On October 16, 2022, Colombian journalist Rafael Moreno was closing up a bar and grill shop he had recently opened in the city of Montelibano to make ends meet, when a man walked in, pulled out a revolver, and fired three shots at Moreno, killing him instantly.

This murder was not a random occurrence. It followed a series of threats and a kidnapping to which Moreno had been subjected ever since he had started investigating corruption in the public sector and the mining industry. 

Following his murder, Forbidden Stories and OCCRP continued the investigations Moreno had risked his life to pursue, uncovering the powerful interests he was going to expose.

Security issues are common for independent journalists in Latin America who investigate sensitive issues, as our South America editor, Daniela Castro explains in the video below.

These issues are known to our South American team and partners who work to expose corrupt officials and criminal syndicates, even as risks escalate.

OCCRP protects the lives of our reporters and their sources. But we can’t do it alone. Bad actors can spend anywhere between a few hundred thousand to several million dollars targeting a single journalist or outlet. We have limited funding and capability to match those resources.

We need your help to continue defending those who risk everything to tell stories in the public interest. Every dollar raised helps. Donate today to protect journalists across our network.

Don’t let them kill the story.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project is a part of Journalism Development Network, Inc, a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) (EIN: 26-0898750) and Dutch Stichting (CCI number: 87152568). Contributions to our organization are tax deductible in the U.S. and possibly other jurisdictions. Please consult your tax advisor for details.

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