Everth Hawkins, former San Andrés governor, arrested for extortion and kidnapping

Everth Julio Hawkins Sjogreen, the former governor of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, has been arrested in Barranquilla. The Colombian Prosecutor's Office (Fiscalía General de la Nación) alleges his involvement in aggravated extortion and extortionate kidnapping targeting government contractors.

Investigators claim Hawkins Sjogreen utilized members of the criminal group ‘Las Salsas Mexicanas’ to intimidate contractors. The goal was allegedly to demand money in exchange for allowing business activities to continue without threats to the individuals or their families. Authorities have documented two victims who were reportedly pressured for a total of 3,000 million Colombian pesos. In one instance, the pressure reportedly included the detention of a victim's family member.

This arrest occurs alongside other legal challenges for the former official. He is also under investigation regarding the ‘Aremca’ case, involving alleged irregularities in an urban improvement project for Haynes Cay valued at over 11,000 million pesos, which includes charges of embezzlement and contracting without legal requirements.