Colombia's President Petro blames corruption for missing bullets, missiles, grenades


FILE PHOTO: Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks during the inauguration of the International Book Fair (FilBo) in Bogota, Colombia April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said on Tuesday that a nationwide inventory of military weapons showed over a million bullets, thousands of grenades and some missiles were missing from military bases, blaming corruption for the lost weapons.

He has ordered any corruption networks within the security forces to be dismantled, Petro added in a statement with the defense minister and the head of armed forces, saying judicial authorities are investigating the issue.

Members of Colombia's security forces have been convicted on a variety of corruption and human rights abuse charges.

The country's six-decade internal conflict has killed more than 450,000 people.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb)

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