Two years after the alias case Papa Smurf came to light, exposing the complex network of corruption within various entities of the State and the Public Force, material still remains unknown within the file that the authorities are carrying out against the aforementioned Smuggling ‘czar’ Diego Marín.
The case came back into the spotlight a couple of weeks ago, after some recordings revealed by Noticias Caracol that report meetings held at the beginning of 2025 between Jorge Lemus, then director of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI)and ‘Papa Smurf’s’ lawyer. The meetings would have taken place in the midst of investigations into possible attempts to enter resources from smuggling into Gustavo Petro’s presidential campaign.
EL TIEMPO learned of a new document in which the name ofe Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía, alias Chupetaone of the drug trafficking bosses of the 1980s who committed crimes for the ‘Cali cartel’, related to ‘Papá Smurf’ whose network, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, was responsible for bringing in 80% of the illegal merchandise, skipping checkpoints and evading taxes.
Diego Marín Buitrago, alias Papa Smurf Photo:Private file
The report
The report in this newspaper was prepared with the reconstruction of a statement from an undercover agent that details meetings, payments and key relationships of ‘Papa Smurf’ in different areas of the country. In his story, Marín appears as an articulator of contacts and money flows within structures linked to smuggling. In the document prepared in March 2024, a conversation between Ricardo Orozco Baeza, alias El Blessed, and the agent is mentioned.
In that same block of information, the witness locates active officers within the conversation. And he reveals that a then Police major leaked information to Marín.
The eldest
“Those photos were made known to him by Major ‘Ortiz’, who is a friend of ‘Diego Marín,’” the report reads, referring to material that would have circulated within the closed group of ‘Papá Smurf’.
‘Ortiz’ to whom they would refer is the then oldest César Augusto Ortiz, a former police officer who is said to have had access to sensitive information and contact with Marín. “Major ‘Ortiz’ has some photos and information,” declared the undercover agent.
EL TIEMPO learned that this older man, after passing through Sijín in Bogotá, was transferred to Dijín, where he initially joined the life group for three months. Later, he assumed duties at Interpol, directly linked to the investigation known as the ‘Papa Smurf’ case.
According to the information collected, his arrival at that agency was marked by a wide margin of operational maneuver within the assigned file.
According to testimonies, the officer arrived at Interpol accompanied by a team of at least four investigators he trusted, who focused exclusively on that process.. The same sources indicate that the group maintained a closed operation, with limitations on dialogue with other teams within the unit.
President Petro, Major Ortíz and Jorge Lemus. Photo:Archive
The mention of the major coincides with subsequent decisions within the Police; He was removed in 2025 and later arrived at the National Intelligence Directorate, a movement that, according to reports, occurred amid questions about this file..
Throughout the story, money is talked about. The agent describes direct demands between those involved and mentions payments directed to senior police officers. “‘Diego Marín’ himself put up 50 million to give to General ‘Puentes,'” the agent says in the statement.
The file also includes a description of how control over strategic areas would have been consolidated. The agent points out that Marín had influence in Buenaventurand mentions coordination with different entities. “He controlled the Port, Dian, Polfa and Tránsito,” he stated.
Alias Chupeta before her cosmetic surgeries Photo:EL TIEMPO Archive
The mention of alias Chupeta
At that same point the reference to historical drug trafficking structures appears. According to the agent, the ‘Blessed One’ made a direct mention of him alias Chupeta and his connection with ‘Pappa Smurf’.
“He (El Benceso) spoke to me about former criminals with whom Marín would have links, he spoke to me about criminals, alias Chupeta and that “Diego Marín” has been in charge for many years of raising and lowering the money. He told me that Diego Marín always generated a lot of intimidation to the merchants or those who suddenly wanted to bring in contraband, while what he, that is, “Ricardo”, what he had done was organize the Port… have everything articulated.”
The encounters described in the file also detail the logistics of those relationships. In March 2024, the agent attended a meeting in Cali coordinated through encrypted applicationss. In that meeting, the witness describes the arrival of Orozco Baena and a conversation marked by concern. “He is very worried because he realizes that Dipol officials were following him,” he said. During the meeting, he was shown images of alleged surveillance. “He showed me a photo… of a supposed official… with a cap, with glasses, with a beard.”
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Days later, according to the agent, the communication tool stopped working. “Today I realized… nothing appears anymore… what they did was disable it,” he said, referring to Cellcrypt. He also indicated that the device had been delivered by a deputy mayor linked to the same contacts.
The statements are in the power of the Prosecutor’s Office and are part of the evidence that led to the issuance of the arrest warrant against Diego Marín.
Justice Editorial
Justicia@eltiempo.com
