In the municipality of Simegaca, Cundinamarca, the La Granada farm has become the focus of attention for its occupation by retired General Rodolfo Palomino, former director of the National Police.
The situation gained more strength after it was confirmed that the high-ranking official was arrested on Monday, November 24, 2025, to answer for the crime of exploiting the influence of a public employee.
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The townspeople, accustomed to a quiet life, noticed changes after the arrival of Palomino, who arrived at the place in armored vehicles and began managing the properties previously owned by the emerald dealer and drug trafficker Pedro Nel Rincon Castillo, alias Pedro Oregas, who is currently serving a sentence in the United States for drug trafficking.
A report from the portal said that Palomino used the farm for cattle ranching activities during his retirement Beaches 2 The Public Prosecutor’s Office even began investigating alleged irregularities in the allocation of property.
The lease was concluded on August 17, 2022 between Sociedad de Activos Especiales (SAE) and PAAR Consulting Group SAS, which is owned by Palomino. The property has an area of 44.8 hectares and more than 900 square meters of built-up area.
A review of the contract revealed anomalies in the contract award process.
People who were not supposed to intervene participated in the SAE business committee that assessed the fate of the farm, which raises suspicions of possible acts of corruption.
The company also reported in its report copies of pressures in favor of awarding the award to Palomino. As a result of the above, two senior officials were removed from their positions, including former Regional Director Carol Gonzalez.
Palomino denied knowledge of the illicit origin of the farm and argued that he had requested a lease for a dairy production business. But SAE emphasized in its official response that those who aspire to manage properties within precautionary measures receive information about their origin.
In November 2022, after the violations were confirmed and because the property was still under confiscation, the contract with Palomino was terminated. Management of the farm passed to the Anzurk Peasants’ Association, which settled 100 families from various Boyaca municipalities, along with 50 heads of livestock to support them.
The decision caused alarm among the residents of Simigaca, because residents claimed that the majority of the beneficiaries were not even citizens of the municipality of Cundinamarca.
The local National Association of Peasant Users noted that about 170 Simijenses also requested access to the land, and after several discussions, it was agreed to evaluate the delivery of other properties under similar conditions to meet the request of municipal families.
Former General Rodolfo Palomino, who in the past served as Director of the Colombian National Police, was arrested in the midst of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office into the alleged crime of influence peddling.
The arrest of the officer, who was known for his leadership in the public force and because of many controversies in his professional life, caused an uproar in the political and security circles in the country.
According to official information, Palomino was arrested as part of a judicial operation, the details of which the authorities treated with complete confidentiality.
The operation was carried out by CTI agents, who presented the corresponding court order and referred the former police director to the competent authorities to initiate the procedures for legalizing the arrest and the subsequent hearing for the filing of charges.
The District Attorney’s Office is investigating Palomino on charges of making improper efforts to obtain favors, promotions, or appointments for himself or third parties. He is allegedly using the influence he gained during his years in police command.
According to sources familiar with the file, the investigation is analyzing a communication and communication network through which the former general could have interfered, directly or indirectly, in administrative and contractual decisions affecting the state.
Rodolfo Palomino’s career in public service was marked by his time at the head of the National Police, where he implemented security policies, faced adverse situations and championed high-impact operations.
However, he has also faced complaints and questions about alleged irregularities, some of which are related to the management of promotions and transfers and the use of institutional power for his own benefit or for the benefit of constituencies linked to him.