On June 10, Colombian civilians, banana workers, and their families won a historic victory against Chiquita Brands International and its former subsidiary, Banadex. The 17-year-old case stemmed from secret and illegal payments totaling $1.7 million that Chiquita made to the United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) between 1997 and 2004.