US Banana Company to Pay 25 Million for Dealings with Colombian Terror Group

美国香蕉公司与哥伦比亚恐怖组织作交易被罚款2千5百万美元

U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands International says it will pay a 25-million-dollar fine after admitting to buying protection from a terrorist organization in Colombia.

The company said in a statement Wednesday it will pay the fine as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

The settlement resolves a lengthy government investigation into the company's financial dealings with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC designated as a terrorist organization under U.S. law.

Chiquita said it made the payments for the safety of its employees, who were threatened by the organizations in farming regions of Colombia.

总部设在美国的奇基塔国际香蕉公司公司承认向哥伦比亚的一个恐怖组织交纳保护费，并表示将为此支付2千5百万美元的罚款。

这家公司星期三在声明中表示，按照与美国司法部达成的解决协议，公司将支付这笔罚款。

此前美国政府对于该公司与哥伦比亚革命武装部队的金融交易进行了长期调查。根据美国法律，这个组织被认定是恐怖组织。

奇基塔公司说，他们在哥伦比亚农业区的雇员受到恐怖组织的威胁，因此他们为了员工安全才交纳保护费。