Chiquita Brands Ordered to Pay $38.3 Million for Funding Colombian Paramilitary Group

A federal jury in Florida has ruled that Chiquita Brands International must pay $38.3 million to the families of eight Colombian men killed by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group the company funded. This landmark decision marks the first time the banana giant has been held financially liable for its role in financing a group responsible for a spate of violence during Colombia's civil conflict in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The verdict comes after years of legal battles, with Chiquita previously admitting in 2007 to making payments to the AUC and being fined $25 million by a U.S. court. This case highlights the broader issue of multinational corporations' accountability for their actions abroad, especially in conflict zones. The compensation is intended for 16 family members of the victims, acknowledging the company's direct financial support to the paramilitary group responsible for numerous deaths and human rights abuses.