A.U.C.

The fact is that the A.U.C. have long been known for controlling the largest share of the country's cocaine export business, using gruesome methods to kill those who stand in their way.

Charlie Cray: The Chiquita Story: How the Times Goes Soft on Corporate Crime 2008

In other words, it's well known among labor rights groups that the A.U.C. was not hired by the company to protect workers, as Sporkin suggests.

Charlie Cray: The Chiquita Story: How the Times Goes Soft on Corporate Crime 2008

The company's story is that it continued to make the payments even after top executives revealed them to the Department of Justice in order to protect its own workers -- i.e. it claims that the A.U.C. threatened that it would kill many of the company's workers if it stopped making the payments.

Charlie Cray: The Chiquita Story: How the Times Goes Soft on Corporate Crime 2008

I was reminded of this by an article published last Thursday about a federal investigation into an ongoing investigation into Chiquita's operations in Colombia, where the company made "protection payments" to the United Self-Defense Forces (aka the A.U.C.), a (paramilitary) "group considered a terrorist organization by the United States."

Charlie Cray: The Chiquita Story: How the Times Goes Soft on Corporate Crime 2008

Today, the main union for the people supplying bananas to Defendant Chiquita is controlled by the A.U.C. through demobilized A.U.C. fighters in leadership roles in the Sintrainagro union.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007

Chiquita made these payments and shipped these weapons to the A.U.C. with knowledge of the A.U.C.'s activities, and against the advice of its own legal counsel.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007

According to the Colombian chief federal prosecutor's office, in November of 2001, a Banadex ship was used to smuggle 3,000 AK-47 assault rifles and more than 2.5 million bullets intended for the A.U.C.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007

According to the testimony of A.U.C. commander Salvatore Mancuso in his criminal trial, the A.U.C. was paid a commission based on the number of boxes of bananas shipped by Defendant Chiquita each month.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007

The A.U.C. waspaid to ensure that Chiquita's business ran smoothly.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007

Prior to the creation of the A.U.C. in 1997, Chiquita had paid money to other terrorist organizations operating in Colombia, which also murdered thousands of people.

Chiquita's hundred year history in Colombia Abhay N 2007