnowmjIu8pSITLXPjHe4ndZcODt1PgtEiS8u95Qj-89OE\" alt=\"Chavo Logo\" width=\"303\" height=\"349\" \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EPara\u00edsos de dinero y fe (Paradises of Money and Faith) is produced in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/journalism.columbia.edu\/columbia-journalism-investigations\"\u003EColumbia Journalism Investigation\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.elclip.org\/\"\u003ECentro Latinoamericano de Investigaci\u00f3n Period\u00edstica\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/contralacorrupcion.mx\/\"\u003EMexicanos Contra la Corrupci\u00f3n y la Impunidad\u003C\/a\u003E (Mexico),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/nomada.gt\/\"\u003E N\u00f3mada\u003C\/a\u003E (Guatemala), Canal 13 Noticias (Costa Rica),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.idl-reporteros.pe\/\"\u003E IDL-Reporteros\u003C\/a\u003E (Peru),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.infobae.com\/?noredirect\"\u003E Infobae\u003C\/a\u003E (Argentina),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apublica.org\/\"\u003E Agencia Publica\u003C\/a\u003E (Brazil),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.folha.uol.com.br\/\"\u003E Folha Sao Pablo\u003C\/a\u003E (Brazil),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ladiaria.com.uy\/\"\u003E La Diaria\u003C\/a\u003E (Uruguay),\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.eltiempo.com\/\"\u003E El Tiempo\u003C\/a\u003E (Colombia), and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.occrp.org\/en\"\u003EOCCRP\u003C\/a\u003E (Europa), with the support of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/seaif.org\/\"\u003ESeattle International Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAsier Andr\u00e9s is a Spanish journalist who worked in Guatemala for many years, reporting for El Peri\u00f3dico and ContraPoder. He is the co-author, with Pilar Crespo, of El coronel, el rector y el \u00faltimo dean comunista (Plaza P\u00fablica), a three-year investigation into Guatemala\u2019s National Police Archive.\u003C\/p\u003E"}