The “retaque”, the dangerous practice of “drop by drop” lenders who threaten the victims of these criminals

The “drop by drop” even overflowed the cup of those responsible for making violent collections from the victims of these abusive loans. The problem – said the collectors themselves – is that when they want to get out of the business, They become targets of criminal organizations. They are the ones who told how the so-called “retaque” works.

“The Attorney General’s Office dismantled an illegal network in Pereira involved in millionaire loans given under the ‘drop by drop’ method. Édison Eduardo Muñoz Castro, Dagnover Alirio Culman Ariza, Daniela Pinilla Marín and Wilmer Fernando Hernández,” said the Prosecutor’s Office after delivering the results of the investigation.

Within the framework of the investigation, the investigative entity explained that some people were hired by the criminal organization to carry out collection activities or “retaque”, which was a direct threat to the victims of these loans when they stopped to pay them. It was a criminal strategy that involved breaking into the homes, by force, to destroy the victims’ furniture and appliances.

“These actions were committed in Pereira, Dosquebradas, La Virginia, Santa Rosa de Cabal, Apia and Balboa in Risaralda, as well as the Quindío, Caldas and Norte del Valle departments. Legal police work established that the so-called ‘retaques’ were used for criminal debtors and those who did not pay their debts; That is, members of the illegal gang entered the homes of the victims,” ​​said the prosecutor.

In the file of the Prosecutor’s Office, which allowed the leaders of this group to be prosecuted, it warns that the collectors who wanted to abandon their position, who were convinced of the illegality of the ‘retaque’ came to the called, to finish. They became enemies of the group, and were even forced to get million dollar loans and pay high interest rates.

“Victims were also exposed to public scandal and had to lose their belongings. In other cases, “fines” were imposed that increased disproportionately. These sanctions often reached 15 million pesos,” said the prosecutor in the case during the preliminary hearings against the leaders.