Police chief, aide ousted over wiretaps

Colombia’s police chief, Gen. Jorge Daniel Castro, and the head of police intelligence, Gen. Guillermo Chavez, were forced to retire as the government alleged that police illegally tapped the calls of opposition political figures, journalists and members of the government.

“The procedure is totally unacceptable, illegal and contrary to the policy of the government,” said a statement from Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

Gen. Oscar Naranjo, who has worked closely with U.S. agencies against the country’s drug-trafficking cartels, was named the new national police director.