Colombia suspends land purchases for 2027 amid audit

Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture, Indalecio Dangond Baquero, has announced that the government will not purchase any land in 2027. This decision follows the realization that only 350,000 hectares were acquired out of a previous goal of three million, costing 3.9 trillion pesos.

The suspension comes amid the discovery of significant financial and legal irregularities. An initial sampling of land acquisitions revealed systematically inflated prices above market value. Additionally, legal insecurity was noted, as various land extensions were granted to peasant and ethnic communities under provisional titles without formal registration or while facing ongoing litigation.

As a result, the Minister has frozen 1.4 trillion pesos in pending payments and ordered an immediate forensic audit. This investigation will be conducted in coordination with the Comptroller General, the Attorney General, and the Prosecutor General to ensure the integrity of future operations and protect the legal responsibility of the National Land Agency (ANT) administrators.