GASOFA CASE: NATIONAL CIVIL POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED

Guatemala, March 1, 2012. Today, National Civil Police (PNC) officers, together with officials from the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and CICIG, arrested a number of PNC officers for their alleged involvement in an illegal gasoline smuggling business for more than 10 years (GASOFA Case). This case is led by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and CICIG acts as a complementary prosecutor and supports the investigation. The Ministry of the Interior has also participated.

The arrested parties were handed over to justice.

Arrested in Guatemala City:

• JOSE ALFONSO CRUZ VALDEZ, Jutiapa Police Chief.
• FREDY FERNANDO LOPEZ TRABANINO, Southern District Police Chief.
• ERICK NOE PALACIOS LOPEZ, Escuintla Police Chief.
• JOSE ANTONIO VELIZ VALDEZ, Police Corporal.
• LUIS FRANCISCO GONZALEZ ESTRADA, Santa Rosa Police Chief (known as Wicho).

Arrested in Conguaco, Jutiapa:

• AMILCAR RENE FRANCO CABRERA, Officer.

Arrested in Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, Jutiapa:

• LILE CASTAÑEDA SANDOVAL,Inspector.

The arrested parties are accused of unlawful association, interfering with the course of justice and customs fraud.

As part of the same case, on January 24, the following persons were arrested: Marvin Delfino Barrios Marchena, Pablo Arnulfo Ruano Montes de Oca, Emiliano López Velásquez, Luis Rolando Galicia Botón, Lidia Lorena Calderón Portillo and Paulino García Villalta.