"Banana giant held liable for funding paramilitaries," 11 June 2024

A court in the United States has found multinational fruit company Chiquita Brands International liable for financing a Colombian paramilitary group.

The group, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), was designated by the US as a terrorist organisation...

Following a civil case brought by eight Colombian families whose relatives were killed by the AUC, Chiquita has been ordered to pay $38.3m (£30m) in damages to the families.

Chiquita said in a statement that it intended to appeal against the jury's verdict, arguing that there was "no legal basis for the claims"...

The class-action lawsuit against Chiquita... focussed on nine cases, which were chosen out of hundreds of claims against the banana company...

Chiquita said in a statement released after the verdict that the situation in Colombia was "tragic for so many, including those directly affected by the violence there, and our thoughts remain with them and their families".